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| - The review regarding the "spartan" decor is one of the reasons I picked this spot for a recent lunch with an old co-worker/friend (we both agree that these no-frills establishments can yield the tastiest food!). Of course, there were also the stellar food reviews here, and something I must have read on their Facebook page about catering to those with allergies (I skimmed through here but didn't see it).
I have a gluten intolerance, so I phoned ahead to see if there would be any food I could eat during the lunch hour. Marino, the chef, answered the phone and said it would be absolutely no problem, and asked me what day I would be coming in.
Let me tell you, I have never felt so SPOILED by a dining establishment before! Marino is the one that greeted us, and took our orders. We were the only ones there, but I think the place next door must have ordered some grub, as he kept popping out with plates of food. Mind you: my friend and I were catching up, so we weren't in any rush, nor did we ever feel not attended to.
I didn't even look at the menu on my end. He'd let me know that he had made some sweet potato and corn flour gnocchi for me, so I was sold! Even though my friend didn't have any allergies, we both felt like we were given a LOT of choice in what we wanted or didn't want in our dishes. My friend also wanted to order bruschetta, but felt guilty that I couldn't have some. I told her to go ahead anyway, she could always take some home. Imagine my surprise when the bruschetta came out and he'd separated out some of it, putting it on top of some lightly cooked zucchini for me! What!!!
Though we didn't order it, we also got a free creme brulee to share, which was so lovely.
Two reasons why it didn't get a full 5 stars: 1) Although the food was so flavourful, it was a TAD oily for my usual tastes. 2) There was ONE piece of my friend's penne in my dish, right on the top. Now, I do not have celiac disease, and I certainly can't ingest a ton of bread/pasta, but I was able to still eat my glorious meal just by picking out the penne piece in question. Others with greater sensitivities are not so lucky, so just make sure you double check with the kitchen for any chances of cross-contamination (as you always do, I am sure).
My friend and I both left knowing we'd be back, probably with our significant others in tow!
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