Overview
It's won stacks of fans and cemented its status as a cracking northside live music venue since opening just six months ago. But now, Brunswick's Stay Gold has transformed into the ultimate package deal, as its owners launch their long-planned kitchen and bar addition, Spitfire.
Following the success of its 400-capacity Sydney Road band room, the Stay Gold team — that is, Ben Turnbull, Paul Goddard, Jesse Barbera and Noah Honeywill — has turned its sights to the front half of the building. The hospitality veterans — who also run Brisbane favourites The Brightside, Black Bear Lodge, Barbara and Lucky Egg — have teamed up with chef Blair Williams (previously of barbecue joints The Gem and Bluebonnet Barbecue) to bring this next piece of the puzzle to life.
A little more refined than the guys' usual M.O, Spitfire is plating up a broad range of flavours from Spain, South America and southern USA, with much of the menu driven by Williams' love of cooking with fire. He's using iron bark in the wood oven, red gum to fuel a charcoal rotisserie and various fruit woods throughout the rest of the menu. Just don't let that fool you into expecting some meat-heavy lineup — here, there's a definite and deliberate swing towards vegetarian and plant-based fare. Lunch or dinner visits might see you tucking into the likes of baby leeks with charry romesco sauce or a vibrant assembly of salted cucumber. Though a 24-hour brined free-range chicken cooked over charcoal is set to be a centrepiece of many a meal here.
The 24-hour brined charcoal chicken.
But the real fun comes after 10pm, when the after-dark menu kicks in, tempting the hungry post-gig crowd in for a feed. Snacks include southern fried eggplant tenders, panko-crumbed lamb nuggets and the very rock 'n' roll Black Metal croquettes, crafted from Spitfire's own tongue-infused blood sausage creation. There are a couple of signature snack packs — one vegan and one loaded with charcoal chicken and gravy — and a few of Williams' own riffs on the humble street souva. The Dolly promises to be an after-show favourite, packed with charcoal lamb, chips, barbecued onion and — for homesick New Zealanders — kiwi onion dip.
Stay Gold has been dishing up a wide range of musical gold since its launch, a reflection of owner Turnbull's other life as a music promoter and founder of touring company Destroy All Lines. The stage has played host to acts from Mental As Anything, through to POND, while a program of throwback and tribute parties has punters dancing up a storm to old-school hits on the regular.
Find Spitfire at 133 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Spitfire launches officially this Friday, April 12 and everyone's invited. The fun kicks off at 6.30pm, with a secret headline act playing Stay Gold from 8pm and guest DJs the rest of the night. After that it will be open from 5pm–late every Wednesday to Sunday.