Bar Spontana - Bar in Brunswick Victoria

We took our two little children here and we all absolutely loved it. The food was delicious, the staff incredibly welcoming and attentive, and the atmosphere spot on. Also great cocktails! Would travel to come back! Well done!

I hosted an event at Bar Spontana last Friday night and everything was fabulous on the night but so was the care, attention to detail and prompt communication leading up to the event. We started off with drinks (the coffee cocktail is a winner, most of us ordered this one to begin with!), and then we made our way to dinner tables. Service was friendly, warm and attentive, food was delicious, amazing and surprising (in a good way), and the vibe was great! We had the Feed Me menu which was plentiful and comprised diverse flavours and textures. I particularly enjoyed the chicken and banana blossom salad. Good value for the amount and quality of food as well! Would recommend to anyone looking for something a little different in a place that oozes cool vibes.

Bar Spontana, formerly 4 Saxon Street, is now a Thai eatery and bar serving up regional-inspired flavours with a fiery kick. Before visiting, we patiently waited for reviews of the relaunched restaurant and, based on the positive feedback we saw online, we decided to book a table on a cold and rainy Melbourne night.

The atmosphere and vibe at Bar Spontana were warm and welcoming, with cool music playing softly in the background and mood lighting setting the tone. The overall service was good, though it did get off to a slow start, taking over 25 minutes to get our bottle of fizz. Once the service picked up, however, it was much improved.

For our meal, we started with an assortment of skewers - baby octopus, pork jowl, ox tongue, and beef sausage. The flavours were mouthwatering and well-balanced, with a real kick when dipped in the accompanying sauces, one of which was particularly fiery. The skewers were served with a side of fermented accompaniments to help cut through the richness. While the taste was excellent, we felt the portion size didn't quite justify the price, and we'd recommend either increasing the number of skewers per order with a minor price increase or adjusting the pricing down with the current serving size - it just felt off.

The northern-style raw beef dish was perfectly balanced, with a long, spicy finish that packed a punch. It was served in a bowl with some toasted sticky rice, mint, saw-tooth coriander, and cabbage, creating a delightful umami-rich experience. The hat-yai fried chicken was also a highlight, with a well-seasoned crumb and a nice spicy kick, complemented by the chargrilled broccolini.

To finish, we had the house-fermented Esan pork sausage, which was our top pick of the night. Packed with flavours of garlic, fermented glass noodle, and coriander root, it was a unique and delightful combination of texture and taste.

Overall, our first impression of Bar Spontana was positive. While the slow start to service and the value proposition of the skewers were minor drawbacks, we were impressed by the restaurant's ability to serve up Thai flavours that challenged the typical stereotypes one would expect when they hear Thai food (green curry anyone?). We're excited to see a Thai eatery that's willing to push the boundaries and offer something different.

After hearing great reviews I booked Bar Spontana for a meal and catchup with friends. The staff were welcoming, efficient and knowledgeable. The food recommendations were so delicious and exceeded all expectations. The extensive wine, spirits list was fantastic. Loved my cocktail. The atmosphere was wonderful. You've set the bar high (Pardon the pun) Keep up the great work, don't change a thing. Until next time.

Exquisite service & delicious wines. Looking forward to returning when we have more time for the Feed Me option on the menu. Saving the fifth star for the food.