I am celiac, dairy-free, and soy free. This was the first restaurant I felt comfortable eating in since the waiter and kitchen staff took all my dietary restrictions seriously and recommended certain foods that would abide to all of them. It is not easy to find an accommodating restaurant. I highly recommend this place for those who are very sensitive to strict dietary restrictions!! The food was prepared by a chef and the taste was phenomenal!!!
Pizzalley’s Chianti Room is situated in a prime location in St. Augustine, and the atmosphere is inviting and pleasant. However, our dining experience was marred by several issues that left us feeling frustrated.
Service Issues:
Upon arrival at 2:55 PM, a time when the restaurant was not particularly busy, we expected a timely greeting and service. Unfortunately, it took an unacceptably long time for our waiter to approach us and take our initial orders. This delay was surprising given the number of open tables around us. As our wait continued, we found ourselves having to remind the waiter about our requests multiple times, which only added to our dissatisfaction.
Children’s Experience:
One of the most disappointing aspects of our visit was how our children were treated. While other families at nearby tables received coloring pages and crayons to keep their kids entertained, ours did not. After noticing this discrepancy, we asked for coloring materials but ended up waiting for quite some time without any response. Eventually, one of our group members took the initiative to retrieve the coloring pages and crayons herself, which should not have been necessary. This lack of attention to families with children made the experience feel less welcoming.
Plant-based Menu and Pricing Concerns
As a vegan family, we were initially pleased to see that the menu offered customizable options. We ordered a vegan pizza, and while our waiter suggested a vegetarian pizza without cheese, we were able to request different vegetables to suit our preferences. However, we were taken aback when we received the bill: $27 for a 10” gluten-free pizza that contained only tomato sauce, a sprinkle of broccoli, mushrooms, pineapple, and a few pieces of eggplant.
In stark contrast, friends dining with us paid the same price for a 16” pizza loaded with an impressive array of toppings—pepperoni, sausage, cheese, vegetables, and specialty ingredients (they ordered half Garbage Can half Pig’n’Fig pie). It felt as though we were being penalized for choosing healthier options. Charging extra for a simple vegan pizza with minimal ingredients is not only unreasonable but also discouraging for those seeking plant-based meals.
Conclusion:
While Pizzalley’s Chianti Room boasts an attractive location and a pleasant atmosphere, the combination of poor service, inadequate attention to children’s needs, and exorbitant pricing for simple vegan options left us feeling dissatisfied. This experience does not align with what one would hope for in a family-friendly restaurant. We cannot recommend this establishment based on our visit.
Excellent choice for gluten free diets. They make everything to order so along with the listed GF items accommodation can be made too. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. Wine list was excellent. Highly recommend.
I went with family because they have a gluten-sensitive menu. Horrible experience. I think it was mostly the waitresses' fault. I got pork belly tacos off of the gluten sensitive menu. I asked her to please put in a note for the kitchen that I have wheat and dairy allergies and it went downhill from there. She said they weren't wheat tortillas they were flour. I said I needed corn. I was brought flour tortillas and she said she forgot to put them in right. I asked for a pineapple mimosa but they brought out a glass with less than a cup of liquid that had no pineapple. Etc. Management comped my food. I will not be back. Please think twice before coming if you have allergies too.
Visiting here from Boston. I enjoyed the Carrot “Lox” bagel (gluten free available). It was one of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever had. They have so many healthy and yummy options here as well as to go option. The staff was also so nice
We stopped in twice for a quick appetizer and drinks and it was amazing! The guacamole and oysters were DELICIOUS!!! Their hibiscus margarita is was so flavorful! And both times the service was 5 stars our servers were funny, accommodating to my dietary needs and allergies and attentive! No wait time. Pricing was reasonable and worth what we ordered!!
Highly recommend.
Gluten free options! For those of you like me with gluten, dairy and soy allergies!
We stumbled upon this gem of a diner and couldn’t be more pleased. The AC felt wonderful against the hot air outside, and the servers were immediately attentive. The decor was charming, and seats were plentiful. The menu was vast and provided quite a few options for the gluten-free and dairy-free dietary restrictions of my friend. In fact, she said they had more options than she’s seen in a long time at a restaurant.
The food arrived quickly and was even better than expected. Portion sizes were huge and the cost wasn’t bad at all.
Between great service, cool AC, and fantastic food, I’d definitely go back. In fact, in this girl’s opinion, this gem beat out our lunch in the historic district at a well-known eatery.
Thanks for making the small adjustments to make the appetizers and meal gluten free. Service was great and our waitress let me try 2 wines before ordering one. I had the lamb, mashed potatoes and veggies which was delicious. I can't remember what the appetizer was called, but it was cheese, jam, nuts and focaccia bread. Absolutely amazing!
DinnerOpen Late NightLunchBurgersCiderCocktailsFriesDeliveryTake AwayKid FriendlyRestaurantBrunch
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Josie Weyland
No gluten free menu. Nothing marked as gluten free as previously stated in other reviews. Waitress was unknowledgeable about gf options other than fries. Very limited options. Ended up drinking my dinner lol! #titos
So good! I was so happy to have gluten free chicken and waffles. The sweet and savory worked well together. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Found my new favorite place in St. Augustine.
Really adorable place. Good coffee, my mom and husband's food was good. I really appreciated their integrity in letting me know they couldn't guarantee no cross contact so I didn't get food, but I'd MUCH rather that than eat and get sick (I have celiac disease)! Wish more places would be like that instead of letting me suffer for days.
Quite literally the best food we’ve had in St. Augustine. I am gluten free and they offered so many options and all were DELICIOUS. My husband loved all the items he ordered too. The caprese salad and sweet potato maple crème brûlée were out of this world!
Celiac friendly
