This is not the first time we’ve been here - our previous visit for a birthday celebration was amazing and we were very keen to return.
This time was to celebrate our wedding anniversary - booking online we asked to be seated in the balcony if available. This was ignored, even though there were plenty of free tables on the balcony and being a Monday night it wasn’t particularly busy. When we asked about it afterwards, we were dismissed with “it was wet today” even though there are blinds protecting the area and the rain had cleared by lunchtime, plus other people were sitting out there.
The food was as delicious as we remembered, and their ability to cater for gluten free outstanding.
The lady who served us was lovely…when she was waiting on us. However the general service was appalling this time around. We waited close to 15 minutes before we were even given a menu. Throughout the evening we witnessed other tables being looked after very well, being served before us, finished their meal before us even though they came in much later than our booking. Our waitress was topping up other tables’ water then not even checking our glasses. Our meals sat on the middle serving table waiting to be dished up for long enough for them to be lukewarm, and our dessert ice cream melting. At the end of our meal we didn’t get any hot towels (every other table we watched did). Overall we felt very invisible and ignored.
The table behind us had 4 businessmen who had had far too much to drink, being very loud with extremely inappropriate language - swearing their heads off. Saying quite inappropriate derogatory comments.
At the end of our meal (that took 2 hours and 40 minutes to get through because of the lack of service), Simon (we assume the manager) brought over the eftpos machine and almost insisted we give a tip (in Australia a tip is not customary). When we said not today, he appeared annoyed and when we mentioned the behaviour of the table behind us, he was very dismissive and didn’t seem to care.
Overall, not a great experience this time and disappointing given our previous experience.
We ate last night in this lovely Italian restaurant. It was a beautiful surprise. They have a lot of options for celiac people as my wife. I highly recommended the spaghetti Marinara. Service was great, attentive and friendly.
Gluten burger buns and pizza base available. Although they can't state that it is gluten free as there is pizza flour in the air due to the constant demand for their fantastic food. Well done folks. Well done!
Bottomless brunch experience served by Laura. Understand coeliac requirements and brought a wonderful experience. Would highly recommend for an outing on Southbank.
Thank you for an enjoyable meal and the quality food Is amazing Being a coeliac they have made it a safe place to eat and accommodated me for all my requirements. Totally recommend this restaurant .
A friend and I popped into Maiz Y Cacao last night after a comedy show at the Malthouse and it was such a great experience.
The team greeted us warmly and continued amazing service throughout our dinner.
As soon as we sat down and saw the Mexican flag hung proudly on the wall we knew this dinner was about to get REAL and we were not disappointed in the slightest.
The food was incredible! We ordered the Ceviche Acupulco (so fresh and so balanced), Molotes (insane! so good, are you kidding me!? we nearly ordered it again…) , my friend got the Pork Gordita (he looooved it) and we shared the Tlacoyo Azul (fresh and filling perfection).
And the classic Margarita (stirred) was spot on. Definitely one of the best I’ve had ngl.
Dietary notes: The menu offers Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten free options.
Thank you for a delicious time, Maiz Y Cacao! I will definitely be back :)
Not sure where to begin with this review.
Location excellent & decor wise, it is stylish and cool.
Our table was one in the centre which is never pleasant with so many patrons and wait staff constantly passing by. This is certainly not a venue you can hear yourself in.
Our waitress talking at a million miles an hour in a heavy accent that none of us understood.
Food that was brought out all over the place. 4 tapas arrived, 5th tapas shortly before main meal. 3 got their steaks-placed in the wrong order of medium/well done and 2 with the chicken that arrived a good 10 minutes after.
The food is “fine dining priced”with bistro quality. I felt it was overpriced for the presentation and size. Steaks arrive pre cut plonked in an oblong dish-not a single garnish. Vegetables/salad and potatoes all a hefty price extra. The bread was delicious as was the chicken.
The name should be changed to ASA-NO.
Can we sit over there? -NO
Can I have my steak rare-NO (we don’t do rare)
Can I have this cocktail-NO (we’re out of rum)
May we please have any other condiment other than chimichurri-NO
What about a little bbq sauce or any other sauce-NO (I get it’s Argentinian, but give patrons a little variety)
Is the steak gluten free-NO (bread is grilled on it)
Is it possible to have this dessert with that hot fudge on the other dessert-NO.
