I was really looking forward to dining here after hearing such great things, especially because of the mostly gluten-free menu. Ideal for celebrating a coeliac friend’s birthday. Unfortunately, the experience fell short.
The portion sizes were shocking for the price. $28 for a plate of heirloom tomatoes and stracciatella felt steep for what we received.
The cauliflower dish was also underwhelming, it was bland and lacking in flavour.
The sticky date pudding and the cardamom yogurt were great but didn’t redeem the meal.
While I could understand paying premium prices for amazing atmosphere or great flavours, neither were memorable. Disappointing overall, especially given the great reviews and high prices.
MID
Overall, we had a mixed experience – some dishes were delicious, but several service and food issues kept the evening from being truly special.
• Tasty mains: The lamb (with potatoes) was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly.
• Great gluten-free dessert: The gluten-free rhubarb dessert was a wonderful end to the meal – creative and flavorful.
Areas for Improvement
• Slow service for basics: Water service was slow, and one of our cocktails was forgotten until we reminded the staff.
• Service slip-ups: A waiter dropped cutlery near our table, and we were almost served a drink in a chipped glass (caught just in time).
• Table clutter: Unused wine glasses stayed on our table all night, which felt cluttered and unnecessary.
• No dish explanations: Each dish was delivered with no description or introduction, leaving us guessing what we were eating.
• Food quality issues: Some ingredients not fresh – the cauliflower salad had pomegranate seeds that tasted old, and a gluten-free zucchini flower appetizer had an off (fishy) taste.
• Burnt dessert: Unfortunately, the churros we ordered came out burnt, which was disappointing, especially for a special occasion.
Asked for a gluten free pizza for a Friend: she says is one of the best she's had.
The other two also were very good and tasty. Totally recommend this place
Our group of seven were so well looked after. The extensive Gluten Free menu was well appreciated. So many gluten free desserts, it was difficult to choose. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. The view is amazing also. Staff were very obliging.
Fantastic food at a beautiful venue. The service was friendly and attentive, and they cater to coeliac requirements in a very welcoming manner!
They can make almost everything (apart from the fried options) coeliac friendly, and the banquet and skewers we had were delightful and extremely generous! The baba ganoush and tabbouleh were some of the best I've ever had!
CocktailsDinnerOpen Late NightLunchMediterraneanDeliveryOutdoor SeatingBarRestaurantBrunch
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Tara Nath
My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed dining at the Mez Club. They do a contemporary take on Moroccan food. Excellent food and very creative cocktails! Many of the dishes are vegetarian and/or gluten free. The crème brûlée is a must try! Staff are lovely.
Quite delicious. If you get the set menu, portions seem a bit small at first but by the end, you’re stuffed. Nothing super ground breaking, just modern Middle Eastern fusion done well and presented beautifully.
Sat outside and the bar table is a bit unstable, plus the ground is sloped. A bit awkward to deal with but not terrible.
Plenty of gluten free options and well communicated.
Nothing that stood out as a must have again but still a solid choice for an upmarket meal out.
Love this place!! Came here for a meal with family last Friday night. The space is beautifully designed, the staff were fantastic, so friendly and absolutely take pride in their restaurant. The sticky date lamb was incredible, highly recommend. Lots of gluten free and dairy free also on the menu which is great as we had a ceoliac with us. Thanks guys, will definitely be back.
Visited twice for dinner during a stay in The Rocks. We absolutely loved the menu items across each course, with amazing flavors and high quality ingredients. The lamb shoulder was “melt in your mouth” tender. Amazing cauliflower side dish. The humus dip is spectacularly good and we fought over that. There were multiple Gluten Free options in each course, even desserts! The team are attentive and genuinely friendly. Cocktails arrived quickly and wine recommendations were helpful. Highly recommended!
LunchDinnerMediterraneanDeliveryTake AwayKid FriendlyOpen Late
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Zoe Van Praag
Gluten free options are amazing!!
Beautiful food and friendly service.
The gluten free kebabs are really nice and prepared free from cross contamination.
Wonderful gluten free pita. My boy had the chicken pita bread gluten free and removed the spicy and dairy ingredient in its app. The pita was nice when it was served warm.
I had the standard mini chicken wrap. Love this Greek street food.
We like the alfresco sitting area too.
Unquestionably one of the very best dining experiences in Sydney of any cuisine .. Service, quality, freshness, menu choices, coeliac friendly, a wonderful host ... an absolute flawless meal in every way . . Well done and thank you .. you never ever disappoint!
I came here the other night. Their menu had gf online however didn’t state that on the QR menu. I’m intolerant (not coeliac) so I clarified if those dishes were gluten free which they checked with the kitchen and replied yes, however, that night I was so sick and bloated due to their being a significant amount of gluten in something. I understand cross contamination and the risk but i have never been that sick from something stated gluten free. I won’t be returning as I’m too scared to trust it and don’t think it should be labeled as gluten free if it has that much of an impact on someone who is just intolerant.
