Category: Restaurants

Capital Grille – Legacy

Lyndhurst, Multiple Locations Nationwide

ps://www.thecapitalgrille.com/locations/oh/lyndhurst/lyndhurst/8060

January tends to be a quiet month in the restaurant industry.  I consider it my duty to patronize the eateries we enjoy while they are on the quiet side and so that I feel I’ve helped the businesses and servers during what can be a stressful pause in business.

Even though we indulged in lots of foodstuffs over the past month we have an early January Birthday in our house so a nice dinner out follows the entire month of the eating frenzy.  One thing not on this holiday season’s menu was steak.  In the interest of balancing out the diet, having a celebratory meal and keeping it relaxed and leisurely we headed out to Capital Grille.

To my surprise – Capital Grille has a special gluten-free menu with a fair number of options available in all categories.  This seasons g-f menu featured 1 soup – Clam Chowder, 2 salads, 2 appetizers, and a range of entrees.

Meals are a bit pricey at Capital Grille so I wanted to choose mine carefully.  The Surf n Turf option with 2 filets about 2 – 3 ounces each, 2 Langostino lobsters also about 2 – 3 ounces each was a perfect pairing.  All menu items are ala carte so we added a salads, au gratin potatoes, and sauteed spinach to round out the meal.

It is possible that this meal was one of the best meals I’ve had in a restaurant!  The steaks were cooked to perfection as were the potatoes and the spinach.  Salads were super fresh, chilled and well dressed.  The service was impeccable.  They noted our names when we arrived and that we were celebrating.  Our server addressed us by name throughout the meal and presented a lovely dessert platter following our meal with a flourless chocolate tart for (g-f me) and a cheesecake tartlet (not g-f) for my husband.

For a celebration the Capital Grille is a really great option and there are locations all over the country, including two in Ohio, locally at Legacy Village and also in Cincinnati.

 

 

 

Cooper’s Hawk Winery

Across from Pinecrest

https://chwinery.com/uploads/downloads/Coopers-Hawk-Gluten-Free.pdf

Multiple Locations – All over the U.S.

ORANGE VILLAGE, OH

27200 Harvard Rd
Orange Village, OH 44122

NOW ALSO LOCATED IN AVON

35351 Chester Rd, Avon, OH 44011
Phone: (440) 709-1800
Cooper’s Hawk Winery has added a new location in Cleveland OH market as well as having expanded the options for gluten free diners.

Check out the link above for the full gluten-free menu.  Lots of items to choose from.  Everything made fresh in house – including desserts – of which 4 were available tonight.

Our server, Brit W, was an absolute gem of graciousness and knowledge guiding the table through options, answering questions about ingredients, and explaining the process and concept of Cooper’s Hawk.

Was asked if the g-f request reflected a preference or an allergy.  This question never really bothers me although I know others don’t care to be asked but Brit informed us that an allergy request on an order to the kitchen requires 3 signatures from the floor staff.  They take this very seriously and I appreciate that they do.

I started with the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad – one of the best salads I’ve had dining out – ever!  Followed the salad with the Short Rib Risotto – also wonderful – both portions – way more than enough for a single diner.

No desserts were had tonight but next time I will most definitely order with dessert in the plan to finish.  I hear that Salted Caramel Creme Brulee calling my name.

24 Karrot Kitchen

Brecksville

https://www.24kkitchen.com/

7059 Mill Rd.
Brecksville, OH 44141

440-630-9494

 

Caitlin messaged us via our webpage.  Thanks for the referral Caitlin!

24 Karrot Kitchen has been open for a month now.

Kathleen Madden and Paul Jantzen are the owners.

This place is  awesome!  Kathleen and Paul are supporting local organic farmers!

Their menu changes daily with many gluten free dairy free choices!

We have eaten there many times and enjoy every meal!!

From the webpage for 24 Karrot Kitchen:
The mission of 24 Karrot Kitchen is to educate and to provide the best ingredients, recipes and information needed to prepare whole, natural organic foods, leading to more healthful living. We strive to feed the wider community with the best quality foods in our cafe and in our cooking classes.  We will also educate and support those with food intolerances, gastrointestinal disorders, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases to improve quality of life. My vision is to create a nurturing environment and inspire individuals and the community to champion their own health and well-being.

Hello Bistro

Beachwood. Celiac beware.

Disappointing.

That’s Hello Bistro, a new restaurant concept from Eat’n Park that recently opened up at the Beachwood Mall complex below The Container Store.

It is a fast-casual style restaurant with a salad bar with a build-your-own salad option featuring more than 50 toppings, several proteins, and a variety of different salad dressings. Their Salad Sherpas will build it, chop it, and dress your salad to order.

The menu also lists suggested salad combinations, several of which carry a GF designation.

There are also burgers, sandwiches and soups. Gluten Free rolls are available for 75 cents.

The menu has this disclaimer:

We work fast and furious around here so we can’t guarantee there isn’t some gluten somewhere; but, if you let us know, we will make every effort to prevent cross-contamination. If you have an allergy or another dietary concern, please ask to speak with the manager.

Sounds good on paper and I was excited to give it a try.

Your order is placed with a cashier who informed me that separate mats and utensils would be used. I asked about cross contact from the gluten containing salad ingredients and she called over a manager.

The manager said the ingredients from the general line would be used and no separate ingredients were available.  He said cross contact was likely.  And if I had a severe reaction, I shouldn’t eat there. So I left. Disappointed.

I went down the street to Piada where the manager/chef happily made my salad from ingredients not out on the general line. It was delicious!

Here’s how to find Hello Bistro, if you are brave:
2101 Richmond Rd.
Suite 821
Beachwood, OH 44122
216-342-4843

CoreLife Eatery

Strongsville, Mentor, Fairlawn

CoreLife Eatery is all about healthy eating.  Luckily for us they think that means its (almost) all gluten free.

The menu features bowls of greens, grains, rice and broth and power plates.  Pick one of their suggestions or create your own.

I had the Greens and Ancient Grains Bowl: Warm quinoa, shredded kale + arugula, tomatoes, corn, chickpeas, broccoli, shredded white cheddar. You watch the bowl being made and can customize as you’d like. The dressings are all gluten free. I had the greek yogurt bleu cheese which didn’t add much flavor. The salad ingredients were the freshest of the fresh.

My dining companion had Shiitake Mushroom & Roasted Tofu Broth Bowl: Vegetable broth, shiitake mushrooms, napa cabbage, shredded kale, roasted tofu, sprouts, ginger, lemongrass, sliced almonds. Perfect for a chilly day.

My only complaint is that they only offer complimentary gluten filled bread. It is the only thing that contains gluten in the restaurant but I wish they had a gluten free option or, even better, served only a gluten free bread choice.

I lunched in Strongsville. There’s also a location now in Mentor and soon-to-open in Fairlawn.