St Kilda stalwart restaurant Lau's Family Kitchen to close after 15 years

St Kilda stalwart Lau's Family Kitchen has called time after 15 years, citing the end of its Acland Street lease.

In a message on Instagram announcing its closure at the end of March, Lau's thanked its customers, saying, "Lau's Family Kitchen could not have been as successful without your support."

Jason and Michael Lau, sons of former Flower Drum grand master Gilbert Lau, opened the tiny St Kilda canteen in 2006, serving modern Cantonese food with calm efficiency.

The key to its success has been the quality of the Australian produce used in classically inspired Cantonese dishes.

It quickly became a neighbourhood favourite, with dishes such as braised brisket, wild Northern Territory barramundi with light soy, spring onions and coriander, and prawn har gau dumplings all developing a following.

It has also been popular with the hospitality industry, with Pt. Leo Estate culinary director Phil Wood recently describing it as one of his favourite restaurants.

Lau's Family Kitchen is the latest high-profile venue in the area to shut. It follows the recent closure of Big Mouth, Dogs Bar and Ilona Staller in Balaclava. More restaurants are predicted to follow once JobKeeper ends on March 31.