Supernormal (Melbourne)
Melbourne, Australia; 180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Supernormal draws on the food cultures of Japan, China and Korea without presenting itself as a traditional representative of any one of them. Andrew McConnell’s restaurant uses those influences to create a contemporary Melbourne menu, where dumplings, seafood and shared dishes fit naturally into a lively, flexible meal. The lobster roll has become a particularly recognisable expression of that approach. The Flinders Lane room centres on an open kitchen and a long counter, making the preparation and movement of the restaurant part of its atmosphere. Guests can build a meal around smaller plates or order more extensively, with a peanut-butter parfait among the documented desserts. A private karaoke space extends the restaurant’s sociable character for groups looking for a different kind of evening. The City of Melbourne recommends Supernormal as a notable dining address. It belongs in this guide because its appeal is broad without being anonymous: the food has a clear point of view, the room has energy, and the format works for many kinds of visitor. It is an assured introduction to a distinctly Melbourne way of eating.