Luckies Kitchen — Restaurant in Brisbane City

I had high hopes for this new kid on the block. As a local I love trying out the new and also going back to my old favourite local joints so I was excited to try Luckies.

We opted for the “Very hungry” degustation as it sounded great and seemed to offer a wide variety of food that would really show us what Luckies had to offer.

For drinks we had two cocktails, we managed to score a free drinks card they were handing out at halloween which we thought was very generous.

I had the “lucky vice”. It was very sweet, small but tasty. My husband had the “young coconut”. It tasted like rum and water and not much else and we both didn’t like it.

Food: The sichuan pickles were literally pickled large chunks of veggies on a side plate, we noted a lot of carrot. It tasted odd like vinegar and salt and not tasty and we didn’t enjoy them.

The king fish Sashimi was 4 small pieces of very rubbery kingfish on a plate with no other garnishes other than an unpleasant raw flavoured oily green spring onion dressing. This was not enjoyable.

We realised they didn’t serve us the tomato consommé and the PICKLE KOHLRABI, SALTED SHISO SEEDS which we didn’t realise until after we left the restaurant so I can’t critique that other than think we paid for the full degustation but they didn’t serve it - not the best impression.

DRUNKEN CHICKEN ORGANIC LEAF SALAD: The chicken was very dry, too salty white shredded chicken and had no flavour. The dressing tasted like sesame oil with nothing else added and wasn’t pleasant. There was no other flavour, the lettuce was quite drab and not fresh and there were two unripe cherry tomatoes cut in half and bean sprouts. We were really disappointed as it would be so easy to add acidity or citrus notes and fresh herbs however it was bland and not nice.

CLASSIC SICHAUN PEPPERY FRIED CALAMARI: This was the only dish we really enjoyed. There were 6 pieces of tender lightly crumbed calamari and they were tasty and flavoursome.

VEGETABLE SPRING ROLL WITH SPICED KEWPIE: Mushy veggie centre that had a stewed veggie flavour and the roll was too oily. We didn’t enjoy this.

SMOKED DUCK BREAST, HOUSE HOI SIN, FINE HERBS, ROTI: I had high hopes for this dish as I always order Duck when I dine out and it’s on the menu. There were 4 small rounds of duck with a pink centre. The skin was soft and not edible and the centre was tender but did not taste like duck, the closest flavour I could think was it tasted like spam. I couldn’t eat it. And it’s the first time I could not eat a beloved duck dish ever. There were no herbs on the salad as mentioned on the menu. The roti was fine nothing special but fine.

LUCKIES SWEET AND SOUR PORK, CHARRED PINEAPPLE: This tasted just like Australian sweet and sour pork. The sauce was very thick and shiny think cornflour and the pork battered/ fried and added. It was an ok dish nothing special tasting very close to food court style.

Smacked cucumbers: Salted cucumbers in oil with chilli. No other flavour, and not tasty we couldn’t eat them.

Dessert: I think the wait staff serving us called it a sago rice pudding. It was ok and had bits of jelly on top and a few watermelon and candied walnut chunks. I didn’t like it, my husband didn’t mind it but it was certainly not a showstopper.

All in all we were very disappointed with Luckies. The food lacked identifiable flavour, freshness and innovation. There were no exotic spices, herbs or anything to make the food taste good and they forgot two dishes on the degustation! They were not busy, over half empty so there was no excuse. Maybe we just happened upon a bad night for the restaurant as our dishes looked very different to the photos posted online. It looked like things were possibly missing on our dishes such as herbs etc. We wanted to love...

The food lacked any authenticity, was over-priced, bland, and a lack of seasoning and garnishing. Almost anyone can make a tastier, more authentic asian dish at home; a visit to the ‘International’ aisle at Woolworths would even do the trick. The waitress told us the food is a combination of cantonese and oriental. This is an insult to all cantonese people and ‘oriental’ is considered a dated and racist term. The western staff and management really do need to get out of Bulimba (and probably Queensland) to discover what cantonese/chinese food is (or even what asian food is). I have had a career as a Restaurant Reviewer, have dined extensively at restaurants around the world and this rubbish at Luckies is easily the worst food i have paid for. It would not survive anywhere else where people are a little more cultured.

In response to your reply: Your ignorance is astounding and as you have taken offence at my review by claiming “bullying and harassment” and reporting it to Google shows your immaturity.

The reason you couldn't find any information regarding my visit to your venue is because restaurants don’t usually record the names of all diners. A name is usually given for a table booking only.

In another reply you mention the top establishments in New Zealand you both have worked at. What are they and were you both anywhere...

Luckies Kitchen exceeded all my expectations with an outstanding dining experience! From the moment we stepped in, the warm ambiance and friendly atmosphere set the tone for a memorable evening. The highlight, of course, was the delectable food - each dish was a perfect fusion of flavors that left our taste buds dancing with joy.

What truly stood out was the impeccable service, especially from our server Nick. His attentiveness, knowledge of the menu, and genuine passion for the cuisine made our dining experience even more enjoyable. He went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed, and his friendly demeanor made us feel right at home.

The restaurant's commitment to excellence was evident in every aspect - from the well-curated menu to the attentive staff, and the overall attention to detail. I cannot recommend Luckies Kitchen enough. It's a gem that provides not only a fantastic meal but also an unforgettable dining journey. A must-visit for anyone seeking culinary delights and...