Pizza, pasta or croissant – living gluten-free is not as difficult as it once was

Living the gluten-free life is nowhere near as difficult as it once was. So if you want pasta, a pizza or crave a croissant, here’s our pick of top places around Sydney.

Living the gluten-free life is nowhere near as difficult as it once was. Here’s our pick of top places around Sydney.

Sebastian Sans Gluten

Leichhardt

Sebastian Sans Gluten.

The words gluten-free kitchen are like music to coeliacs, scared of close-calls (and outright disasters) in restaurants, cafes and bakeries that prepare their gluten-free dishes in an absolutely not gluten-free kitchen. Leichhardt’s Sebastian Sans Gluten is a breath of fresh (gluten-free) air, the eponymous Paris-trained chef Sebastian crafting gluten-free versions of all our bakery favourites in an entirely gluten-free kitchen. Enjoy all the sausage rolls, baguettes, brownies, tarts, quiches, galettes and flaky, buttery croissants you’ve been missing out on, without any of the contamination panic.

131 Marion St, Leichhardt

Chat Thai

Various locations

Chat Thai.

Chat is important when you’re dealing with allergies, whether it’s letting your waiter know about your dietary restrictions, or them passing the information on to the kitchen. Thankfully, not only is Chat Thai’s menu packed with delicious traditional South-East Asian dishes made from the freshest ingredients, but it clearly communicates all allergens and risks so you know exactly what you can (and can’t) order. And, even better, the incredible team at each location take dietary restrictions seriously, so while they don’t have a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, you know everyone working the woks is committed to keeping you safe. Good chat.

chatthai.com.au

Ragazzi

CBD

Ragazzi.

There are plenty of things we’ve had to say goodbye to in our post-gluten lives, but it’s the taste (and texture) of really good pasta that still visits us in our dreams. And while there’s decent gluten-free pasta around, it’s usually not quite the same. It seems the team at Ragazzi were just as unsatisfied with the options because they went and created their own. Combining chickpea, potato, rice and buckwheat flours with eggs, they’ve produced not only a delicious pasta, but one that matches perfectly with their punchy pasta sauces. Gluten-free cacio e pepe spaghetti? That’s understanding the assignment.

Shop 3, 2-12 Angel Place, Sydney

Pizza Madre

Marrickville

Pizza Madre.

There was a time when it was tough finding a gluten-free pizza in this town. Things have changed, but while many big-chain pizzerias have come up with their own versions (with varying levels of success), most of Sydney’s fancier pizza places are yet to jump on board the gluten-free train. Thankfully, there’s Madre, Marrickville’s celebrated vegetarian pizzeria that offers a gluten-free base with any of their terrific topping options, like the margherita-style pizza with smoked mozzarella, the mixed mushroom with confit garlic and truffle cheese, and the incredible cacio e pepe pizza drizzled with fermented chilli honey.

205 Victoria Rd, Marrickville

King Clarence

CBD

King Clarence.

In only a couple of years, this pan-Asian diner from the team behind Bentley, Monopole and Yellow has established itself as a favourite on Sydney’s CBD dining scene. Known for chef Khanh Nguyen’s inventive mix-and-match takes on Chinese, Japanese and Korean dishes, the eatery is as popular with business lunchers as it is with celebrities passing through town. The best bit? Pretty much every dish on the expansive menu – including the iconic fish finger bao spiked with dashi and loaded with salmon roe – is available gluten free; just let them know when you’re booking.

171 Clarence St, Sydney

Originally published as Pizza, pasta or croissant – living gluten-free is not as difficult as it once was