Cost for 5 people: $730
Will I be returning? NO
The food here is underwhelming and overpriced for what you get. For those who are Coeliac, most the gluten free options are not safe as they're done on shared equipment.
Today we had lunch at Gradi Crown
8 of us.
I must say the service was very very good, from the min we sat down at the table until we left.
We had one person with a gluten intolerance which was catered for with Gnocchi Ragout.
The rest of us, from Pizza through to pasta.
Dessert and coffee as well.
Food was great
Atmosphere casual relaxed and quite
Service was exceptional from a young Spanish Lady Anouk, from being greeted at the table until the end.
From getting our orders with notable detailed knowledge of the menu on Celiacs (Gluten Free), we received all our meals correctly in sequence, took our drinks order again all in sequence. Topped up our water glasses each time we drank a little water, collected the emptied beer bottles within mins of been emptied along with the Pepsi bottles. Collected the dirty plates and cutlery from our entrees and reset the entire table for our mains.
Always with a smile, never just standing around, helping other staff, cleaning tables down, resetting tables, looking after patrons. Well presented, bright, always radiant, well mannered, always engaging and setting a high standard in work ethics.
Well done Anouk
I have 35+ years in the Hospitality industry and I don’t often write any reviews, but on this occasion I believe it needs to be noted
Keep up your your high standards Anouk
The Gluten free pizza base was the best I've ever had.❤️ Only complaints from those with me was the ham on the pizza was ordinary and the gnocchi bolognese was over cooked and sauce average.
Party of seven for breakfast with two reactive coeliac children. Server double checked ingredients and was very aware of cross contamination. Everyone was very happy with the delicious meals and no gluten pains for my babes.
Love this place. They offer coeliac options but wish they would mention this on the menu. Gluten free club sandwich was excellent in quality and quantity. The cherry individual dessert cake from the cabinet was decadent and very delish but crazy priced at $16.50!
One star off for the tiny cocktail glasses altho the cocktails themselves were yummy.
Had dinner with colleagues and their misses last Wednesday night. Wonderful night views of city. We ordered the sharing menu The duck breast and lamb rack was tasted so beautiful.
Strato also do vegetarian and gluten free options.
The service is promptly attended during our dining in.
Don't dine here if you are a coeliac. We called before booking and was assured it was fine to eat here and I was violently sick after attending the buffet breakfast. The chef walked me around and showed me what I could eat and only ate what I was told (and didn't consume much).
I have contacted Crown 3 times with no response which is extremely poor to say that least considering how much money we spent to stay there as a family and to have our day there ruined!!
130-200 St Kilda Rd, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
Gluten-free options
LunchOutdoor SeatingKid FriendlyRestaurant
People are saying
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Manna Jorga
Located inside the NGV art gallery, is a real find. The potato gnocchi with lamb ragout is out of this world—rich, tender, and absolutely delicious. The carrot dip is also fantastic, offering a fresh and tasty experience.
The restaurant stands out with its wide range of gluten-free and vegan options, making it a great choice for everyone. The menu’s design, matching the Egyptian art exhibition, adds a unique touch.
The service is top-notch, with staff that are both friendly and attentive. However, the restaurant’s decor could be improved to better match the art gallery setting, and adding some flowers could enhance the ambiance.
As locals who dine out often, Garden Restaurant has quickly become one of our favorite spots. It’s definitely worth a visit!
The level of control is unbelievable.
First they tell me that they do not provide a special menu for Gluten free (which is not what they advertise) and if I require gluten free special menu that I would have to go to another restaurant!
Then they wanted to take all sorts of personal information, from me just to make a booking.
When did it change that it was ok for a restaurant to ask all sorts of personal information from you just so that you can have a meal ?
The invasion of privacy into customers' private lives has gone beyond control.
Let me tell you…
As always Sundays we love to eat out with our lovely grandchildren, the boys love pizza, we tried different restaurants in Southbank searching for gluten free meals, luckily for me we came to this bistro where they cater for coeliacs, the Margherita pizza was quite bland, however the chorizo pizza was delicious. We also had a cocktail and some great snacks. Thank you for the delicious food!!
