gluten free

Snarf’s Sandwiches, Dallas, 4/11/26

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exterior – 1908 Abrams Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75214

Snarf’s Sandwiches was the product of Jimmy Seidel’s dream – to create the world’s finest sandwich.  In 1996 he opened the first one in Boulder, CO and now it is a chain of some 50 locations.    Named for Seidel’s college nickname, “Snarf” – for his ability to snarf down food – they are all toasted sandwiches.  I’m not usually a chain restaurant person but one opened in my neighborhood and was getting good reviews for their made-to-order sandwiches using fine ingredients, premium meats and cheese and their own blend of giardiniera peppers.  Each restaurant is unique but features custom mosaics by Colorado artist Jen Haley.   Ours was a long space in a strip shopping center.  As you enter the menu was on the wall and the order counter in front of you.  After you pay and order you go to the drink station and get what you ordered there.  They call your name when your food is ready. Small tables are along the wall if you want to eat there.   There was a separate area for pick-ups of phoned in orders.  Also in front were the cookies, chips and merchandise.  It was pretty quick service and the service people were friendly.  It’s only been open a couple months and it already had a good crowd.  Their website can tell you if there’s one near you. Continue reading →

Red Scooter Deli, Paso Robles, CA., 3/14/26

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patio –1102 Pine St, Paso Robles, CA 93446-2521
Red Scooter Deli is on the main square in Paso Robles and open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.  Stephanie Johnston opened the deli in December 2010 and is actively involved in the Paso community.   The place has no indoor dining options but does have a number of outdoor tables where you can eat your selections.  It’s a tiny place to go inside where you order and pick up any chips, drinks or cookies, etc that you want to go with your food.   They have tons of sandwich combinations or you can design your own.  We tried 2 of their plain sandwiches as opposed to the box where they come with sides.  They also have options for gluten free, vegan and vegetarian eaters.  I love the idea of a female owned and operated business and the people working there were very nice, but the food we tried was mixed and smaller in portion than the sandwich we had at High Street Deli.

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Community Pizza & Beer Garden, Wimberley, TX, 12/27/24

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entry – 111 Old Kyle Rd #330, Wimberley, TX 78676

Community Pizza and Beer Garden was opened in 2018 by husband and wife team Michael and Morgan Mekuly.  It featured wood-fired Neapolitan Pizza, 32 tap beers and a full bar.  It’s a huge place with playscapes for children and a variety of seating options.  Music was in the background, it was well lit and filled with people.  The large indoor room holds the bar, with seats and the glassed-in wood-fired pizza oven, complete with cooks tossing the pizza dough.  We were there just after Christmas with family and I think most everybody had the same idea.  The place was in the midst of a bunch of stores and other eating and drinking establishments.  As usual, when out with people, photos get blurred, things get eaten and I generally get bad about taking notes.  However, we did have a good time and sampled many items that I tried to get photos of.  The pizza had a nice puffy edge crust and it was tasty but I think I might have liked the sandwich even more.  Either way, if you’re in Wimberly doing whatever, this certainly would be a filling place to stop and have a bite to eat. Continue reading →

The Root Cafe, Little Rock, AR., 12/12/24

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building – 1500 Main St, Little Rock, AR 72202

The Root Cafe sources as much as possible from small farms and producers in Arkansas.  They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner at different times during the day Tues – Sun.  Opened in June 2011 in the SoMa district of downtown Little Rock by Jack and Corri Sundell, it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  A second location in Breckenridge Village opened in 2022.  The Sundell’s philosophy is to create a more sustainable food system for Arkansas and have even used that principle in the design of the building, landscape and public events they sponsor.  It’s a small interior but lots of patios are enclosed in plastic to provide climate control.  A large mural of vegetables is on the wall of the building next to the parking lot.  Inside the decorations are funky and historic with lots of photos to look at.  There is a counter at the entrance where you place your order and a self-serve beverage area in front of it.  After you order and pay you receive a token to place on your table and they bring out your food.  Each token seemed to describe one of the farms they trade with.  The food was well thought out and I like their philosophy but nothing we had sang with flavor. Continue reading →

Nourish, Sequim, WA., 7/12/24

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building – 101 Provence View Lane, Sequim, WA 98382

Nourish is a farm-to-table place open for dinner Thurs – Sun. They operate a dedicated gluten-free kitchen with house made dishes using local ingredients.  They offer both indoor and outdoor dining with parking on both sides of the building.  The menu changes weekly and is a 3-course fixed price with several choices for each course.  The wine list was better than most and they also offer cocktails and beer.  The indoor space had carpet on the floor with metal and unstained wood for the walls with lots of windows.  The metal tables were unclothed, the ceiling was open and there was a large amount of space overall.  The food was really good with clean straightfoward flavors.  I love the idea that the menu changes that frequently, it would make me go often if I lived nearby.  Service was super friendly, efficient and helpful.  Hope you’ll try it and let me know what you think. Continue reading →

