Evexia Cafe & Bakery

Aurora

I recently visited Evexia. While they have an extensive menu I only tried baked goods to go which I enjoyed.

The general manager confirmed that almost everything was gluten free or could be made gluten free. The exception when I was there was the cinnamon roll. They did have a GF cinnamon bar which was delicious.

The manager confirmed that care was taken to prevent cross contact including having a separate press to use for the paninis.

There is indoor and outdoor seating.

It is a good spot to try coffee and a treat or a full meal.

I look forward to returning and trying new items.

Chopt Creative Salad Co.

Westlake, Woodmere

The original Chopt restaurant was founded in Union Square, NYC, in 2001. Their mission is to make healthy eating exciting for all people.

Two locations have opened locally in Westlake and Woodmere.

I visited the Woodmere location. The greeter at the door handed out menus and was surprised that GF information was not shown on the printed menu or the in-store ordering kiosks or on the app. He offered to look for that information but said it would be the same as I’d already found online.

The Allergen and Nutrition Information shows that most, but not all, of the salads, warm bowls and individual ingredients are gluten free. I found it helpful to have looked at these details in advance.

When I ordered the Blissful Harvest Bowl I was glad to see there was space to notify of the “allergy” on the order screen. The greeter said that notification would be sufficient and I did not need to otherwise make staff aware.

I enjoyed the bowl of warm grains, marinated kale, roasted chicken, sweet potato, apples, goat cheese and almonds. I tried it without substitution except requesting dressing on the side. I did not receive any dressing with my order but found the dish to be flavorful and additional dressing was not required.

Modifications are easy and infinite while ordering.

There are many delicious sounding items to try and I’m looking forward to a return visit.

Honeygrow

Mentor, Avon, Strongsville, Akron, Canton

Honeygrow features fresh, made-to-order stir-fry, salads, and honeybars.

This fast casual chain has recently expanded into the Cleveland area. There are now locations in Mentor, Avon, Strongsville, Akron and Canton.

The Red Coconut Curry, Loaded Greek salad and OG Cobb salad are gluten free as is.

The menu is fully customizable and GF ingredients are clearly indicated. So there are a lot of choices.

I was advised at the restaurant to alert personnel of “allergy” prior to placing the order on the store kiosk or to call the restaurant before placing an order in the app.

I was told my order might take a few extra minutes to prepare as the wok used to prepare the stir fry would be sanitized as part of their allergy protocol.

The food was served quickly. I enjoyed the Red Coconut Curry and had customized my order by substituting vegetables.

I also tried a Create Your Own Honeybar. The GF treat I chose was yogurt with fruit topping, chocolate chips and shredded coconut. There was also a drizzle of honey.

I’ll return to try a different combination of ingredients.

Nordstrom Grill

Beachwood

I really enjoyed my recent lunch at Nordstrom Grill. The restaurant is on the 3rd floor of the Beachwood Place Nordstorm store.

They have a menu with designated gluten free items.  I was assured by the greeter/seater, and very capable server, that my meal would be safely gluten free.

The Honey Dijon Cobb Salad was fresh and tasty. It was topped with perfectly cooked and seasoned salmon

My gluten eating companions enjoyed their salads.

There are several entrees marked gluten free and gluten free penne is available.

The menu does not mark the tomato soup as gluten free. However, the server checked with the kitchen and the tomato soup is gluten free.

Covered parking makes this restaurant an even more enticing choice during Cleveland’s inclement weather.

Julia’s 1902

https://www.julias1902.com

37819 Euclid Ave, Willoughby, 44094

Located in Willoughby House, a newly renovated mansion turned Inn, Julia’s 1902 opened in 2024.

From Julia’s 1902 website:

Julia’s 1902 is a restaurant and bar located on the ground floor of Willoughby House, an inn that offers ten unique suites. Executive Chef Jose Coronado takes inspiration from the flavors of his native country, Guatemala, as well as Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin American cuisines.

Julia’s 1902 offers a sophisticated yet approachable dining experience with a variety of dietary options made from locally sourced ingredients.

I have the pleasure to dine at Julia’s a few times in the past months. Each and every time I was able to order a dish prepared specifically to be gluten free. Not only were each of the items I ordered perfectly prepared and served but the server was knowledgeable and attentive. Check out their menu, it is clearly marked for gf options. Weekly/Daily Menus with TuesdayMenu – Tapas. Weekends – Brunch.

Be sure to make a reservation. Note that this is a no-tip establishment but there is a 20% gratuity attached to your bill. Valet parking is essential as the parking lot is a bit tight.