Most people head to the museum for a day of culture and art, but the Brooklyn Museum‘s added something extra to entice you inside. The museum, which spans five floors and showcases 5,000 years of human creativity, caters to one of the largest and most diverse audiences in the country. From the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art to the Visible Storage Study Center, this museum is definitely worth checking out. But it wasn’t just the exhibits that brought us to check out the museum last week.
After an impressive adventure throughout the exhibits at the Brooklyn Museum, you are bound to work up an appetite. Luckily, this museum is home to recently opened restaurant The Norm, a welcome alternative to your mundane museum cafes. Brought to you by the Brooklyn Museum and its food program partner, Great Performances, The Norm plays to its audience, bringing museum-goers a taste of the multi-cultural heritage found in the borough of Brooklyn.
I cannot emphasize enough how stunning the design of this restaurant is — Anda Andrei, along with Enrico Bonetti and Dominic Kozerski, have accomplished something truly remarkable here. One side of the restaurant houses an array of paintings from the museum’s collection, which would otherwise be in storage, awaiting a feature in an exhibition. On the opposite wall, guests will be impressed by the museum’s custom-made crates that are used to transfer and house different works of art, all in a compelling mint green color and complete with signs and stamps that tell the story of where these pieces have been. As if this isn’t enough, the space is further enhanced by the incorporation of both traditional wooden table seating and comfy, plush chairs around more casual, happy hour-style tables. The culmination of all these elements is nothing short of breathtaking (photos don’t do it justice).
But enough about that — we know it’s the food you’re dying to learn about. Chef Saul Bolton uses seasonal and locally sourced ingredients to bring diners a fresh array of menu items to choose from. Perfect for those just needing a mid-day refresh, the menu has a section of snacks that will accomplish the job: the Bombay Snack Mix, comprised of crispy legumes, coconut, cilantro, red onion and lime, gives a zesty kick to these addictive munches, while Jack’s Housemade Beef Jerky is sure to give you a protein-fueled pick me up.
Entreés range from The Norman Burger and Steamed Wellfleet Littleneck Clams to Chicken Mole Poblano-Style and Tonkotsu-Style Ramen. The latter, which we sampled, is cooked for 48 hours and is complemented with slow poached egg, braised pork belly, mushrooms, scallions, black garlic oil and chili paste, and makes for a surprisingly filling meal.
Along with your food, make sure to enjoy the drinks, which include an affordable wine list, beer selection, house-made sodas and cocktails (the Frenchman is awesome). Uniquely, the beverages will be curated by artists with a knowledge of spirits, like Tom Sachs, who helped to curate the tequila selection. Even the desserts are impressive, with options like Jack’s Dark Chocolate Mousse, Norm’s Ice Cream Sundae, and Vanilla-Scented Crepe Layer Cake. There’s nothing on the menu we tried and didn’t like, which makes it even more impressive that many of the items are vegan and gluten-free — you’d never know.
During the warm summer months, the restaurant will expand to the outdoor terrace and even become an outdoor beer garden this summer. Currently, the restaurant is open from 11am Thursday through Sunday, but there are plans in the works to expand operating days and hours in the near future. Step into the Brooklyn Museum’s The Norm to witness art and food collide.
Twisted Talk: Have you been to the Brooklyn Museum before? Are you excited to go to a good restaurant in a museum? Discuss below!
