Chef Matty Bennett & Rupert Noffs
Aussie restaurateurs Rupert Noffs and Matty Bennett were the toast of New York City, so there was a bit of an adjustment when they recently swapped the Big Apple for the Central Coast.
Serving everyone from Chris Rock to Salman Rushdie in New York.
Partners in life and business (The Village Voice even anointed them best restaurant couple of the year), Noffs says they'd tired of big city living after seven years and chose the central coast because they love the area and its proximity to family.
Bennett, who spent six years at Longrain before heading stateside, worked in the kitchen at The Fat Radish NYC before opening The Lucky Bee.
The Aussie incarnation has a similar blend of Asian flavours, with Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese influencing its menu. Bao Buns are stuffed with twice-cooked pork hock, mapo tofu comes in cups of iceberg lettuce and fish of the day is coated with Sichuan pepper and salt then fried.
The duo believe they've hit an eating precinct on the rise. ~ Scott Bolles (Good Food, Sydney Morning Herald)
The Aussie restaurateurs who transplanted their restaurant from the Big Apple to Woy Woy on NSW's central coast, have now buzzed their Lucky Bee restaurant concept into upmarket Hardys Bay.
Rupert Noffs and Matty Bennett have opened the new branch of The Lucky Bee with panoramic views out cross the bay.
"I'm not sure what we were thinking opening a second restaurant; we must be still running on New York energy," Noffs says.
"One customer kindly described it as an Asian Sean's Panaroma."
Most of the menu that earned them good reviews in New York and Woy Woy has trekked to Hardys Bay, with a couple of additions.
"We're doing a lobster roll with fries [dusted] with Sichuan pepper and salt," Noffs says.
If the curry on the menu is red, the dining room is the same shade of pink as the original Lucky Bee in NYC.
Events and Catering
Wanna party? The Lucky Bee is available for Private Events, Weddings, Cocktail Parties and more...
We can book entertainment, design and manage your event from catering, seating assignments to RSVPs.
With over 30+ years experience-combined in Hospitality, Events & Design; Chef Matty & Rupert's skills are the bees knees. They have managed & catered events in both Australia and New York City for brands such as Zimmerman, Jason Wu, Ted Baker, ASOS and Barneys New York ...to name a few.
They have cooked for the likes of Rufus Wainright, Barbra Streisand, Diane Kruger, Sir Salman Rushdie, Martha Stewart and LL Cool J.
The Lucky Bee has been featured on the cover of The New York Times Food, The New Yorker, VOGUE, WWD and both TimeOut New York & Sydney.
For Events, Catering or PR Enquires
email: rupert@luckybeenyc.com
Let's Get Fresh!
Since 2015, The Lucky Bee has been an unpretentious dining experience without regional boundaries.
From New York City to Hardys Bay via Woy Woy. Inspired by the streets of Southeast Asia.
We combine flavors of Thailand and Vietnam with Chinese influences - blending them with the freshest Central Coast produce.
Our share-plate menu is designed to be enjoyed with rice: an experience of Sweet, Sour, Salty & Spicy - every dish perfectly balanced to compliment each other.
We are fully licensed with a beautiful selection of local & imported wines, cocktails, and craft beers.
We also have Private Dining Tables for larger groups.