We visited Beef and Lobster in Galway for dinner today as a group of four. While the food itself was tasty and, overall, enjoyable, the experience was seriously let down by poor attention to detail and, most importantly, a very concerning issue regarding gluten and allergen safety.
I clearly communicated that I am coeliac and would require gluten-free food. I also specifically requested an allergen menu, which was provided and clearly indicated which dishes contained particular allergens. Given this, I expected a high level of care when it came to preparing and serving gluten-free food.
Unfortunately, this was not the case.
Three of us ordered the brownie, which the menu clearly stated was gluten-free. When the brownies arrived, they had dark crumbs/cookie pieces sprinkled over the top. We initially tasted the dessert and it was actually so good that we thought it was almost too good to be true. It was only after tasting it that we thought to ask the waiter whether it was definitely gluten-free, particularly because of the crumbs/cookie pieces on top.
We questioned the waiter and asked specifically whether the dessert was gluten-free. The waiter had to go back to check and subsequently returned to apologise and tell us that the topping actually contained gluten.
This is extremely concerning. A dessert is advertised on the menu as gluten-free, yet the dessert being served had a gluten-containing topping. More seriously, as someone with coeliac disease, I had already eaten it before we discovered the issue. The restaurant subsequently brought out another brownie without the topping, which was supposedly the gluten-free version.
For someone with coeliac disease, this is not simply a matter of preference or inconvenience. Being exposed to gluten can cause significant symptoms and some people can become seriously unwell for days afterwards. The effects can vary from person to person, but the important point is that it is a genuine health issue. An apology afterwards does not undo the fact that I was served gluten after the restaurant had been explicitly informed that I have coeliac disease and required gluten-free food.
There were other issues with attention to detail throughout the meal. We ordered our steaks well done, but they arrived not completely well done. We were also left waiting a long time for one of our cocktails, despite asking about it three times, while other tables appeared to be receiving their orders much more promptly.
The overall impression was that communication between members of staff was poor. It seemed that information was getting lost between the different people taking and delivering orders, which contributed to delays and mistakes.
It is a real shame because the food itself was tasty and we had been looking forward to the meal. However, when a restaurant provides an allergen menu and specifically states that a dish is gluten-free, customers need to be able to trust that information. In this case, that trust was broken, and the consequences of getting this wrong can be serious.
For me, the biggest issue is not that the service was slow or that a steak wasn’t cooked exactly as requested. Mistakes happen. The most serious concern is the lack of attention to allergen safety and the apparent failure to communicate an important dietary requirement between staff.
I hope Beef and Lobster takes this feedback seriously, particularly regarding how gluten-free dishes are labelled, prepared, checked and served. Customers with coeliac disease should be able to dine without having to question whether a dish advertised as gluten-free actually contains gluten.
Inga J
.
23 August 2026
6.0
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