Tapas at Austi Beach Cafe

I am usually highly disappointed by Tapas, I find that it is very expensive and you often go home hungry. However there are a couple of places who have proved to me that Tapas can be reasonably priced, offer gluten free options and leave you full (sometimes even exploding if the lack of self control goes out the window!) and one of these is the Austi Beach Cafe in Austinmer.We arrived at the Austi Beach Cafe and were given the option of choosing the $35pp set menu which included 7 courses (including dessert) or choosing a number of plates off the menu. We decided that the set menu was the way to go as our group consisted of 11 people and it was going to be too hard otherwise.I checked with the waitress that it was possible to substitute the dishes I couldn’t eat (about 4 of them) with gluten free options and she said that this would be fine, apart from the dessert which I had to have two scoops of gelato instead of the bread and butter pudding with gelato (I wasn’t complaining!). Needless to say I was very excited by this, especially the fact that they had gluten free bread.The first course was grilled haloumi drizzled with lemon served with asparagus and bread, gluten free in my case. I absolutely love haloumi and so of course loved this dish. I was impressed with the serving size (for those who aren’t huge fans of haloumi you would probably find it too much) and you didn’t really need the bread with it, however I ate it anyway Grilled haloumi with asparagus and gluten free breadNext up was a fig and goats cheese salad which was served with crispy bacon bits and rocket. This dish was also amazing, I loved the contrast of the refreshing figs and the crispy warm bacon. Once again the serving size was perfect, the below was for two.Fig and goats cheese saladNext up were fish cakes with aioli served on a bed of lettuce – the staff made these fish cakes gluten free for me. While I enjoyed these fish cakes it wasn’t my favourite dish, however the aioli was very flavoursome (the dish came with the aioli in a dish and I poured it on top!).Gluten free fish cakes with aioliThe next dish was also altered so that I could eat it, zucchini flowers. Mine were lightly fried rather than battered like the glutenous option and I actually preferred this. They were wonderful and crunchy and had a great flavour.Zucchini flowersNext up was a dish of fried fish (with some sort of seasoning which has slipped my mind) on a polenta cake with tomato. This dish was gluten free and therefore did not need to be altered. I have been meaning to try polenta ever since going gluten free and I enjoyed this combination.Fish with polenta cakes and tomatoThe final main dish was beef with gluten free white bread and mushrooms. The beef was a little tough and I didn’t really think the bread was necessary at this stage in the meal, however I loved the mushrooms.Beef and mushroom dish with gluten free breadAs mentioned above, instead of getting the bread and butter pudding with gelato for dessert I got to choose two flavours of Austi Beach Cafe’s very own gelato, Crave gelato. I chose hazelnut and white chocolate, and vanilla bean. Both flavours were delicious, however I was slightly concerned about the wafer that they stuck in the top – I assumed this wouldn’t be gluten free and since my cousin was eyeing it off I decided not to bother asking and gave it to him.Hazelnut and white chocolate and vanilla bean gelatoOverall it was a wonderful night of wonderful food and I was very impressed with the waitresses’ knowledge of gluten free foods and how willing they were to accommodate my food needs. I was highly satisfied by the end of the meal and didn’t need to go home and find more food to eat! The cafe is in a great setting and they often have a live band at night. I would definitely recommend a visit!Have you had a great experience where they have been very accommodating of your allergen needs?The view of Austinmer beach from our table