Bar Spontana

Funk, fire and fantastic cocktails.

November 18, 2024

1 / 7Perfect spot for a drink.Chris Hopkins

2 / 7Ox tongue skewers with with crispy garlic.Chris Hopkins

3 / 7The whole fish.Photograph by Chris Hopkins

4 / 7From the team behind Mr West.Supplied

5 / 7Fried chicken with chilli sauce.Chris Hopkins

6 / 7Northern Thai raw beef salad.Chris Hopkins

7 / 7Leek skewers.Photograph by Chris Hopkins

Critics' Pick

Thai$

Bar Spontana feels like a secret, and a juicy one at that. Hidden in a Brunswick backstreet, it’s akin to a warehouse apartment: all brick walls, exposed beams and leafy plants. Wooden booths line one wall, and tables are big enough to hold dozens of plates.

But first, a drink. The house martini is subtly floral, made with Saison vermouth, and low-intervention wines are mostly well under $100.

Chef Pipat Yodmunee leans into his Isan heritage for skewers of grilled leek with burnt green chilli, and tender ox tongue with garlic. Fried chicken comes with nam jim gai, the funky, multifaceted sweet chilli sauce, and northern-style raw beef is burn-your-face-off spicy.

The kitchen will lessen the heat if necessary but if you’re someone who loves loud flavours, this food will delight you.