If you’ve been on the hunt for gluten-free eats in Geelong, hunt no more.
Okay, maybe you have a dietary restriction, but you’re not going to let it stop you. We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the best Geelong gluten-free eats for all occasions.
Whether it’s a quick bakery stop-off for lunch or a dinner date for your special someone, this list will have you covered with a GF venue for every occasion.
Recess Bar + Eats
Arguably THE PLACE for gluten-free eats in Geelong, Recess is a pinnacle for the gluten-free folks in your life who don’t want to miss out on the foodie fun. As Geelong’s ONLY certified gluten-free restaurant it is the place if you’re wanting to snag a delicious gluten-free meal without the stress of cross-contamination.
There are three cheese arancini, buttermilk fried chicken, slow roasted pork belly, duck Thai green curry and braised beef cheek all gracing their incredibly extensive menu. If you’re a lover of something on the side (let’s face it who isn’t?), Recess has you completely covered with offerings like cauli mac and cheese, sauteed greens and of course the ever-delicious humble French fry.
If that’s not enough to convince you, a peek at their incredible cocktail list should do the trick, with playfully named cocktails like the ‘Cherry Bomb’, ‘Grapevine Gossip’ and ‘Pillow Talk’, there’s something to satisfy EVERYONE. Whether you’re looking for a gluten-free feed or just a delicious date night meal, Recess is the go-to place.
If you’re looking for dinner and drinks, look no further than Recess, you can find the venue at 247 Moorabool Street, Geelong.
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Wah Wah Gee
Another Geelong staple venue that not only caters to gluten-free but also a whole range of other dietaries is Wah Wah Gee. If youre after unreal Asian fusion but without running the risk of having gluten, look no further than Wah Wah Gee. There are speciality menus for gluten-free folk so you can stop trawling the menu looking for those pesky (and often tiny) GF symbols making the whole process extra easy.
There’s a range of gluten free starters, think Thai fish cakes, Korean fried cauliflower, and lemon pepper squid. If you’re a bao lover, fear not, Wah Wah Gee has a range of their specialty bao buns as GF options. There’s BBQ pulled pork bao, Thai fish cake, Korean fried cauliflower, and their fan favourite crispy chicken bao stacked to the brim with crispy lettuce, sriracha vegenaise and candied chilli. If you’re after something larger for the table, the massaman curry, Thai green curry, or twice cooked Chinese chilli beef along with a whole range of other mains are all completely gluten free.
There’s cocktails galore, available for someone flying solo or as a cocktail jug if you’re planning on taking your mates for a totally gluten free feast.
Wah Wah Gee is located at the end of Cunningham Pier, Western Beach, Geelong.
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Frankie
Frankie is the perfect place if you’re looking for gluten-free in Geelong or even 100% Coeliac friendly options. Frankie has done the hard work for you and organised their scrumptious Asian-fusion style menu into sections for different dietary requirements, including 100% coeliac appropriate and dishes that are prepared gluten-free but may have traces of gluten if that’s what you’re after.
Their 100% coeliac appropriate menu features fan favourite dishes like slow cooked beef cheek curry, chicken bao (served in a lettuce cup), their signature “Bang Bang” fried rice, flash fried local squid and vegetable yellow curry, eating gluten free never sounded so good! Their other GF options, that aren’t coeliac friendly but are suitable for people with more mild gluten intolerance include Korean fried cauli and hand cut mega chips. Wash your Asian fusion feast down with one of their signature Frankie cocktails and you’re set for the gluten free dining night of your dreams!
No more do you have to carefully scan the menu to hunt down the GF friendly options, Frankie has put in the hard yards so no matter your dietaries you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your stress-free feed.
Find Frankie at 9-11 Malop Street, Geelong.
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Gluten Free 4 U
Geelong’s hidden gem for anyone who is coeliac or gluten-free and looking for a bakery-esque feed. If you’ve been missing the flaky goodness that is a meat-pie, pastie or sausage roll since having to switch over to a gluten free lifestyle Gluten Free 4 U is THE place. Gluten Free 4 U has all the local bakery favourites sans the gluten.
Think beef and bacon pies, chicken pies, pepper steak pies, sausage rolls, beef and veg pasties and of course the classic veg pastie for all the gluten-free vegos in the region. There’s both sweet and savoury croissants and Danishes to help ease any cravings for some flaky, buttery, pastry goodness. There’s even cakes, donuts, and slices all totally gluten free if you’re a sweet tooth looking for a classic bakery fix. It’s the perfect one stop shop if you’re looking for a quick, easy gluten-free lunch.
