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.
First time at this restaurant and I must say this is the most bland Ethiopian food I have ever ate.
TheTsome firfir didnt have any salt. It was just onions and berbere.
The veggie combo did not taste good at all. The fosolia tasted like tomatoes. The Gomen tasted watery. The shiro wasn’t done. The only thing that was decent was the tikil gomen and alecha kik. I only ate a little bit all together.
But the most shocking of them all is the fact they charge $2.60 per for gluten free (teff injera). THAT IS RIDICULOUS and ABSURD. It wasn’t even fresh, it was from the fridge and they microwaved it. By the time it got to us it was so stiff like a towel.
Charging $2.60 for teff injera is robbery. Every where else in the country charge $1.30 -$1.60 per teff injera. How dare you guys charge this much and it’s not even fresh? I even called the local restaurants and markets to ask how much they charge and they said $1.30. Even buying the 25 pound teff is no more than $60.
Don’t over charge people for teff (gluten free) injera.
Also, the presentation felt a little untraditional with each dish on its own small piece of injera. Usually, everything comes together on one big, beautiful plate of injera. That communal aspect is such a big part of the experience, you know? It really brings that feeling of eating together. That’s what makes our culture unique.
Staff were great though.
Just wanted to share my honest experience.
Had some amazing gluten free chocolate cake and an okay latte, but this isn’t a place to hang out. I was trying to get some work done and was told there was no wifi.
CocktailsVegan OptionsAsianDinnerOpen Late NightTake AwayVegetarian OptionsLunchDelivery
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Andy Thomson
Great food, especially with Gluten and other allergy-friendly restrictions. Super flavorful and great variety. I miss the deep fried kimchi from the Mpls location, but love this spot.
AsianAllergen FriendlyBrunchDairy Free OptionsDeliveryDinnerOpen Late NightLunchTake AwayVegan OptionsVegetarian OptionsKoreanKid FriendlyIndian
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Bethany Sagsveen
Something for everyone! Vegetarian, vegan, heaps of gluten-free options and a solid chicken and shrimp too.
Tastey flavors in a Midwest hot scale. Definitely safe for your Aunt Janine.
Open late after the game too!
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!
We really loved this place! The waitress was super sweet and the food was awesome! We just wish there was GF toast for our breakfast. But over all, it was great! We had a good gluten free breakfast 👍🏻
LunchDinnerBrunchOpen LateItalianPizzaDeliveryTake AwayKid FriendlyGrocery Store
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Mary Manley
We needed a last minute option to feed 100+ people after our food truck canceled and Doge Pizza stepped up! The pizza was delicious and there were so many options including vegan and gluten free.
The staff was very helpful in making sure that I got the pizza by the time I needed even though the expected time was almost 45 minutes past when I needed it.
Great location, highly recommend
The service is amazing & the food is crazyyyy good!! Love a gluten free crust & the overall vibe is so, so good. The employees are super kind & helpful which is extra appreciated and it’s just a 10/10 overall! Can’t wait to go back ☺️🍕
This place was absolutely phenomenal. The hummus was the best we've ever had. What a pleasant surprise! They were able to accommodate our various allergies/sensitivities (gluten, dairy, onion). We had the salmon and NY strip. Cooked perfectly and so so delicious. Steve, our server made sure to take our allergies down and also made sure to get us our food quickly since we were headed to a concert. He was wonderful!
Service was great, food was made and brought out quickly. The traditional old world pepperoni pizza was delicious. Also we had a gluten free cheese pizza that was two thumbs up!
Literally such a gift! Are you a person with celiacs desperately in search of gochujang and fried Korean food? This is the place you want to be! Seats fill up fast tho so get there early if you can
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.
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!
Definitely the best London Fog I've had in the twin cities! They don't have it on the menu, but I just asked and they were happy to oblige. I also got a scone and muffin, both were delicious!
I'm not gluten free, but they also have several options for GF with signs posted for additional options on request.
Parking is also super easy AND the staff is delightful.
10/10 wonderful experience
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.
We met colleagues here, as they love the food - however, they aren't huge fans of the atmosphere when the accordion player is around. I will say that the musician never played at our table, thankfully - as it was SO loud, that you need not bother for the musician to come to your actual table; you can hear him across the entire restaurant. That said, we were leaving after enjoying our supper, and he was asking for tips as we left. When we didn't give him any money (he didn't play at our table), he was both rude and verbally abusive. What an inappropriate and sour way to exit a restaurant. He was standing at the door doing this to everyone who was leaving the place. The food is fine for those who have no gluten/lactose allergies. There are literally two items on the menu that were edible for those with gluten/dairy allergies. So I ate french fries. Pass on it. It's pricey and the musician was obnoxious. He should be fired. As a musician, I cannot justify the attitude given with the skill presented. Hard pass. Buy vodka drinks elsewhere.
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.
Very great pizza and atmosphere. My wife has a Gluten allergy place came highly recommended and we were very impressed with the pizza. Will stop in again when in the area, and the owner was great!
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.
Stopped for a drink & bite to eat before a show at the Palace Theatre.
Fun atmosphere and we were pleased that the food was delicious!
I enjoyed the Elote Burger (it has corn & hot Cheetos in it!!) on a Gluten Free bun.
Can’t wait to go back and try something else from the menu!
Great authentic food. Daughter and I are gluten intolerant and have had no issue with the food. Get the El Surco 18!!! Meal for 2. Paloma was good too.
Lovely date spot with great cocktails. Good gluten free options but I was informed it is not a dedicated GF kitchen. The Anne with an E cocktail was top notch! The Tia Maria coffee pudding was DELICIOUS. The Old Fashioned left something to be desired. Ambiance great, lovely decor, surreal to imagine I was doing Utkatasana in this same room in the Before Times.
Love Toppers for the Caulipower crust pizza that lets me finally get takeout pizza on a reduced carb diet and lets my partner enjoy gluten free and vegan takeout pizza. Of course low carb Topperstix would be nice, but I added a cheese Caulipower crust pizza with garlic sauce as a good substitute.
I really wish they still had the tostadas from the dollar menu. Those were so delicious, and that corn shell was perfect for us gluten-free folk. Please bring back the tostada! I also miss the breakfast skillet. That was also another delicious gluten-free alternative I loved, that they've gotten rid of. Please bring back the breakfast skillet! Otherwise, I'm always happy with the food I get and better prices than most places.
Had the lobster. It was great. Mancini’s is a St. Paul treasure. One of few Supper Clubs left. It would be nice to have a gluten free dinner role option.
Celiac friendly
