Take a seat at the bar
A bowl of dumplings and a cold beer. Some oysters, a glass of Apollonis Blanc de Noirs Champagne and an impromptu plate of tuna. What’s next? What’s that? Where’s that going? Our inner monologue runs wild when seated at the bar.
Like a silent film, there’s something about the bar at Supernormal. The humdrum of the outside world falls away as the activity of the restaurant springs to life. The warm red glow of neon becomes more pronounced as night falls. The foot traffic on Flinders Lane marches on and all around it's like a dance. Chefs, quietly and calmly, go about their tasks. Just over the benchtop, they’re plating cold and raw dishes, their movements deliberate and steady.
Our zinc bar, patinated by many guests who’ve come before, is like an all-access area, a behind-the-scenes pass. The main dining room disappears, and the bubble of your company and conversation is only interrupted by enthusiasm and intrigue. Bartenders mixing drinks, warming sake, decanting wine or pointing out dishes you’ve missed, you’ll try next time or are about to eat.
Behind the front-line chefs and those at the pass, hot dishes emerge from ovens, grills and pans. Dishes, set in rows, are ready to receive their final touches - bottles with dressing enter the scene at every angle, hands aligning and ordering ingredients, forks and tongs placed - these finishing touches only prolonging the inevitable.
Watching the pass can be hungry work, particularly as plates of whole flounder or slow cooked lamb leave the pass. (A reminder that half serves of almost every dish can be arranged). Linger a little longer and that Fabien Coche Burgundy you saw the bartender wielding before moves from mere idea to something more tangible, an experience and something to savour.
Where would we sit? Spots 20 and 21. Just past the mid-point of the bar, but directly in front of the kitchen. These are probably our favourite seats. Inches from the chefs as they prepare Schezuan white-cut chicken with shredded potato, sesame and spinach, and where we can spy glimpses of tuna with sansho pepper at the raw bar on the right or soft serve swirling into chilled tulips on our left.
We love the feeling of sitting at the bar, the anticipation and enthusiasm wins us over every time. It is a bubble, it’s its own little world, capable of shielding you from the elements while letting you peek behind the curtain.
Like Supernormal itself, the illuminated and enumerated light boxes that run the length of the bar appear serious at first, but a closer look reveals their most charming and disarming feature; a smiling cloud to greet you with wonder and curiosity, whatever the day outside.
‘Please sit here’, they seem to say, ‘and have fun!’