Alder Wood Bistro, Sequim, WA., 7/11/24

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exterior – 139 W Alder St, Sequim, WA 98382

Alder Wood Bistro was in a house-like building with several rooms open for dining and a large patio and a good amount of parking around the building.  A few booths and lots of tables made up the seating that had music in the background, sound absorbing panels on the ceiling, art for sale on the walls, lots of windows to the outside and decorations scattered about.  There was a full bar and a nice wine selection.  The food was billed as “the finest local, organic and sustainable produced ingredients”.  They have a wood fired oven for pizzas and offer a gluten-free cauliflower crust as well as noting what other menu items are vegan or gluten-free.  Their menu also had a number of nightly specials as well as drink specials.  I would go back, it was pretty good, and the service was super. Continue reading →

Princess Seafood, Fort Bragg, CA, 5/9/24

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
entrance – 32096 N Harbor Dr, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

Princess Seafood also has a market shop about 100 yards away but we were interested in eating not taking seafood home to fix.  The restaurant had a window to place your order and then 2 large tented open areas to sit in.  The seating areas looked right out onto the water where we had a very fun show of gulls, seals and sea otters.  After you place your order and pay they give you a number and will bring your food out to you.  It took a fairly long time to arrive but the wild life show gave us plenty to focus on while waiting.  They have lots of beers as well as non-alcholic drinks and a few specials of the day.  Primarily a seafood spot, they also have burgers and Philly sandwiches.  It was founded in 2018 by best friends Wendy  Holloway and Heather Sears who shared a passion for seafood.  Heather, who had a commercial fishing background, purchased the Princess named boat in Canada in 2009 and couldn’t change the name due to nautical superstition.   A small replica of it is out in front of the entrance. Continue reading →

Farmer’s Deli, Bend, OR., 5/2/24

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truck – 925 NW Brooks St, Bend, OR 97703

Farmer’s Deli is a breakfast or lunch spot brought to you by Chef/owner Justin Halvorsen.  Opening in summer 2023 it is the result of 24 years of cooking in various capacities for others and now he has his own gig.  The place highlights locally sourced food and ingredients.  It is a food truck behind Bar Rio and next to the restaurant Dear Irene.  There are no tables right next to it but there are tables by a coffee shop 30 feet away where you are welcome to sit and enjoy your food but many seemed to take it to go.  Halvorsen was raised in Vermont so there are numerous East coast inspired items on the menu.  It’s a small menu but the ingredients are quality indeed, even bread from Sparrow Bakery.  Both sandwiches we tried were generous portions and could have easily been split.  They each came with a nice pickle spear.  A fun off-the-beaten-track place to grab a quick bite to eat. Continue reading →

Second Empire Restaurant, Raleigh, 3/29/22

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front – 330 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27603

Second Empire Restaurant is in the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House, whose architectural style is the Second Empire Victorian style developed in France under Napoleon III and marked by heavy ornate modification.  The home was built for Mayor Dodd and completed in 1879 but lost quickly due to finances.  Col. Hinsdale purchased it in 1890 and it remained in the family till 1971.  Till 1993 the house suffered vandalism and then Ted Reynolds and family bought it and started the restoration to transform it into a restaurant.  In Sept. 1997 the restaurant and tavern opened for business.  The structure retains its original exterior, heart pine flooring, masonry walls and windows.  Four main rooms of the main body now make up the restaurant and a tavern was made from additional rooms and a glassed atrium room.  There is a small parking lot by the back entrance and otherwise you’re on your own.  At the front entrance is a dramatic stairway lined with photos and awards.  High ceilings, soft music in the background, lowered lighting and art on the walls surround the widely spaced large white cloth covered tables.  Chef Daniel Schurr offered a couple specials in addition to the printed menu and offers many gluten free options.  His style was to stack multiple ingredients into each dish.  Service was friendly but the pace was slow. Continue reading →

El Green-Go’s, Anchorage, 8/2&3/18

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exterior
exterior

El Green-Go’s is a permanently installed food truck serving local, organic Mexican and American Cuisine.  They source local  and organic ingredients for their food.  It is mostly breakfast and lunch, closing at 5:00 pm.  Interestingly, they are located right across the street from the Snow City Cafe and we chose to eat here twice rather than go back and stand in line across the street.   A friendly young couple run the place with Tyler doing the cooking and Crystal taking orders, bringing out food and taking your money.  The menu had few ingredients combined in a number of different ways.  Many include a choice of protein which were pork, chicken, tofu or halibut (for an additional $6).  In the back he had a grill/smoker set up where he cooked the meat and it also provided a wonderful aroma for your dining experience. They offer to make any of their items vegan or gluten free for no additional charge.   Continue reading →