Top 5 Gluten-Free Kid-Friendly Spots to Explore in Riverdale and Riverdale Park

Amber Klassen

Oh my dear beloved Burtons, This is our go-to restaurant as a Celiac family. Any event, celebration, etc, we are at Burtons. Unfortunately, the Riverdale location is going off of our list and will be returning to the Alexandria location. When I say we go for all the celebrations, I'm not joking. Yesterday was the worst experience we have ever had at any restaurant and it was brunch on Father's Day. Mother's Day was fine. We were there. No issues. But, Father's Day was a diabolical disaster. If this was our first experience, which I fear it was some people's first time, I would never come back. Let me start by saying, the serving staff was amazing. You could tell the kitchen was falling apart but they were trying their best to hold the front of house together. I am going to repeat that we were there for brunch so when I say there were no water pitchers or food was unavailable, you know it got worse throughout the day into dinner service. Why advertise specials that you don't have? My husband and I both ordered off the specials menu. Appetizer sold out (at brunch.. yikes), main course was unrecognizable. They didn't have mashed potatoes, which were part of the dish. The sauce was missing from the chicken, and the chicken was more like Jerky. Needless to say, I took my meal home and didn't eat it. I was offered french fries at the end of my meal when I was informed there were in fact no mashed potatoes cooked. I took those home too. My daughter also ordered chicken that she didn't eat because hers was also a dried out jerky form. I will say, the waitress did comp a piece of chocolate cake, but after spending $150 on meals that 3/4 of us didn't eat, I decided you need to do better. In this economy, $150 for a family of 4 to have brunch comes with a certain expectation and you failed. Like I said, our family adores Burtons and we know what this restaurant is capable of and a busy brunch isn't an excuse to lose customers. I can only imagine what a mess dinner service was when you were running out of food by lunch time. Poor management destroys business. Do better. You have a strong reputation to uphold in the allergy and celiac community.

Bertha Katz

Mark Lacher

Frances Smith

James Butts