So here's the thing, it's a great spot, and if you dine in, the food is pretty good. They hand-pour cherry Coke on request and take pride in their beer offerings, too. Twin Cities natives LOVE them their local Pizza Luce.
BUT - and it's a BIG but (sans Sir Mix-a-Lot) - I got nasty food poisoning from their chicken wings last year, and haven't been able to look at chicken wings since. They also have a problem remembering to add extra cheese on their pizza when you order online. Has happened several times when I've ordered delivery as well as pick-up. Both of these issues are specific to the Roseville location.
On the other hand, Katie at the Selby location in St Paul is wonderful if you're lucky enough to be in her service. I was there last week with a VERY diverse group of people - there were about 10 of us - and she was great. She was even juggling a late Friday night when the carbonation ran out at the bar, so no carbonated drinks. They also ran out of their summer special pizza (Taco Supreme), and the kitchen dropped one of our orders. Katie was pleasant, kind, generous, on top of it. She handled her business, as we say in NYC, amidst the chaos. Kudos to you, Katie. I hope you -and your corporate boss - see this review, because you're the reason I will continue to recommend Pizza Luce despite clear ops issues.
The vegan meatballs are pretty good, and even have a fire-seared flavor to them that's unexpected in vegan products.
I happen to be an omnivore, and also tried the meat meatballs, which are also quite good - though I don't recommend mixing and matching.
Generally, the pizzas are super yum, but have a thin, crispy crust, fyi. Also important: they have a pretty good gluten-free selection, including the pizzas.
I recommend asking about spiciness if you have sensitivity to burning foods, though. Not everything with "kick" is labeled on the menu.
So, after all of that, I still go. I still recommend them. Just know that there may be a learning curve, so I also recommend you go with locals the first few times if you're a traveler or a transplant.
Cheers
The Red Cow has delicious fare and great service. I was part of a group of four. They have a dedicated gluten-free fryer, so all the fried potato dishes (e.g. french fries, sweet potato fries, etc.) can be made gluten-free (and oat-free).
“Gluten friendly” at your own risk. Fries are marked that they can be gluten free, but the cheese sauce they come with is beer cheese, so the waitress had to clarify that she’d bring that on the side. And they don’t have a GF frier, so she asked if that would be ok. Maybe I ate too many fries, since it wasn’t clear that they came with the burger too (w/ no other option).
The gf burger bun was good (covered in poppy seeds) & held up well. Cocktails were also good and the atmosphere was just what we were looking for.
You know it’s a classic spot. Gluten free bun was great! I did end up getting sick so there was some cross contamination, which is to be expected given how small the kitchen is - just be prepared!
I am always impressed when I go to Hope! I can never choose what to get because there are SO MANY amazing options!
Gluten free and vegan options available and they are DELICIOUS! Even most of their specialty coffees can be made vegan!
Great food. My celiac girlfriend did get a reaction from the gluten free food. Assuming that was due to cross contamination and the inability to be completely sure of gluten on their end. Just note this place is not safe for a gluten free diet.
We chose this place for a get together with some friends and our kids. It was suggested by other parents as a place for a fun and unique experience for all ages. We went on a Sunday so there wasn't much airplane action. We did get to see 1 plane take off as we were leaving. They offered a kid's menu, gluten-free options and a variety of cocktails. We went for the breakfast options: french toast for the kids, coffee, tea, french toast sandwich, mushroom toast & eggs. Our friend's had the Holman's Breakfast. All was delicious and everyone left with a content and happily filled belly. We look forward to returning in the summer to enjoy their outdoor seating and to check out the dinner menu.
Perfect weather on one of the nicest patios in the city. The food was excellent as always, especially the halibut cheeks, a rare find in the midwest. The celiac member of our party also really appreciated the very wide range of options available. Our server, Bryan, was outstanding. His pleasantness, knowledge and timing all contributed greatly to an entirely wonderful evening.
Had a super knowledgeable server who made sure to take extra time to answer all my questions. She even knew about how the specials were made, and if they could be made GF. Ended up getting spaghetti with Italian sausage and it’s the best noodle I’ve had since my diagnosis!
After dinner, make sure to go down to the first floor and check out the market—there’s a new, clearly marked and pretty big gluten free Italian pasta section—they even have gluten free stuffed shells in the freezer!
Great place to grab a bite to eat with friends. They have a nice drink/beverage menu and offer gluten free and vegan options. The staff was very friendly and helpful at pointing out what could be made gluten free and what wasn't! We will definitely be back.
Their online menu is labeled with gluten free options, that alone deserves is a 5-star rating!