Home delivery and online ordering is also available at Gluten Free 4 U to make a super speedy and easy process even easier! If missing out on bakery style treats has been one of the hardest things since making the switch to gluten free, Gluten Free 4 U has you beyond covered.
To snag their delicious treats and to suss the full range of 100% gluten free bakery goodies head to Unit 11/57-61 Thomson Street, Belmont.
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Emerge
Emerge is the perfect place if you’re looking for a special occasion location that doubly caters to gluten-free dietaries. Emerge is the Geelong steakhouse that focuses on using quality meats, with their menu featuring wagyu, full blood wagyu, 100% grass fed beef and house dry aged steaks. Emerge is Geelong’s steakhouse with a difference, aiming to be inclusive to all types of tastes and dietary requirements, specifically providing a huge range of gluten free menu options.
Emerge uses mainly proteins, veggies, and local artisan suppliers to produce a simple but incredible menu that is naturally driven towards being totally gluten free (YAY!). The menu at emerge features so many GF options that instead of highlighting which items are gluten free they instead highlight the few items on their menu that do contain gluten. There’s prawns, scallops, oysters and even crocodile starters up for grabs, there’s mains that aren’t steaks if you’re after something different including lamb shank, grilled salmon fillet and vegetable tagine to name a few of their MANY gluten-free options.
Of course their steaks are all gluten-free, as are most of their sides, treat yourself to steak and fries, or a myriad of other available sides including mash, charred Kent pumpkin, salads, and honey roasted carrots. Emerge is the perfect location if you’re wanting to treat yourself or special someone in your life without fretting about their not being gluten-free options.
You can find Emerge and all its steak-y goodness at 112 Ryrie Street, Geelong.
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ALMA
Another venue that’s perfect for a special occasion and has a whole bunch of gluten-free options is ALMA. ALMA is a South American inspired restaurant that focuses on the delicious flavours of South America in a dining style that is designed to share. Their plates are all made to be shared with your loved ones, and the bonus is that most of their menu items are or can be made gluten free!
Some of their gluten-free options include tuna ceviche, grilled king prawns, roasted carrots with Manchego, fried brussels, crispy potatoes, braised pork scotch, Peruvian roasted half chicken and a 350gm wagyu rump cap to name a few of their gluten-free menu items. If you’re a sweet tooth, fear not! All three dessert options on the ALMA menu are gluten free, which is a big score if you’re someone who loves a little something sweet after their dinner. The dessert options include a vanilla flan with Dulce de leche, a choccie mousse with poached rhubarb and a local honey frangipane with coffee ice-cream.
If you’re looking for a date night location that isn’t short on gluten free options ALMA is the place for you.
ALMA, and all its South American deliciousness is located at 93-95 Ryrie Street, Geelong.
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I Ragazzi
For pizza and pasta that looks, feels, and tastes like real Italian pasta and pizza, minus the gluten, I Ragazzi is the ideal place to go! Bringing a bit of Southern Italy to Pakington Street in Newtown, serving fresh, handmade pasta just how you’d find it on the sun-soaked island of Sicily, this little gem is a venture from Geelong local Julian Barbagallo. Dishing up the kind of devotedly rustic Italian food that you can feel doing you good, body and soul, this is the Italian restaurant of choice for many because of its dedicated gluten-free menu.
If you’re looking for Geelong gluten-free pizza, options include Pizza N’duja (tomato, cherry tomato, caramelised red onion, N’duja, stracciatella cheese); margherita; Sicilian Mortadella (with mozzarella, stracciatella cheese and pistachio); the Otto (tomato, mozzarella, grilled eggplant and salted ricotta); Mr Barbs pizza (with hot salami!); pumpkin pizza; prosciutto pizza; and a potato pizza; among other gluten-free pizza deliciousness.
If pasta is more your style – and we’re talking pasta the Italian way – then gluten free options include a Trapanese Pesto, a Sorrentina (with pomodoro, mozzarella and basil) and a pappardelle duck with gluten-free gnocchi or rigatoni, which both have the best texture and taste.
I Ragazzi and all its Italian goodness is located at 361B Pakington Street in Newtown.
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Of course there’s plenty other great venues across the region dishing out excellent gluten-free eats, these are just the standouts for us!
