My new love’s name is Mr Close…a cafe/restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD in the Target centre (cnr Swanston and Bourke streets). Prices here are a wee bit higher than you would find in nearby cafes but you pay for a fresh gourmet menu that changes pretty much daily…and the food is generally really beautiful. I’ve eaten here many many times and have regular favourites, particularly the salads and curries. The menu is marked with what is gluten free and if you’re not sure you can ask the staff. The chef is usually there too and happy to talk through ingredients if the staff are not sure. They also do take away.

They also sometimes have amazingly decadent gluten free desserts.

Check out their website here.

Sushi Sushi is a chain of sushi cafes around Melbourne (and all around Australia too) that have selected hand rolls and sushi packs that are gluten free. And they have just started stocking gluten free soy sauce – it’s an extra 20c but better than no soy on your sushi!

Most of the stores I’ve been to have a sign near the counter that shows which sushi is gluten free. If you want to research before hand you can check out their website which details gluten free options (although it’s quite clunky to use).

Go forth and eat sushi!

See their website for a full list of locations.

Bizzarri Dolci is a bakery in East Malvern that make a beautiful range of biscuits and treats on site, lots of which are gluten free.

I dropped in on the weekend for some almond biscuits and Almond Butter Crunch for a Christmas party…serve with strawberries on a platter and you have a beautiful, quick, mess free dessert!

The staff are very helpful in pointing out what is gluten free too which is always nice.

Take a look at their website here and make sure you drop in for some treats soon!

510 Waverley Rd, Malvern East

Red Mullet is both a seafood restaurant and a fish and chippery. You’ll pay a little bit extra compared to the normal local fish and chip place here, but you’re getting quality every time. I’ve been here a few times now and every time has been excellent food, both dine in and take away.

They don’t do gluten free batter, but there are quite a few GF options on the menu without batter, like a Salmon fillet with sweet chilli sauce below. For some reason their online menu doesn’t list GF options, but the menu when you go there lists what is GF.

A great option for either a casual dine in restaurant meal or a quick take away.

Check out their website here

210 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern

Cupcakes, how can you possibly not love them???

Joy Cupcakes is such a cute shop, it just makes you smile when you walk in and see all these beautiful, immaculate cupcakes sitting there waiting for you to pick one…or two…or three…

Whilst there is not a huge range of gluten free cupcakes (there are only a few flavours), they are clearly marked on the cupcake menu, which also tells you which days of the week each flavour is baked.

There are 2 locations – Southern Cross Lane, 121 Exhibition St, Melbourne and Doncaster Shopping Centre.

Get yourself a treat!

Ah Degraves street – is there is one street that better epitomises Melbourne’s culture I’d like to find it. The Organic Food and Wine Deli (TOFWD) is a beautiful little deli / cafe on Degraves street full of organic goodies. Lots of gluten free options for breakfast and lunch including wraps, pies, soup, cakes, salads…and also lots of vegan options, dairy free options and “almost gluten free” options for those who may not be celiac but just want to cut down on their gluten. They also do catering.

Check it out next time you’re in the area!

25 Degraves street, Melbourne

Click here to go to their website.

OK everyone knows Boost Juice, if you don’t you need to get out more! For anyone not sure of what they can / can’t have they have detailed allergy information for all of their juices, smoothies and soups, including what is / is not gluten free. You can pick up a booklet in store or click here to download from their website.

My personal favourite is the Strawberry Squeeze smoothie

Snappas is a small take away fish and chippery in Werribee’s main street that have a great selection of gluten free fish and chips, and even gluten free potato cakes and crumbed pinapple fritters. They also have take home freezer packs of fish fillets, prawns, calamari rings, potato cakes and more. Everthing is cooked to order so is really fresh and good quality.

In honour of the unofficial start of summer with this hot weather I’ve started a page dedicated to gluten free fish and chips in Melbourne – check it out here – and please let me know if you have any more to add to this list!

[rating: 3.5]

[mappress]

If you have not tried Grill’d burgers yet you’re missing out…they are freshly made healthy burgers – a great alternative to fast food burgers, the chips are also nice and chunky. I have not yet tried a huge variety of burgers, every time I seem to choose the same burger because I love it so much – the Mustard & Pickled burger! And they now have gluten free buns!

Grill’d has a lot of locations around Melbourne, for a full list check out their website, www.grilld.com.au

The following Grill’d menu items ARE GLUTEN FREE* when prepared with Gluten Free* bun or NO bun (*although they may contain traces of Gluten due to cross contamination risk as all buns go through same toaster):

BEEF BURGERS
Simply Grill’d
Crispy Bacon & Cheese
Mighty Melbourne / Big QLDer / Almighty
Summer Sunset
Mustard & Pickled!
Hot Mama

CHICKEN BURGERS
Simon Says
Tuscan Delight
Grill’d Bird & Brie
Caesar’s Palace

LAMB BURGERS
Moroccan Lamb
Baa Baa’ Burger

VEGGIE BURGERS
Field of Dreams

SNACK / KID’S BURGERS
Mini Moo
Chicken Licken
Mini Me Pack

CHIPS AND DIPS
Chips
Herbed Mayo
Tomato Relish

SALADS
Mediterranean Salad with Lamb Skewers

Gluten IS PRESENT in the following menu items:
Kung Fu Fighter – Gluten in Satay Sauce
Sweet Chilli Chicken – Gluten in Sweet Chilli Mayonnaise
The Zen Hen – Gluten in Satay Sauce
Garden Goodness – Gluten in Vegetable Pattie
Bombay Bliss – Gluten in Vegetable Pattie
Sweet Chilli chip dip – Gluten in Sweet Chilli Mayonnaise
Chicken Caesar Salad – Gluten in Croutons
Pumpkin Cous Cous Salad with Lamb Skewers – Gluten in Cous Cous

[rating: 4.5]

This place is a bit dangerous if you’re walking past it on the way home from work…it’s right next to Flinders St station and the wafts of hot chips can be very tempting! It’s on the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders st, and also has a smaller shop on the Swanston St side of Flinders St station (right opposite Fed Square). Their chips are gluten free and they also do gluten free burger buns which can be quite a rarity!