I had a lovely breakfast at Mesh Restaurant. The buffet is self-serve and impeccably organized, offering a plethora of options for everyone, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. The dining area is spacious, and the environment is very pleasant. It’s definitely a great choice for breakfast when you’re staying at the hotel.
Had a great experience this afternoon at Yarra Botanica! My Mum, brother and I all have a lot of dietary requirements and they were super accommodating with gluten friendly, dairy free / vegan options. Staff were all super lovely and the atmosphere was great. Will definitely be back!
Fantastic experience dining with family. The service was outstanding and the food was terrific!
Thank you for providing a copy of the menu that highlighted all of the gluten free options (much appreciated by the two gluten intolerant diners).
Ate here twice this week after coming in by accident in search of real food. Superb food - and incidentally very gluten free knowledgeable even for a coeliac- and beautiful refined but unusual cocktails. Great for a pre show dinner at MTC / arts district, but frankly I would come here just for the food alone next time I am in Melbourne.
A 6-Star Dining Experience at Rockpool Melbourne
During my recent visit to Melbourne, I finally had the pleasure of enjoying a business dinner at Rockpool, and what a delightful experience it was! In an era when the term "5-star service" has become diluted across many establishments globally, I can confidently say that Rockpool provided **6-star service**.
Myself and two colleagues arrived as walk-ins over the New Year period and were first directed to the beautiful bar lounge to wait for our table. From the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional. We were treated with the kind of care and attention that I expect from top-tier dining establishments.
Throughout the evening, we sampled a range of wines, cocktails, and dishes, with special dietary needs being perfectly accommodated. One of us follows a vegan diet, another is gluten-free (celiac), and I, well, am a “normal” eater! Every dish was prepared to perfection, and all staff were well-informed about who we were, what we were eating, and drinking. It felt as though they anticipated our needs before we even voiced them—a level of attention to detail that is rare to find.
The food itself completely exceeded my expectations. Every course was a revelation, and the experience has now set a new benchmark for me. It’s hard to imagine any other meal surpassing this one. A huge round of applause to both the kitchen staff and the front-of-house team for such a flawless execution.
We were so impressed that we returned later in the week for a second visit, and once again, the service and food were impeccable from start to finish.
To the management and staff at Rockpool: your passion and commitment to your craft are clearly evident. It's not often you come across a team that has such a genuine long-term investment in delivering excellence.
Was it expensive? That depends on what you’re accustomed to. For me, the experience was worth every dollar. Our first visit was approximately **$1450**, and our second visit came to around **$750**. While it may seem expensive to some, if you’re someone who appreciates the finer things in life, the value is undeniable.
Thank You.
Excellent breakfast. I had poached eggs on sourdough. My ceolic partner had an omelette on gluten free bread. The coffee was great and the service was first rate. Highly recommend.
Loved the healthy and gluten free yet extremely delicious salad bowl ,with so many options to choose from .Perfect spot if you looking for something healthy yet affordable to eat .
Spice Temple is a culinary gem that elevates Chinese cuisine to new heights. With its serene ambiance, it’s the perfect setting for a special occasion. The menu showcases innovative and flavorful dishes that redefine traditional Chinese flavors. Gluten-free options abound, making it accessible to all diners. For a standout protein, I highly recommend the tender and succulent lamb backstrap. If you’re seeking a truly exceptional dining experience, Spice Temple is a must-visit.
1000000/10 I love this place! This is my go-to quick, affordable lunch option in Melbourne. It's perfect every time, fantastic value for money, the poke bowls are huge and filling and there are SO many sushi options. There are gluten-free sauces and so many delicious fresh ingredients to choose from - really something for everyone here.
Had a really good coffee and hot chocolate at the Barre prior to a show at Hamer Hall. The hot chocolate was one of the best I have tasted and I have tasted a few! The coffee was excellent also. We received excellent service from the staff.. and we also had a Quick Look at the menu and it looked good.. lots of gluten free choices..
Celiac friendly
