The former FuFu premises in Mermaid Beach, which fronts the complex housed by Goccia Italian, Background Barista and Poké Poké, is where you’ll find the latest iteration of Bistro Lamp. The somewhat iconic freestanding site has been overhauled from the ground up – FuFu’s original horseshoe bar and velvet bench seats are no longer, with the space now sporting a minimalist timber-clad interior underscored by a cosy, casual vibe. With around 50 seats, the new Bistro Lamp is more than double the size of its former home – and it also means there’s a lot more room for the chefs to unleash their creativity in the kitchen.
The shift in location prompted the Bistro Lamp team to adopt a more refined approach to its menu, offering a raft of new dishes that step away from familiar Japanese fare to offer diners a more unique take on Japan’s traditional flavours. Though, locals that are familiar with Bistro Lamp will be pleased to know that top-end, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi is still very much the hero here – delicately plated featuring trawler-fresh catches like kingfish, tuna and salmon.
The share-style menu kicks off with small plates like handmade prawn gyoza, which arrive swimming in a fiery coconut-chilli sauce in a piping-hot cast-iron pan, seared scallops arranged atop a turnip puree with a soy-infused butter sauce, and a series of onigiri (rice balls) for a hand-held snack. As for land-based eats, there’s wagyu-beef tataki with a sticky ponzu sauce and yuzu-pepper mayonnaise, and an indulgent free-range pork-belly kakuni braised in mirin, sake and ginger with a karashi mustard mayonnaise. Those hunting for veg-based bites can plunge their chopsticks into the intriguing truffle-infused spaghetti tossed with edamame, mushrooms and a house-made shoyu butter, or smaller share plates like tempura miso eggplant with a black-sesame sauce. Behind the bar, the team is pouring a collection of Japanese sake, beer, shochu and whisky, as well as cocktails and all of the shades of wine.
Bistro Lamp 3.0 is now open! Head to the Stumble Guide for its opening hours and booking details.
