Stag Hotel goes back to pub dining
The Stag Hotel in Rundle Street Adelaide has gone through a rebirth.
Less than nine months ago after a multi-million dollar renovation, its new openers reopened it with a high class restaurant offering a broadly European menu and well-known chef Camillo Crugnale in the kitchen. Crugnale had been poached from Assaggio. The aim was to create something very different from the Stag’s steakhouse days.
The Stag was bought by Adelaide businessman Philip Speakman, hospitality veteran Chris Kenny and Melbourne hotelier Dean Grant. They snapped it up after it closed in March last year.
They had plans for the place and put it through extensive renovations on the ground and first floor, and creating a new restaurant space.
That was then. Now the owners have shut the Vardon restaurant and replaced it with a pub style bistro.
That followed Crugnale’s departure, triggering a new menu with simpler food and cheaper prices.
The two types of venues cannot even be compared. At Vardon, you couldn’t get a main course for under $35. At Stag Bistro, there’s schnitzels, burgers, steaks and other dishes, mostly under $30.
Also, they’ve put in a new bar and furniture, along with lights, mirrors and a television. Also, there are now tables for casual dining. The upstairs bars and balcony is reserved for functions or large groups.
“The Vardon was a great concept but unfortunately wasn’t quite right for what we are, which is a pub,” Stag general manager Robby Lippett told the Herald Sun. “It produced some great food but we need to keep in the back of our minds that we are a pub and the prices were a little bit scary.”
Lippett said it’s paid off handsomely.
“We instantly doubled our figures in number of meals sold,” he said. “We’re going in the right direction, which is good. We’re back to just being a good, food-driven venue.”
by Leon Gettler, June 28th 2016
