You won’t believe the food you can get at the footy these days (and who’s cooking there)

The all-important food group known as Footy Food now has some unlikely stars in its pack, as the half-time snacks at major stadiums around Melbourne inch closer to what we eat at restaurants any night of the week. Some are even available year-round, as Marvel Stadium seeks to position itself as a dining attraction with its raft of new eateries that opened last week.

High-profile chef Shannon Martinez, a pioneer of plant-based cooking and owner of Collingwood restaurant Smith & Daughters, is one of the big names in food attached to the $225 million Marvel overhaul.

She is one of three chefs overseeing the food at Friends of Fire, a pub-style venue with American food and Amphora, a plush restaurant above it partly inspired by New York steakhouses.

What’s more, her venues and others at the stadium are open on non-game days (with more venues planned), holding the potential to transform a barren and windswept stretch of Docklands into a dining destination for nearby office workers and residents.

At 1pm on an average Tuesday, 509 pedestrians will walk across Bourke Street Bridge which connects Marvel Stadium to Southern Cross station and nearby office blocks. In comparison, Collins Place at the opposite end of the city records an average of 1276 pedestrians. That’s despite offices in Docklands having a lower vacancy rate than Melbourne as a whole, according to Property Council of Australia figures.

Beyond revitalisation, the stadium’s overhaul raises the bar for food at AFL games, concerts (such as Pink) and other major events, with far more now on offer than boxes of hot chips and soggy chicken rolls.

Earl Canteen is a notable addition: a well-known and liked Melbourne chain of lunch bars serving salads, light sandwiches and good coffee. The grab-and-go outlet has bought sandwich presses designed in Europe that can grill toasties in one-minute flat – four times faster than other machines.

“We’re the Melbourne brand doing Melbourne service with great food and coffee,” says co-founder Jackie Middleton.

Melbourne’s 400 Gradi pizza and fine-dining chefs including Peter Gunn of Ides, famous for its Black Box dessert, are among the other new additions to the stadium’s public and VIP areas.

At the 450-capacity Friends of Fire, there are no sweaty bunned burgers. Instead, you can get Oklahoma smash burgers, a US specialty featuring almost as much grilled onion as meat, while on non-match days, people can sit down to a full menu of steaks, sides and fancy potato dishes.

Three grills in full view of diners are not just for grilling dozens of steaks at a time. One is exclusively used for meat, another for seafood, and another for vegetarian and vegan dishes. Every steak, parma and chicken burger has a vegan equivalent.

Marvel’s moves reflect a wider trend of quality dining at sports stadiums, with Guy Grossi’s menus at the MCG’s Committee Room the closest example to home. In Sydney, Merivale serves cooked-to-order pasta, dumplings and French bistro food at Allianz Stadium and the SCG, while at Accor Stadium there are home-grown favourites like El Jannah charcoal chicken.

But Marvel is unusual in opening up three of its new venues year-round. The hope seems to be that if football crowds have a good time at Marvel’s slate of new eateries, it will have a ripple effect on the precinct year-round.

“It’s about 50,000 people there for a game,” says Martinez. “It’s only a matter of time. If we can execute this properly and bring people in, I don’t see why it can’t take off.”

Eight great new places to eat at Marvel Stadium

Friends of Fire

What: A loud and laidback hangout for families and groups, where Americana is the name of the game. Flames from the grill dance over glazed pork ribs, whole fish, prawns and steaks – lots of steaks. There’s a baked potato that comes with caviar. A separate game day menu is geared to crowd-pleasing fare, like burgers and parmas. Everything can be made vegan.
Pick of the dishes: For footy matches, it’s the chilli dog, based on those you’d find at Coney Island ($22). On other days, go for split king prawns with fermented chilli butter ($32).
Best for: A quick bite on game day, or a steakhouse-style meal with colleagues mid-week.
Open: Match and event days, plus Tue-Sat noon-late

Amphora

What: A sumptuous steakhouse-style restaurant where sinking into one of the horseshoe booths in the heavily soundproofed room could make you forget where you are. Tables are bookable and there are glamorous towers to share, loaded with seafood, plant-based bites, or charcuterie and wings, all perfect for quick stops between quarters.
Pick of the dishes: An ice-cream sundae from the roaming cart, which dishes out all the toppings of your choice, from salted fudge sauce to peanut brittle and even fairy floss ($14).
Best for: Hiding from all the sport.
Open: Match and event days, plus Thu-Sat 4pm-late

8Bit

What: The popular premium burger experts bring retro arcade vibes and tasty dude food to Marvel, with touchscreen ordering and tables for eating in. There’s a solid selection of substantial burgers, hotdogs, and loaded fries and potato gems to choose from in a fun diner setting. Soon, a second store will be added, open for weekday lunches.
Pick of the dishes: The Gauntlet ($18.50) is great for big appetites, packed with fried chicken, bacon, two types of cheese, lettuce and a bunch of sauces that meld together into something magnificent.
Best for: Teenagers and their hungover parents.
Open: Match and event days only (for now)

Earl Canteen

What: Eating salad at the footy is no longer the punchline of a joke about Melbourne Football Club. Fresh Earl Canteen favourites have arrived at Marvel, from the ultra-green bowl with boiled eggs to grilled zucchini and grain salad. Heftier are the chicken, bacon and avocado baguettes, Boscastle pies and meatballs with brown rice.
Pick of the dishes: It’s hard to go past the chicken sandwich ($10.90). No surprises here: just herby mayo, soft bread and good chook.
Best for: Footy (and office) friendly food with a healthy twist.
Open: Match and event days, plus Mon-Fri 7am-2pm

Gami

What: Move over KFC: growing Melbourne-made franchise Gami’s great Korean fried chicken is now on the menu at Marvel, with a finger lickin’ selection of boneless and popcorn chicken, chips and burgers.
Pick of the dishes: The original boneless Gami fried chicken ($21) with a mix of breast and thigh fillets. Don’t forget the dipping sauce.
Best for: Anyone who eats meat. Who doesn’t love fried chicken?
Open: Match and event days only

Hunky Dory

What: The popular fish and chip chain has dropped anchor on level one, slinging fried and grilled favourites to footy fans and gig-goers. Go fancy with grilled barramundi ($25) or golden calamari with chips and salad ($20.50), or pick up a wallet-friendly panko fish burger ($13.50).
Pick of the dishes: At just $3.80 for two, the potato cakes are the perfect affordable snack.
Best for: Channelling chill beachside vibes when your team are getting thrashed.
Open: Match and event days only

Pronto

What: If pizza is your religion (after your fantasy team, of course), you’ll be offering thanks that 400 Gradi is blasting its ovens in the stands of Marvel. Its new takeaway concept, Pronto, is serving margherita and salami pizzas on stone-baked bases that are large enough to split with your crew.
Pick of the dishes: The Italo-Aussie favourites on the menu – capricciosa or if you’re a true thrillseeker, Hawaiian – are the most footy appropriate.
Best for: When you need one hand free to wave your scarf, drink a beer or gesticulate angrily at umpires.
Open: Match and event days only

Yamas Souvlaki

What: Pizza king Johnny Di Francesco (400 Gradi) has decided to give Greek a go with his new venture Yamas, meaning “cheers”. It’s a simple but effective menu: just three classic kebabs – and hot chips, of course.
Pick of the dishes: Lamb souvlaki with lettuce, tomato, onion and tzatziki ($18.50).
Best for: A half-time feed that’ll fuel you until the final siren.
Open: Match and event days only