With a sizeable number of venues in its portfolio (The Bavarian, Munich Brauhaus, El Camino Cantina, Sake Restaurant & Bar), you’d be forgiven for thinking the crew at Rockpool Dining Group would be content to take a break before opening a new concept. That being said, when an opportunity arises, it’s best to take advantage. When Rockpool’s Burger Project on Edward Street shuttered earlier this year, Rockpool’s creative minds that be wasted no time in coming up with a new idea to occupy Burger Project’s prime CBD spot. Winghaüs by Bavarian takes cues from lively American sports bars, where groups can pick a pew and take in any number of live sporting fixtures across a multitude of screens. The venue’s interior has been overhauled to accomodate 240 guests (including 135 outdoors), with an open-plan space now boasting 20 televisions, a new bar (with 40 taps), communal tables, red-leather booth seating, neon light fixtures, foosball tables and vintage sports memorabilia adorning the walls. Winghaüs is also equipped with a multi-sound Wi-Fi system, which is capable of streaming 30 games to individual listeners via the Listen Everywhere smartphone app. That saves the headache of having 30-odd commentators making a racket all at once.
As the venue’s name can attest, Winghaüs by Bavarian’s fare is centred around finger-lickin’ chicken wings. Ordering is a four-step process – simply pick your style of wing (classic, fried or boneless), pick your quantity (the wings come in serves of 10, 20, 50 and 100 pieces), choose your level of hot sauce (intensity levels range from mild teriyaki and Texas BBQ to face-meltingly hot), then select your dip (blue cheese, ranch, chipotle mayo, garlic). If chicken wings aren’t your bag, you can instead opt for one of three kinds of burgers (two chicken, one beef), deep-fried pickles, onion rings, pretzels, mash and gravy, and loaded chips. Any Bavarian-inspired venue needs a good selection of beer, and Winghaüs’s 40 taps offer a serious amount of variety. The bar (adorned with The Bavarian’s signature stein chandelier) features a massive range of European beers (Löwenbräu, Franziskaner, Hofbräu, Paulaner and Spaten), as well as American brews such Goose Island and Australian favourites 4 Pines and Pirate Life. Not a beer drinker? No problem – El Camino’s margaritas (served frozen or on the rocks) are available, alongside wines and negroni, Aperol spritz and espresso martinis off tap.
Winghaüs by Bavarian officially opens its doors tomorrow, hawking 10-cent buffalo wings until the first points are scored at the AFL grand final. Head to the Stumble Guide for opening hours and other details.