Red Robyn Camberwell – 100% gluten free Melbourne *Closed*

** CAFE CLOSED AT THE END OF 2017 **

Red Robyn is lovely suburban cafe that is 100% gluten and nut free, but also very adaptable for other allergies and food intolerances.  This cafe was the inspiration behind the popular 100% gluten free Melbourne listing and really needs a post of its own!

If you are a visitor to Melbourne, Camberwell is 10km east of Melbourne city centre and I think it is worth a trip out to Camberwell for a lovely safe meal.  If you visit on a Sunday, you can combine your visit with the ever popular Camberwell Sunday Market.

The menu changes seasonally and you will be faced with the unusual situation of having to choose between many lovely options.   The menu is full of fresh ingredients, lovely flavours and imaginative ideas (such as corn fritters, duck tacos, potato & smoked eggplant (aubergine) croquettes and interesting salads).  There is also a small children’s menu.  I think it is very good value for money (prices are shown on the online menu), but as a guide many of the meals are under $20.

The staff always check for any food issues when you order, but the following are clearly marked up on the 100% gluten and nut free menu:

• fructose friendly
• FODMAP friendly
• vegetarian
• vegan
• egg free
• dairy free
• contains soy

I have been working my way through the menu over the last year and present you a pictorial story – everything has been delicious, but my absolute favourite is the corn fritters (more below!).

Visit for breakfast, coffee & cake, brunch or lunch 7 days a week, and follow them on Facebook for evening sittings (usually an international theme).  A new menu has just been launched (end April 2016) so I look forward to many more tasty meals!

Breakfast

There are sweet and savoury options to cater for every food mood.  If you are extra hungry, you can add bacon, eggs, fetta etc. to your dish.  If you want something plain, eggs on toast is an option too.

Pictured above: pancakes with banana, quinoa pikelets, thyme for mushrooms with chickpea chips, avo mash with pickled chilli & mint)

Lunch

Again you are spoilt for choice for lunch (or brunch).   The dish I keep going back to is the smoked corn & chive fritters that have a little hit of chilli.   I love the smokey flavour and it is surprisingly filling.  You can add a poached egg or bacon if you are extra hungry!

There is a good mix of meat and vegetarian options, light meals or more filling options.

Pictured to the right is the quinoa salad (sweet potato, lemon, chickpeas, rocket, toasted pepita seeds), the halloumi and avocado salad and the poached chicken salad (the chicken is hiding in the photo!)

Pictured to the left are meatballs with toast and salad, duck tacos, quinoa cakes with smoked salmon and thai style fish cakes.

I’m not a vegetarian, but don’t feel the need to eat meat all the time.  In the past I haven’t been too keen on tofu, but lure of satay in the Gado Gado veggie bowl swayed me and I found the smoked tofu was delicious.  Also below is eggplant (aubergine) croquettes which were an interesting change from my usual corn fritters!

Coffee & cake

I love hot chocolate and love that I can order one with ease in a 100% gluten free cafe!  Getting a scone or cake to go with it is even better 🙂  They used to get cakes from an external supplier, but I believe they are all now made on the premises.

Dinner

Dinner is on certain Friday nights only (check Facebook).  I haven’t visited for dinner as yet, but past themes for ‘FODMAP friendly Friday’ have been:

• Mexican
• Korean
• American
• French

The café has a nice feel and you need to book if going for breakfast or lunch on the weekend or you face a queue at the door!   There is some outside seating on the street and also at the back of the cafe if you have your pooch with you.

See the review by YUM magazine (Mar 2014, p53-54) that has some interior shots of the cafe.

393 Camberwell Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124  Phone: (03) 9077 3763
^{It is easy to miss, so look out for the big Red Robyn graphical sign by the front door (same picture as on the menu at the start of the post).}

Open 7 days, weekdays 7.30am – 3pm, weekends 8.30am – 3.30pm   Dinner on certain Friday nights only (check Facebook).
^{Check Facebook for up to date information on public holidays – generally closed for Easter and for a Christmas/New Year break.}

Tram:  route 75 (stop 43) takes you almost to the door (around 30 mins from the CBD in non peak hour).  It is a short walk from Camberwell junction (trams 70, 72) 

Train:  it is a slightly longer walk from Camberwell station, but still only around 10 minutes. 

Parking:  free 2 hour street parking near the cafe (only 1 hour directly out the front).

redrobyn.com.au

For more gluten free Melbourne options and travel ideas, please check the following links:

• 100% gluten free Melbourne
• Mamasita, Melbourne CBD
• Foddies, fructose friendly in Albert Park
• Melbourne airport
• 100% gluten free London
• London Heathrow & Gatwick airport gluten free options

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Tags: 100% gluten free, Camberwell, dairy free, egg free, FODMAP Friendly, fructose free, Gluten free, gluten free Melbourne, Melbourne, nut free, vegan, vegetarian