When Andrew McConnell’s expansion to Brisbane was announced in mid-2023, it was to bring the city a taste of Supernormal. But not even McConnell could have anticipated that he’d be opening two venues. Bar Miette, the sibling venue to Supernormal, opens on Monday July 1.

If you’re not familiar with the magnitude of McConnell’s reach, his group Trader House is a household name in Melbourne with Gimlet, Cumulus Inc., Supernormal's original Melbourne location, Marion Wine Bar and Apollo Inn constantly mentioned among the city’s best eateries.

“A lot of people I speak to [in Brisbane] talk about how they go to Melbourne to experience [the dining scene]. I don’t think you need to do that anymore,” says McConnell tells Broadsheet when we visit the space. “I [like] how people are approaching the hospitality industry up here. There’s something quite enterprising here, which is really encouraging.”

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As Broadsheet reported in May, the decision to open in Brisbane was largely brought about by McConnell’s love of the 443 Queen Street eco-brutalist building. The airy space is designed by Acme’s Vince Alafaci and Caroline Choker, who both worked on Gimlet and Apollo Inn. Bar Miette is just upstairs from Supernormal, tucked away from busy Queen Street. Most of its seating is out on the terrace, where you can see the City Cat and the giant trees of Kangaroo Point. Inside it’ll sit just 16, with an additional 70 seats on the terrace.

“It’s a really welcoming city,” McConnell says. “I’ve loved exploring the food scene, which I think is probably one of the most dynamic in the country.”

With a menu from executive chef Jason Barratt (Rae’s at Wategos, Attica, Stokehouse) Bar Miette is a true all-day diner. Though European, the menu will highlight a range of local producers, with Barratt telling Broadsheet in May that he was eager to bring suppliers from Brisbane and the Northern Rivers into the fold.

Mornings start with house-made spelt crumpets with whipped maple butter and banana; a Scandinavian number featuring house-cured smoked trout with seeded rye crackers and sour cream; and a classic bacon bap with crispy rashers and gentleman’s relish. Two cocktails – a Milano Fizz and a Bloody Mary – are also available from 10am.

As the sun gets higher, snacks like anchovy Gildas, crudités with tahini dip and green sauce and various fancy toasts (topped with crab meat and mayonnaise; stracciatella, anchovy and pistacchio; tuna with smoked tomato butter; or sobrassada and chestnut honey) suit a quick lunch. For those settling in, plates of trout crudo, slow-cooked octopus, a charcuterie spread and a particularly enticing bun stacked with mortadella, salted butter and smoked maple syrup invite a lingering lunch.

As you’d expect from a venue with water views, the seafood selection runs the show, with raw Hervey Bay scallops with seaweed vinaigrette, poached local king prawns in rouille sauce and three different 30-gram servings of caviar.

Seasonal salads, cold roast chicken and beef carpaccio with marinated artichokes straddle the border between lunch and dinnertime.

The wine and cocktail selection is similarly strong. Anyone who’s had a Martini made by Cameron Parish (bar manager of Gimlet and Apollo Inn) will be thrilled to know that he is also responsible for Bar Miette’s beverage program. Tropical versions of classic and aperitif cocktails reflect the Queensland climate and environment. Take the Jasmine, a gin cocktail traditionally made with Campari and triple sec, which in Parish’s version is made with rhubarb and blood orange eau de vie.

Bar Miette is thoroughly relaxed – it won’t demand hours-long seatings and doesn’t need to be saved for special occasions. “I realised there was actually room for something like this, something that’s accessible, something all day, something European,” says McConnell. “[You can] just come in and have a glass of wine without having to over-commit to the whole entree-main experience.”

Bar Miette
443 Queen Street, Brisbane
(07) 3524 2024

Hours:
Mon to Fri 7am–10pm
Sat & Sun 8am–10pm

@bar.miette
www.barmiette.com/