Onion rings!

Hotel Spencer Bar & Grill

14 ratings
$$ • Pub
Reported to have a gluten-free menu
Safety Rating
14 ratings

As rated by the community

475 Spencer St
West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia
From the owner

A heritage pub with a cozy, homely feel, serving honest pub grub. Our focus is on independently produced, quality bevs.

On safety—(This is a summary)

1. We only serve 1 gluten containing product, our "regular" burger buns. These arrive sealed and are stored separately. They are 'cut' before service on a clear bench and transferred to an airtight container, which is then available for use during service from a 'bottom shelf' location, away from any other stock.

2. The benches, chopping boards and knives are cleaned thoroughly after our "regular" buns are cut, before setting up the kitchen for regular service, ensuring a "no crumbs" policy.

3. As no other gluten containing product is ever purchased, our fryers and cooking surfaces remain gluten free by default, with the exception of the oven (see precaution 4). All our batters, coatings, crumbs are made with gluten free ingredients (even the beer batter uses GF beer)

4. The bottom shelf of the oven is reserved exclusively for toasting 'regular' buns. These buns are toasted and assembled on individual metal trays, which are single use only and washed thereafter.

Most Recent Reviews


Symptomatic Celiac
1 week ago

Have been here a few times and each time the experience is just as lovely. Staff are super knowledgeable, and say that majority of the menu is gluten free (I think everything but the normal buns?!) Therefore all friers are safe, plus the food is amazing!!!! Best Parma I've ever had!

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Fries, Bread/Buns, Fish & Chips, Burgers & more
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
3 weeks ago

Obsessed. They have a full understanding of coeliac disease and an extensive menu. I just love this pub.

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Fries, Bread/Buns, Fish & Chips, Beer
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
Celiac
1 month ago

Absolutely delicious I have the pulled pork sandwich and two different types of GF beer

Don’t let the look of the place deter you the food, staff and beers are great!

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Fries, Fish & Chips, Burgers, Beer & more
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer

Important

Information contained in this listing is based on reports by the community. Please verify all information directly with the establishment.

Reported safety features

Other

Collections
In 1 Public Collection

From the owner


We thoroughly understand Coeliac disease, and appreciate the challenges you face when eating away from home. We provide a safe and trusted environment at all times, without compromising on our quality and variety of offerings. This is a brief summary of the precautions we have taken for the last 8 years, but please feel free to ask for more details in person :)

Precaution 1: We only serve one gluten containing product, which are our "regular" burger buns. These arrive sealed in plastic from the bakery and are stored separately. They are 'cut' before service on a clear bench and transferred to an airtight container, which is then made available for use during service from a 'bottom shelf' location, away from any other stock. We choose a style of bun that does not ‘crumb’ easily, but even so, NO gluten containing buns are ever ‘cut’ during service. Our ‘regular’ buns are very easily distinguished from our GF buns, which we now bake ourselves!

Precaution 2: The benches, designated chopping boards and knives are cleaned thoroughly after our "regular" buns are cut, before setting up the kitchen for regular service, ensuring a "no crumbs" policy. We assume that ALL gluten free dishes ordered are for coeliacs, unless it has the addition of a ‘regular’ bun, deeming them no longer GF.

Precaution 3: As no other gluten containing product is ever purchased, our fryers and cooking surfaces remain gluten free by default, with the exception of the oven (see precaution 4). All our batters, coatings, crumbs are made with ingredients labelled GF (even the beer batter uses GF beer!) and we pay special attention to reject any processed products or sauces that have a 'may contain' statement. The fries that we serve are of only 2 acceptable brands, and are manufactured in a dedicated GF facility.

4. The bottom shelf of the oven is reserved exclusively for toasting 'regular' buns. These buns are toasted and assembled on individual metal trays, which are single use, Then washed.

Photos


Delicious beers
GF Chicken Parma!!!
Gluten Free Papardelle
House Made GF Tagliatelle
French Onion Soup, GF Baguette Baked In-house
Rotational Dessert, always Gluten Free!
Chicken parmigiana
Seasonal sour
Add a photo View all photos

More Reviews


Celiac
1 month ago

Incredible food, staff all very knowledgeable about coeliac needs. Not only do they have a dedicated GF fryer and many items are GF by default, they also have a wide assortment of GF beers. Seriously my favourite Melbourne pub.

