Where: Cnr Latrobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne

When: Mon-Thurs 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12am, Sun 11am-9pm

EFTPOS Available

Take-away/ Very limited dine-in

Vego :/     (1 main option available)

Contact: (03) 9639 6544

I’m just as vulnerable to a tasty new fad as anyone else and in case you haven’t noticed, Melbourne is getting sausage-happy at the moment. While the Bratwurst shop at QV Market has been bustling for years, it is just recently that new sausage businesses are popping up around town. Snag Stand, tacked onto the North-East shoulder of Melbourne Central is one of them. Originally from Sydney, they have a new store here in Melbs, this time with some particularly hardcore opening hours (open till midnight fri-Sat). Not only are they catching the walk-by lunch crowd, they’re cashing in on the after hours drinking crowd too. Smart no?

Snag Stand proudly state that they only use “Australia’s most respected and awarded artisan butchers”. They’re also pretty fancy with their sauces; with the likes of truffle aioli and a BBQ one made from Coopers’ Pale Ale. They have plenty of interesting combinations all around the $9 mark. There’s also an option to just purchase a “snag in a roll” for $6.90 with toppings at an additional $1 each. I decided to tuck into the Backyarder described as “Classic Aussie beef and tomato sausage on a rustic roll with creamy coleslaw, Coopers Ale BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese” ($8.90).

I was curious to find out whether Snag Stand was more gourmet BBQ or over-priced fast food. I’m disappointed to say it was the latter; with the “rustic roll” remarkably similar to the sugary buns at the golden arches and coleslaw so laden with chemicals that it practically stung my eyes, I felt swindled. The sausage itself was great, I’ll give them that, but tarting it up with the cheapest bread and toppings they could source was a very bad move. As for the Coopers Ale BBQ sauce, I couldn’t distinguish it from the sharp tang of the coleslaw. 

I can only imagine myself returning to eat at Snag Stand under very specific conditions; very late at night after far too much to drink and an unusual amount of money left in my wallet. Snags, I’ll see you then.

The Backyarder ($8.90)

Food: 1.5/5

Service: 4/5

Ambiance: 1/5