So I'll start out by saying I had high hopes for this visit. I saw a comment online that the new menu has a Gluten Free Flourless Chocolate Torte! Wow, and it's being billed as gluten free in the description, so they must have more choices for those of us with dietary challenges, right? Wrong. Sadly, it seems there is less than the previous menu (which even then, half of the dish was left off).
Our server was very nice, and went back to check a 'list' they had in the kitchen for items that were gluten free. Hmmm, a list in the kitchen. Wouldn't you think they'd have it noted on the menu too? Ok, I'll let that slide. Maybe they're still catching up.
So he comes back pretty quickly to tell me there are 3 things on the new menu that are gluten free. Wait, 3? Should I be happy yet. No. There were other things that 'could' have been gluten free with a slight modification, or item exchange... I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and hear what he has to say.
Here were the choices I was given:
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad or Pita 10.75
Spring greens, chicken, candied pecans, feta cheese and sun-dried cranberries in a creamy raspberry dressing.
*The Movie Tavern Mixed Grill 14.95
Grilled chimichurri chicken and beef, lemon pepper shrimp, and andouille sausage served with tasso ham,
potato and garlic spinach.
Flourless Chocolate Torte 6.95
Our decadent gluten-free chocolate dessert.
Served with candied pecans and whipped cream.
Just for the record, I couldn't find the relevance of the * next to certain items. However, I was really surprised and disappointed that this was all they could do. Ok, let's set aside any concerns about cross contamination, but if you look at what they offer, I should have at least been able to get hummus (sans pitas - extra veggies anyone)? Maybe my server was just not educated enough, but I feel that if you're going to state anything is gluten free, your kitchen and staff should be at the very least, be able to offer some choices.
Now, one could argue they have a couple of things. At lest it wasn't just the salad with no dressing, or plain grilled chicken - you've been there, you're not alone. But my point of contention is that they go so far as to specify the dessert is gluten free, but still really reduce the options. And on top of that, there was no offer to help with adjustments to any other 'probable' dishes that were not gluten free as listed on the menu.
Did I have any of those items? Nope. Don't get me wrong. I was starving, but I wasn't playing the marter here, just had the same issues anyone would when faced with a menu they don't like. Besides my quirky self-imposed restriction of eating no pork (ask and I will reveal), I thought there was too much question in the contents of the Mixed Grill. And I wanted a meal, not a little salad or dessert for dinner.
So my hopes of a new menu, a new era where dashed. I took solace in some wine. Yes, at least I could have wine.
