

“The circle is a symbol of harmony in Asian cultures and our menu is modern Australian with Asian fusion, so the design reflects all of that as it uses the circle within a square design theme.”Īnd so far, reaction has been favourable. I think the open and simple design is making a come back compared to say the industrial, exposed brick type look. “We wanted to be a bit brave with the use of soft textures and colour. Blood Drop, Realistic drops of blood, blood drops illustration transparent background PNG clipart size: 909圆06px filesize: 71.79KB gold bar, Gold bar. “From the beginning, we wanted to create something that would stand out from the crowd, but would also be a good representation of the culture of the local area,” says Liu. “The effect is exclusive, but not branded unspoken deeply felt.” Client reaction Our practice is to cultivate brilliance from the innermost details, then radiate those elements back out. With a strong conceptual focus, The Penny Drop designers looked for ideas that had “positive emotional affect and functionality as well as a uniqueness behind each design detail.” They were “pedantic about material quality and revere customisation. Restaurant design now is about sophistication married up with comfort. Old-world materials – dark timber veneers, Dalmation-coloured granite and gold fixtures – mix among a fan of circular forms – light fittings, timber room dividers, a large curving bar, and the signature brass penny pendants, angled for fun. The Penny Drop’s “modern Australian” menu offers a range of dishes from breakfast classics through to unique share plates with an Asian-inspired twist.Īrt deco light fittings and textured surfaces were introduced to a large commercial shell to create a playful, classy café-restaurant. Interior designed by Golden, the space combines high ceilings and muted earthy tones “to create a warm and inviting oasis,” Liu says. Today, The Penny Drop is a permanent 100-seater restaurant. After realising that there was a gap in the market for a vibrant all-day eatery in the area, the penny metaphorically dropped for owner Steven Liu. Melbourne’s The Penny Drop began as a coffee pop-up. Restaurant designers point to the need to reflect a new energy and culinary maturity, noting that people – owners and diners – are looking for familiarity, and cultural connection.


“The projects with the smallest budgets showed the most attention to such detail and created the most thoughtful design moments.” “It is as if things have been taken down a notch in one way, and yet intensified in another.
PENNY DROP CIRCLES ON BARS PLUS
The jury of the latest Eat Drink Design Awards – where Australia’s and New Zealand’s best designed restaurants, cafes, bars, installations and retail spaces for food and drink are recognised – noted that what united the entries was a “sense of ambition”, plus the fact that designers, and operators, “seem to be designing to and from a base of intrinsic practicality, whether that be the durability of materials and joinery, or the distinct lack of superfluous multi-million-dollar budgets. ‘Thoughtful,’ ‘artisanal’ and ‘exuberant’ are the words used to describe projects which have recently won awards. Good service, ambience or atmosphere, and location are essential elements to the success of a restaurant, of course, but a lot also rests on the design creating a space that responds to all those. Zara Horner speaks with restaurant owner Steven Liu, who knows design makes all the difference. But great food is not enough nowadays to ensure restaurant success. “Maybe you can start a trend in Toronto,” one of the women suggested.Australia gets a lot of things right. For $45 they got a drink that would probably serve four: champagne, orange liqueur, grapefruit juice and fresh lavender. The talk of the bar was another “me-too” drink being sipped by two young women - a punchbowl-sized concoction called the High Line Fling. You may have to be content with a regular glass, so rinse it in cold water and stick it in the freezer for 20 minutes to get it properly frosty. But it was that copper cup that really sold the drink, keeping it ice cold though to the last sip. But the addition of ginger syrup and lime carried a touch of smoothness to the vodka and ginger beer classic, a favourite of mine in hot weather. “It’s a take on the Moscow Mule,” the bartender explained. It looked so completely refreshing, I just had to have one. It was a hot day and it seemed every second person was sipping a cocktail from a frosty copper mug, the metal container sweating in the sunshine. That’s what happened to me recently in Manhattan on a Sunday late afternoon recently as I walked past the crowded terrace of the trendy Standard Grill on Washington St. Just seeing a delicious-looking cocktail served to someone nearby can start a “me-too effect” among patrons.

NEW YORK-Smart bartenders know we drink with our eyes, too.
