| rev:text
| - The front is for case goods deli purchases to go; the back is for sandwiches and so much more, for take-away or to eat in their large seating area, Extensive chalkboard menu. I got sliced nova, incredibly moist, tasty sable, and can't recall what else. I may up my rating when I give them a more thorough try, but this rating is for the rather cool demeanor of the clerk (could have been the owner) who was actually hostile about my suggestion he keep gluten free bread on hand to make GF sandwiches. He mentioned a GF bakery across the street, which somehow alleviates his need to provide any such products to his customers. I say, if there's a group of 8 going to lunch, and if even one must eat gluten free, they are likely to go to a place where ALL can enjoy a meal -- not cobble it together themselves. How much trouble can it be to keep a loaf or two of GF bread in the freezer, to toast up as needed? Too much, evidently.
I might have bought sandwiches and sides and who knows what else, but settled for a tiny bit of sliced fish to go -- and crossed the street to Gluuteny, as he suggested, and spent the rest of my money there. Gluuteny is a Pittsburgh treasure and the best GF bakery I've ever been to. While an ever-growing number do, It stuns me how many restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops don't chose to carry anything from their extensive line of breads, cakes and cookies. 12% of US households buy gluten free (1% of which are the more serious Celiacs) -- that seems like a big chunk of business to be passing on when being at least "gluten friendly" (that is, you have wheat free products but not a clean prep kitchen) could be so very easy to secure that growing market,
Smallman will get another star when they can make a sandwich for both me and my wheat-allergic husband and friends. The fix is just too easy and compelling people to drag around their own loaf of bread is just rude and bad business.
|