Owner Patrick MacIntyre celebrates his new digs with a pint and a steak sandwich.

Find It...

Ironwood Stage & Grill

About five years ago, I gave Ironwood a positive review. Back then it was located just down the street from its new location in Inglewood’s Garry Theatre. Today, I find myself back to review the new space and anew menu. I’m hoping the food is as good as I remember.

Honouring the heritage of the historic theatre space, the new digs haven’t been completely overhauled, but rather stripped down to the essential parts — making for a cool music hall with above-average pub-style food.

Visiting at 7:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, my boyfriend and I are a little early for the evening’s open mic night, but we decide to sit in the hall anyway. The other option is a bright front room with windows that look onto Ninth Avenue S.E. It’s a smaller space with limited seating, but a good backup plan in case the hall is sold out.

The hall is fairly quiet. A few people are eating and the laid-back staff is visibly waiting for things to pick up. But even though it’s not happening on this particular night, it’s easy to imagine what a great night of music would be like. The sightlines are good and the space is intimate; it’s perfect for its purpose.

Getting right to it, we start with a serving of grilled Spolumbo's sausage with roasted tomato sauce, green chili cornbread and tequila butter ($12). The portion is generous, with two large perfectly grilled links and a hearty dollop of spicy tomato sauce. It goes well with the freshly made cornbread. Baked with real kernels of corn and with a mild chili heat, the bread is downright delicious, and even tastier with small pats of the tequila butter.

On the side, we try the hearts of romaine salad ($9). It isn’t much to look at, but the tangy taste more than makes up for the presentation. Featuring asiago cheese-stuffed olives, homemade garlic croutons and a creamy sundried tomato pesto dressing, the greens are a perfect accompaniment to our Spolumbo's sausage.

We consider a couple of entrees — bison meatball fettuccini ($14) and the Mediterranean lamb meatloaf with beer braised onions and feta ($18) — before deciding on a surf and turf of sorts.

For his main, my boyfriend has the AAA flatiron steak sandwich with homemade onion rings, blue cheese butter and grilled portabella mushrooms ($17). Served with your choice of sides, we go with the yummy yam fries.

The result is pub steak done right. Stacked with fresh, soft onion rings and earthy portabellas, the steak is a made-to-order quality cut. The accompanying blue cheese butter is tangy, but not entirely necessary if you prefer to stick with the natural taste of a good steak.

I choose the fresh battered halibut ($13 for one, or $17 for two pieces). This is not your average fish and chips. The chips are homemade potato chips — warm and crunchy, and not at all what I was expecting. The fish is hearty. We order two pieces, but one was more than enough for both of us. Like the onion rings, the batter is soft and airy. Served with a spot of grainy Dijon coleslaw and a zesty artichoke tartar sauce for dipping, this is a great take on a pub favourite.

If you find yourself wandering around Inglewood looking for some decent pub grub, or seeking a night out at the ol’ music hall, then Ironwood Stage and Grill is your ticket. With a vintage-style space and tasty, comforting food, I am oddly nostalgic for a bygone era when a good night on the town consisted of dinner and a show at your favourite cabaret.