Ordered lunch into our office for 35 people at a workshop - arrived on time, was amazing taste and quality. Not a single complaint! Recommend the pizzas and the gluten free options were loved also! Thanks Ooshman Waterloo!
Amazing food but unfortunately this place was very quiet when other places were really busy. I am so glad we came here to help support such a lovely restaurant. Only tip is to serve cocktails in correct glasses (Bellini in champagne flute, margaritas don't go in Martini glasses etc) but otherwise this place deserves to be busy. Will happily come back. Also, PLENTY of gluten free options which is incredibly rare for Italian restaurants in general.
My friends and I had a wonderful dinner here on New Year's Eve. Nothing was too much trouble for the restaurant and they catered beautifully for our gluten-free and vegan guests, and the staff were very welcoming. The food was delicious. Thank you for a lovely evening, we will definitely be back!
This place is AMAZING that it is even better than places I visited in the heart of Istanbul! 100% authentic!! I am visiting from Melbourne with my friend and she took me here for an authentic Turkish cuisine and she wasn't wrong! She wanted me to try the grills but what blew my mind was the stuffed vegetables! Home made with love ❤️ The meats were also very juicey and tender and cooked to perfection! I even took it home re-heated it and it was still very juicey and delicious! Very fresh foods! I am coeliac though and I've let them know I am gluten free and although they went above and beyond and out of their way the stuffed vegetables had bulgur which is not GF so please be extra cautious with allergies guys as coeliac is a very serious disease!!
Such a wonderful date spot. Delicious gluten free-knowledgable staff as well. We absolutely love it here and come as often as we can. The staff is 10/10 too!!
What an excellent restaurant! I booked Calico as we were going to a Saturday night show and wanted something within walking distance. It's always a bit of a stressful responsibility booking a new restaurant for a group, but we were all thrilled with the amazing menu and felt very looked after by the staff; Paul was an absolute delight! I had the Wild Shroom dish along with the Coco Loco smoothie and both were fantastic. Our entree was the pumpkin hummus, breads (including a gluten-free option) and burrata and it was all so tasty. Would highly recommend dining here and we'll 100% come back again! Thanks Calico!
We have eaten here a couple of times before seeing a show at the Enmore.
The hostess is super friendly and is very accommodating. She takes her time to understand our dietary requirements (husband in coeliac and I am low fodmap) and each time we have been here we have both been given amazing options for dishes we can both have.
We ate here last night and the hostess (sorry we havent caught her name yet) remembered us from last time and that we have dietary requirements.
Then you get the food, omg such delicious food. Last night I had the marinated haloumi and for main I had the prawn and lobster linguine (minus the garlic cos I cant eat garlic) and then I had the creme Broulee with Belgium chocolate sorbet!
Thank you to all the amazing staff for the excellent customer service and for modifying meals so we can eat the delicious foods you offer.
We look forward to dining here again next time we venture to the big smoke
So authentic, amazing and delicious home cooked food, lots of gluten free options (even their home made corn fritters are gf). Make sure you visit and eat in or takeaway. Beautiful people too, I was amazed.
What a gem of a place! This family-run restaurant provides exceptional service and delicious pizzas. From the moment you step in, you're greeted with warmth and hospitality. The owners are not only friendly but incredibly hardworking, going above and beyond to accommodate special requests.
Their mini pizzas and mini pides are perfect for catering events. We ordered them for our son's birthday. I love how they pay attention to every detail, presenting everything beautifully on platters that you can either return or opt for disposable boxes, making cleanup a breeze.
Another plus point is the option for dairy-free and gluten-free pizza bases, catering to different dietary needs without compromising on taste.
Even my parents, after their recent visit, have joined the ranks of fans of both the owners and their delectable pizzas!
My second time dinning here.
The food is absolutely beautiful. The service and staff so friendly and welcoming. Would highly recommend Olive Tree Brasserie, you won't be disappointed. Lots of gluten free on the menu as well.Thank you Olive Tree.
Very friendly family environment, they took good care of my gluten free requirements and the food tasted fantastic! A little small on the portion sizes for a man and a bit pricy but overall very much enjoyed! Apparently the pita bread was to die for!
We’ve only recently found this place & everything we tried is absolutely delicious! The best crispy chips I’ve tried with amazing garlic sauce. Stoked that they offer gluten free wraps also, which was very tasty! Definitely our new local go to ⭐️
Cosy restaurant serving fabulous food in Balmain. Food was delicious and vibrant in taste and presentation. Great service and well priced as well. Ticks all the boxes for a winner local restaurant!
Wild weed pie and chargrilled calamari were our favourites. Lots of gluten free options on the menu too.
I went here on Sunday to order a chicken wrap on gluten free pita with extra chicken, and honestly, I wish I hadn’t. I was greeted by someone who clearly didn’t want to be there—no smile, no energy, just a miserable attitude.
