Overview
A pop-up turned perennial favourite, Supernormal first opened the doors to its current Flinders Lane digs in early 2014 and has been earning fans ever since for its crafty fusion fare. The menu has retained many other crowd favourites, but continues to evolve over time. Supernormal is truly Melbourne at its best.
If your kind of heaven features soft, pillowy lobster rolls and floating clouds of peanut butter parfait, then you'll be happy to know that Andrew McConnell's much-loved Supernormal is still serving these popular dishes more than a decade later.
While many CBD restaurants have waxed and waned over the years, with many sadly never fully bouncing back post the arduous COVID lockdowns, Supernormal has emerged as one of Melbourne's most loved and enduring dining rooms. There just aren't that many restaurants these days where you have to be waitlisted for a table for two on a random Tuesday evening. And it's this anticipation that keeps us coming back for more and more.
As with all of McConnell's iconic ventures, Supernormal ticks all the boxes required for a great evening out: consistently delicious food, creative, refreshing drinks, top-notch, attentive service, and an atmospheric space that rewards you for getting out of trackies and off the couch.
Kick off your night with house-made kimchi, Korean rice cakes, and Szechuan pickled vegetables while you peruse the drinks list and take in the bustling energy (we always end up ordering a second serve of the mouthwateringly moreish sweet chilli rice cakes).
No doubt you'll be ordering at least one of the aforementioned lobster rolls per person, a couple of rounds of dumplings, and some seriously stellar seafood such as the yellowfin tuna with pickled wakame, the raw snapper and scallop with lemon ponzu and a selection of seafood on ice.
Regulars know that the short rib bun with aged vinegar and fermented chilli is not only one of the best bites at Supernormal, but across the city, and that the twice-cooked duck leg bao and slow-cooked Szechuan lamb shoulder with flatbread are non-negotiable orders.
And if you're lucky enough to pop in during noodle season at Supernormal, add a steaming bowl of slurping deliciousness to your order. The team take their noodles seriously here, and so for six weeks during the colder months, they put on a noodle showcase, featuring oodles of noodles in all sorts of shapes, styles and flavours.
Do your best at securing a reservation to sample one, or many of the rotating noodle dishes on offer this winter. Depending on when you visit, you may be lucky enough to try Shaanxi-style noodles with braised oxtail and preserved vegetables, or Tiger Prawn egg noodles with smoked roe. The kitchen will also showcase knife-cut wheat noodles with spiced cumin lamb and Baoning vinegar, creamy Dan Dan noodles with mustard greens and Szechuan sesame sauce, and Fujian-style wok-fried crab noodles.
Dessert-wise, it goes without saying that the peanut butter parfait with salted caramel and soft chocolate is worth saving room for, as is the newly introduced apple pie soft serve.
Supernormal also boasts one of the most fun private dining experiences in Melbourne. Kick off with a long lunch or dinner for up to 40 guests, followed by karaoke in the very same room. The team has a huge screen and all the gear required to keep the dancing and singing going til late.
Images: Supplied.
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