After nearly 17 years of development and eight years of construction, the long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and its restaurant open today, Tuesday, September 22, in Exposition Park. Skywalker Grill, set on the museum’s rooftop, serves a modern
American menu that sources ingredients from Star Wars director George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch for dishes such as a wagyu burger and wagyu Bolognese.
Star Wars fans won’t find a Batuu-bon chocolate cake or the Ithorian garden loaf available at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Instead, Skywalker Grill leans into the familiar, with a menu developed with Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, that features wine from Skywalker Vineyards and meats from Skywalker Ranch. At the restaurant, mozzarella sticks get served with basil pesto and hot honey, lobster corn dogs come with tarragon mustard and spicy ketchup, and an olive oil–poached lobster salad crowns a bed of baby gem lettuce, avocado, shaved vegetables, and a sweet pepper jus. Kids will appreciate the approachable croissant pigs in a blanket and chicken tenders, which get paired with a side of caviar ranch. Mains include New York steak frites with jalapeño chimichurri and a crispy chicken Milanese. Expect brunch in the coming months.
For nearly two decades, Lucas and Hobson have worked on the 11-acre campus adjacent to the University of Southern California, the Natural History Museum, and the California Science Center. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art spans 300,000 square feet and showcases iconic pieces from the Star Wars movies such as an X-wing starfighter, murals from Banksy, and a Frida Kahlo self-portrait. Skywalker Grill, designed by Rockwell Group, offers breathtaking views of Los Angeles, paired with a midcentury-inspired interior with handcrafted cherrywood panels, a statement chandelier, and a winding bar for sipping cocktails like the Soft Launch with watermelon, lime, and volcanic black salt.
While reservations at Skywalker Grill remain difficult to secure, a spokesperson tells Eater that bar seating will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis. The restaurant will also add more reservations in the coming weeks. Museum tickets are not required to dine at the restaurant.
The Skywalker Grill is open Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at One Lucas Plaza, 3800 S. Vermont Avenue, Exposition Park, CA, 90037. Tables (when available) are on Resy.