So many restaurants don't do this and we are thankful they took the time to do so. When we order, there is no hassle of asking about if a dish is gluten free or if they can modify it for our dietary needs!
Also, the food tastes amazing!
We had a lovely time at Meritage! The service was fantastic and the interior is both intimate and spacious. The high ceilings are to die for. I highly reccomend asking for a spot by the window or the half-booth half-table spots along the back (this is where we were). The patio also looked beautiful and romantic.
The wine list was HUGE. However, we didn’t even dig into the wine because they have an assortment of delicious champagne cocktails (and I love champagne) as well as a plethora of fantastic NA beverage options!
As far as food, we ordered off the ala carte menu. Everything we ordered was delicious and RICH! We made the mistake of ordering way too much food—the serving sizes are plentiful so be careful not to over-order like us.
The steak tartare with the big taters was flavorful and rich, but still had a light “spring” flavor to it with the fresh veggies on top and mustard seed. A great starter.
The French onion soup was divine, however the serving was way too big. I would have loved a French onion soup “shooter” option.
By the time our main dishes came out, we were so full already. We ordered the risotto which was absolutely perfect and so fresh with the spring ramp and peas. We also ordered the moules frites. The fries are a MUST ORDER at Meritage. The most perfect fries I could imagine.
The mussels were still delicious, but not my favorite that I’ve had compared to some other mussel dishes at other restaurants in the twin cities. There are so many other good menu options, I would have just ordered fries and skipped the mussels for some other options.
My wife was gluten free and the wait staff were very knowledgeable about what could be made gluten free (almost everything!).
We were too full for dessert, but the options looked delicious.
Overall, we will be back!! They also have a tasting menu that I would love to try. A classic Twin Cities restaurant that I hope to return to again and again. A must-visit.
Excellent dining experience. Everyone on the staff was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, prompt, and friendly! Our waiter answered all of our menu related questions beautifully. I am gluten intolerant, and my dining partner was not, so I'll leave notes after the items about the gluten content. We told the staff beforehand, and they were great about answering my questions about gluten containing ingredients.
We tried 'I Smoked my breakfast' and 'Where's the smoke?' cocktails. Both were great! 'I Smoked my breakfast' was smooth, sweet, and spirit forward. 'Where's the smoke?' had the signature smokiness of mezcal balanced with light and refreshing citrus notes, not too sweet. I'm looking forward to trying more cocktails in the future. The menu also has low ABV and nonalcoholic craft cocktail options, so there's something for everyone.
We had:
Patatas bravas - a generous serving of crisp potatoes covered in a balanced spicy sweet tomato sauce and mayo drizzle. These took me back to the restaurants in Barcelona, a very nice representation of a traditional favorite. (Gluten friendly as is)
Haloumi cheese - the green sauce and bean salad paired nicely with the fried haloumi cheese, I would order this again. (Gluten friendly as is)
Beet salad - very good! I always enjoy a good beet salad. (Order without crackers and barley to make gluten friendly)
Cheeseburger - a good burger and something on the menu for the less adventurous diner. (Bun, not gluten friendly)
Roasted piri piri chicken - seriously amazing. The waiter described the heat level and flavors perfectly when he said the 6 out of 10 spice of the chicken is balanced with the buttermilk sauce on the bed of green beans and potatoes. I would eat this chicken again and again. (Gluten friendly as is)
Chocolate cheesecake - this crustless cheesecake caught my eye as a gluten friendly dessert option. Garnished with a chocolate ganache and candied orange pieces, this final course was both exactly what I needed and what put me over the edge of way too full. It's hard to pace yourself when everything is so good. (Gluten friendly as is)
We also had the pleasure of chatting with the owner during our meal. He was friendly and kind, the ideal host. I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant! I'll certainly be back.
Came here specifically for the gluten free options for my coeliac daughter. Disappointed that the nachos are marked GF but actually cooked in the same oil with gluten ingredients. But happy that the waitress was aware and alerted us. There are other GF options - we had a shredded chicken bowl which was GF. Reasonably tasty and a good quick pre-flight meal.
This had to be one the best burgers on a gluten-free bun I've had in the twin cities! The Brussel spouts were amazing also. The service team was wonderful.
A combination of good weather, choir band, and good food led to a delightful evening. Outdoor seats with nice view of the lake made it all possible. We were a group of three and we got fish tacos, fish & chips, and Caribbean Cuban sandwich (forgot to take a photo of the dishes! Lol) and we all liked our dishes. The food came out fairly fast despite the long line. They offer enough gluten free options.
Celiac friendly
