Pollo Torquay

Pollo is at 15 Bristol Road, in the town centre a short walk from Gilbert Street, and about five minutes' drive from north Torquay. It's a takeaway chicken shop, but a cut above: the chooks are free range and slow-roasted on a French rotisserie, the chips are cut by hand, and the salads are made fresh every day.

The first Pollo opened on Pakington Street in Geelong West, and there's a stand at GMHBA Stadium on footy days. Jason Gugliotti, who runs it, is also behind Ela, the Greek restaurant on The Esplanade.

Pollo says the rotisserie chicken, chips, vegetables and most of the salad bar are naturally gluten free, and they're clearly labelled. That makes it one of the easiest takeaways in town for a coeliac in the group.

Pollo began as Pollo Rotisserie on Pakington Street in Geelong West, in the old Pako Meats shop. When it opened, Forte Magazine reported that the team had spent a year researching poultry farms to find the best-tasting chooks, and settled on free-range and organic Tasmanian birds, marinated for 24 hours before they go on the rotisserie. You can get a quarter, a half or a whole chicken.

The Geelong West shop launched with a hot food bar of the kind of sides you'd want with a Sunday roast: truffle mac and cheese, cauliflower cheese, scalloped potatoes, honey-glazed carrots and roast pumpkin. The salad bar had ancient grains, pumpkin and pear couscous and an apple slaw. What's on in Torquay changes with the season, but it's the same idea.

On Google, Pollo Torquay rates 4.8 from more than 270 reviews, one of the best scores of any takeaway in town. Reviewers mention the salads more than anything else, then the roast chicken, the focaccia and the cheesecake. Several mention big serves, friendly staff and quick service. The chicken katsu sando is popular enough that it sometimes sells out, so go early if you've got your heart set on it.