Many moons ago, my friend and I frequented Bread and Circus, a Kensington staple that offered the kind of ramshackle, casual dining/event experience that you could only find in a neighborhood like this. (We used to go here to see burlesque shows - don't tell anyone.)
I'm happy to report that Supermarket definitely carries the same spirit of that dearly-departed venue. Hell, it even looks the same! There are a few caveats, but I found the experience to be pleasant and enjoyable.
I came here early with a friend last Saturday evening (as of this writing), as we were waiting for an event (drunk karaoke - you don't sing, you just watch other groups do it) to begin. The place definitely has a very laid-back, chill vibe in the early evening, and we both chatted and looked around the dim restaurant/bar with a drink menu written above in chalk. The other reviews speak truly when they say that the place becomes a bit unbearable volume-wise as the evening progresses, so if you mean to come here just to have a quiet dinner, this may not be the spot for you.
Service is hit-or-miss. One of the waiters brought us a menu and drinks, then disappeared for a solid hour after we made our orders - and we didn't even order much, just a side of fries and a burger entree for her. Later in the evening, after our other friends had joined us, we met a hipster (who I think may be the owner of the restaurant) who offered to comp our meals for free if we could guess the name of a DJ who was playing on the radio. Needless to say, we failed, but his quaint attitude was refreshing and much appreciated in a place like this.
The menu is quite spartan, but it does have fusion elements. Alongside standard bar staples, you have more exotic fare like Laotion spring rolls, Chinese long beans, wok-fried green curried chicken and Argentinian-style steak with chimichurri. I wasn't nearly so bold, and settled for a plate of fries ($6). While they didn't set the world on fire, I was given a generous portion of big beefeater fries that were cooked extremely well, and that's all I needed.
My friend settled for the burger ($12). She didn't seem that impressed with the onion jam, but reported that the rest of it tasted fine. My two other companions, who showed up later in the evening, settled for a burger and the chicken/shrimp pad thai ($14). The latter wasn't received all that well - it wasn't a huge portion size, and yet he still left a fair amount of it unfinished at the end of the meal. I don't know whether that was due to not enjoying it or just getting too full.
The experience was solid, and I could see myself coming back here again. Supermarket like the kind of restaurant that you'd just show up to on a lark, and it has a decent atmosphere, solid (though not amazing) food and some spotty service. It's definitely a place that you'll want to visit at least once. read more