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Fries, Beer
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
Gluten Sensitive
4 months ago

Beautiful meal and lovely experience with knowledgeable staff.

Owner Response

Thank you very much, Jenny! We go above and beyond to ensure that everyone can enjoy our classic pub offering safely. Thanks for spreading the word! Cheers, Ibi (Owner)

Safety
Taste
Variety
Gluten Intolerant
4 months ago

Really interesting menu and selection of GF drinks. The staff knowledge was reassuring and we were surrounded by other GF dinners. Really enjoyable night out.

Owner Response

Thank you very much for the kind words Geoff, and for making the effort to come and check us out! Cheers, Ibi (Owner)

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Bread/Buns, Fish & Chips, Burgers, Chicken Parmesan & more
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Separate gluten-free menu
Celiac
5 months ago

Just had the most fabulous meals. Highly recommend and the staff were great as well.

Owner Response

Thank you very much for sharing your experience Karen! Ibi (Owner)

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Fries, Bread/Buns, Fish & Chips, Chicken Parmesan
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
Symptomatic Celiac
6 months ago

I’ve eaten here many times but it’s difficult to go past the parmigiana. Staff are very GF savvy and it’s definitely worth a visit!

Owner Response

It really is a top parma, we put a lot of love into it. It's hard for anyone to go past! We hope you get a chance to try the rest of the menu eventually :) Thanks again Janet! Ibi (Owner)

Safety
Taste
Variety
Chicken parmigiana
Celiac
7 months ago

Casual bar with good pub food

Owner Response

Thank you for sharing your experience, James! Cheers, Ibi (Owner)

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Bread/Buns, Burgers
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
Gluten Intolerant
8 months ago

Pity I’m just visiting or this would be my go to … simple surrounds of an unpretentious blue collar pub with a friendly vibe and great tunes .. wanted everything on the menu but settled on the giant parma for my normal other half and the Barra burger for me .. very generous serves .. perfect food .. kept room to share an apple crumble on a winters night .. delicious.. thrilled ..

Safety
Taste
Variety
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
Symptomatic Celiac
9 months ago

Owner intimately familiar with Celiac and has built business around friends and acquaintances who have been recently diagnosed.

Anything on menu can be safely ordered and no concern of cross contamination.

My new “go-to” spot whilst in Melbourne! Fantastic food, GF beer options, cocktails and great service.

Come here if you’re in Melbourne!

Owner Response

We're especially happy you found GF fried chicken on your travels, and that this app directed you to us. Thank you for your kind words! See you on your next visit :) Ibi (Owner)

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Separate gluten-free menu
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
Other
  • — Vegetarian options
  • — Good for dairy-free
  • — Vegan options
  • — Lunch
Delicious beers
GF Chicken Parma!!!
Seasonal sour
This pasta was AMAZING. Enough so that I was nervous, not gonna lie.
9 months ago

Found this on gf near me website, had the Parma tonight it was amazing. My advice is to arrive hungry, I only managed to eat half but it was sooo good.

Owner Response

Cheers Annette! Our parmas are definitely huge, I hope you managed the rest for breakfast :) Thank you for directing us to this app too, it's been incredibly helpful. Cheers, Ibi (Owner)

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Fish & Chips, Burgers
Safety
  • — Dedicated fryer
Symptomatic Celiac
11 months ago

Everything on the menu can be made GF, GF fryer and staff are knowledgeable about cross-contamination. GF beers behind the bar!

Owner Response

Cheers Nick! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review - we believe word of mouth is everything :)

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety
  • — Knowledgeable staff
  • — Dedicated fryer
  • — No dedicated kitchen
Celiac
1 year ago

Coeliac safe starters, burgers, steaks and pub classics including chicken parma and fish and chips. Made on site from scratch, vegan and vegetarian options available. They pay special attention to cross-contamination and the deep frier is gluten free. Ordered in person, service was friendly, food arrived in good time, was good quality and delicious.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety
  • — Knowledgeable staff
  • — Dedicated fryer
  • — No dedicated kitchen
Other
  • — Vegetarian options
  • — Vegan options
  • — Lunch
  • — Dinner
GF chicken parma
GF fish and chips

More Info