David Thompson’s Long Chim heads to Crown
Crown has confirmed it will host the much-anticipated Melbourne chapter of David Thompson’s Long Chim chain.
David Thompson, the world-famous Australian chef and Thai specialist, is heading to Melbourne and another casino precinct.
James Packer’s Crown Melbourne has confirmed it will host the fourth Long Chim restaurant early next year.
The new Melbourne restaurant will take over a prime riverside site recently abandoned by Crown’s Number Eight restaurant. It’s unclear at this stage weather Long Chim Melbourne has commercial ties to Crown or is simply a tenant in the prominent location.
Thompson told The Australian: “It’s a good deal. We don’t see it as part of the casino (though of course it is) but it’s on the Yarra, looking across the river to the city. A splendid view. An interesting space. And hopefully a successful future.”
Thompson’s Long Chim brand began at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands in 2014 and branched out to Perth earlier this year; a Sydney Long Chim, in Angel Place, is due to open in September.
“David’s Long Chim is obviously a good fit for Crown because we have nothing in the Thai (restaurant) line,” said Crown spokesperson Jodi Crocker.
The announcement dashes previous speculation that Thompson’s inevitable foray into the Melbourne market would be in thriving Flinders Lane where his Perth landlord at The State Buildings, Adrian Fini, of FJM Property, owns a chic multi-level property.
According to Crown, Thompson will concentrate on getting Sydney open before turning his attention to the Melbourne launch, currently scheduled for late January.
Thomson joins other high-profile Sydney chefs Neil Perry and Guillaume Brahimi at the Crown precinct.