Wrap was a complete disappointment. The chicken was burnt, barely any sauce, and the whole thing was very dry and flavourless. It was like eating cardboard. Absolutely disappointed.
Save your money and go somewhere that actually cares about their food and service.
Had an amazing lunch at Billy’s. We started with some homemade bread and tzatziki dip, the bread was so fresh and you could tell straightaway it was homemade, the dip was also very refreshing and paired nicely with the bread.
For mains we got the fish special which is a whole grilled snapper. The fish was so delicate and basically melted in my mouth. The seasoning was just right and gave the fish a lot of flavour. We also had the beef moussaka which was incredible. The eggplant and potatoes were so soft and the beef bolognese on top was very rich. Finally we had the chicken gyros as well, the chicken was very juicy and all the veggies were fresh.
The service was amazing and attentive as well. Always checking on us to make sure we were liking each dish and Billy also came out to check on us which is lovely. They also cater to coeliacs and have plenty of gluten free options. Definitely recommend trying this amazing family restaurant if you’re in the area.
The service we got from El Karim was fantastic! We ordered takeaway and noted in the order our daughter was coeliac to ensure they took care not to cross-contaminate. When unpacking the food we noticed pita breads had been placed in the container on top of the GF Shish. I rang, wondering if perhaps they were GF pitas (they weren't). The owner was so quick to recognise he made a mistake that he instantly offered to make up an entirely fresh order. That was very kind of him, but we didn't need all the food to be replaced. He then offered to just cook new chicken & lamb shish for us and just told us he would deliver them to our door (El Karim don't normally offer delivery). The new food arrived in 15 minutes!!! That was above and beyond great service and we really appreciated it. Oh, and the food was superb too!
Thank you El Karim for taking such good care of us!
My experience at Shaffa was nothing short of exceptional. The food is absolutely outstanding—rich in flavour, beautifully presented, and clearly crafted with creativity and care.
The ambiance strikes the perfect balance: sleek and stylish, yet relaxed and unpretentious. The unique layout adds a rustic, authentic charm that makes you feel like you’ve been transported somewhere far from the usual Sydney dining scene.
The menu is a standout—varied, inventive, and full of soul. Each dish reflects thoughtful preparation and bold, memorable flavours.
What truly elevates Shaffa, though, is the service. Veronica and her team strike a rare balance of being warm and personable while remaining impressively professional and attentive. Nothing feels like too much trouble.
We were looked after by the wonderful Francis, who brought the whole experience together with his deep knowledge of the menu and wine pairings. He took the time to ask insightful questions about our preferences and made thoughtful recommendations that hit the mark. His attentiveness—especially toward my partner’s gluten intolerance—was both considerate and seamless.
I can’t recommend Shaffa highly enough for your next meal out. You’ll be in for a memorable, delicious experience from start to finish.
DinnerCocktailsBrunchPet FriendlyOpen Late NightOutdoor SeatingDessertsBreakfastLunchMediterraneanDeliveryTake AwayKid Friendly
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damien barrack
Food was excellent, atmosphere great and great service. And if you need gluten free, everything is marked and most things can be made gluten free and they are knowledgeable and flexible. It was a great night.
Great gluten free options, warm and friendly staff, prompt service and a handy on site toilet. Stoked with the great variety of GF V RSF slices. Will definitely be back!!
Embrace Greek food and culture at Koutouki in Leichardt. Mezze and music is the tag line for Koutouki, a traditional Greek restaurant in Leichardt. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you recognise it’s a traditional spot with the décor and art on the walls. Staff are friendly and welcoming and showcase that Greek generosity of spirit. We are seated fast, and it’s all set up nicely for our friends birthday, where we’re having a set menu.
The food transports you back to Greece, and it’s to be shared amongst your friends. It is good to note that 90% is Gluten Free. We share a range of mezze between the table; beginning with a Greek Salad (tomatoes, cucumber, olives, onion and feta), followed by the trio of dips; tarama, tzatziki, spicy fetta and eggplant, served with pita bread.
The entrées were sized pieces of beautifully cooked haloumi, spanakopita, and pita, fried calamari – so beautiful, as well as the grilled octopus with oregano, olive oil and lime, and prawn skewers.
To share were giant mixed grill platters of lamb, pork, sausage, all sitting on a plate of moreish oregano seasoned fries. Dessert was the famous baklava, or filo pastry, with walnuts and syrup.This was a lot of food and we were so full by the end of the meal and enjoyed it so much.
They are fully licensed and wines are imported and can be purchased via the glass or bottle.
There’s entertainment too. You’ll find it to be a musical journey with live music in the front room, allowing for diners to enjoy whilst they have their meal. For our event, the attendees even had a bit of a dance. Sit back and enjoy your meal whilst being entertained.
We loved the food and the friendly attentive service. Came with a vegetarian and a gluten free person and both had plenty of options. Had a great Greek wine as well.
Accommodating Gluten-Free
