The Defiant Duck

THE DEFIANT DUCK HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED.

The Defiant Duck is a cool contemporary American-inspired eatery and bar overlooking the historic gasometer at Newstead Gasworks Stage 2.

With factory chic décor (corrugated glass panel dividers), pale timber work bench style tables and open plan bar with pool table, The Defiant Duck oozes a signature pared back style.

Breakfast is served in-house on weekends from 7-11 and on weekdays as takeaway from the coffee window. Daily from 11am, diners can partake in the lunch/dinner menu, which is a real treat, with their signature dishes prepared in the 100% charcoal powered Josper Oven.

For starters there’s finger lickin’ delicious Charcoal Buffalo Wings (from the Jasper oven) with Roquefort dressing and shaved celery, Maryland Jumbo Crab Cakes, Mini Corn Dogs and the must try Mac’n’Cheese Croquettes with red slaw and Philadelphia cream cheese.

Or for something lean and healthy, try the Fat Salad – baby cos, avocado, sunflower seeds, pepitas, shaved coconut and chili lime dressing.

Three of The Defiant Ducks’ burgers come from the Josper Oven – Charcoal Grilled Chicken (with Swiss cheese, onion rings and paprika mayo), Grilled Beef (mozzarella, pickle and TDD Chutney) and the Toasted Reuben Sandwich (rye, corned Wagyu silverside, Swiss cheese, TDD Tomato relish, sauerkraut and pickle) as does the Super Bowl Salad (grilled chicken, baby spinach, kale, chia and pomegranate seeds, basil, mint, beetroot and apple cider dressing).

Big Plates include Fried Chicken (Southern style by the bucket), Chef’s Steak of the Day, Charcoal Pork Ribs and the succulent must try Coco Cola Beef Ribs (rack of wagyu beef with mustard mayo and burnt shallots). And for Sides there’s Sweet Potato Chips, Charcoal Corn on the Cob, Shoestring Fries and Coleslaw.

The Defiant Duck serves 3 divine desserts – Cherry Pie A La Mode, the Defiant Brownie and The Mighty Duck Sundae (cookie dough ice cream, marshmallows, wafer, shaved chocolate, cool whip and peanut brittle), all of which are just as good as everything else served here.

Like the food, the drinks menu is a slick affair. For cocktails think Espressotini (Havana Club Anejo 7 yr old rum, kahlua, TMD Wattle Toffee, choc bitters and espresso), The Lady Grey (Absolut Citron St Germain, earl grey tea, cloudy ale, lemon and basil), Satin Doll Sangria (Infused white wine, crème de peche, mint and lemon)and Tommy’s Margarita (Herradura Silver Tequila, tequila, agave nectar and lime) by the glass or jugs of Pimms No 1 , Sangria Satin Doll and Lynchburg Lemonade (Jack Daniels whisky, triple sec and lemon).

Wines on tap include Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris or Moscato and St Hallett ‘Garden of Eden’ Shiraz (by the glass, 500ml or 1l Carafe).

Otherwise there’s a good selection of boutique wines (red, white, rose, champagne and sparkling) by the glass and bottle and a decent menu of local and craft beers.

Need to know - The Defiant Duck lives on the opposite side of the gasring to Reef, Hatch and Co and so forth. Walk under the gasring and you'll find them in a corner on the other side.