Top 7 Gluten-Free Lunch Spots to Enjoy in Forest Park Southeast, St. Louis

Madeline Erdman

I’ve lived in the Grove for about two years, and I’m walking distance from Songbird. This means, most days I’m up at 7 am walking my dog past this place to smell all the smells. Great smells, and all for free. I like to think my dog thinks the same, bc he will usually stop and take extra sniffs by this place. Fantastic place to smell, first and foremost. Okay, you want to know about the food. Yeah, I’ve gotten take-out from here, PLENTY a times. And it’s always going to be the same effing thing. THE COMBO SANDWICH! Please! Cmon! Insane to the fricken membrane! Never gets old! Perfect sandwich, and please know I come from the land of breakfast sandwiches (new jersey) and this place knows how to do a breakfast fricken sandwich. Freshly toasted sourdough, thick bacon, incredible cheese, and that EGG! 😫 With salt and honey on top, please. 🙏 Any time I get this to-go, it’s always warm, egg perfectly cooked, and so easy to order through their user-friendly website. Shoutout whoever does their web-design BTW - love it. Okay, now you want to know the dine-in vibes. Such a cozy, lovely, well designed interior. It feels like you’re eating at your down-to-earth rich friend’s house who definitely is a NPR contributing member. So like, good vibes. Love the hand-painted designs all over, and the color scheme is not overwhelming, it aids in your eating experience. One bathroom - small, and does the job well. Great bathroom. Every detail of this place is so well thought out, to the cookbooks on the bar, to the little figurines on the sill of the mirror. Also, always love a purse hook! Which there are a plenty of! The wait staff here - they are professionals. Like true, real deal professionals. My dad still references this phrase someone used - “How was your first chew?” I mean, how does one even think of such an original sentence? Thank you for inspiring thought and critical thinking. I’ve sat at the bar and at a table. Both spots had excellent back support, and how enjoyable to place my feet wherever I so choose when we sit. Perhaps I swing them! Love the choice. And the open-kitchen concept for the drink making, love it. How fun to watch espressos and kombuchas and teas and delicious alcoholic morning beverages be made!! Okay, now you want to know about the dine-in food experience. As much as I love that OG sandwich, I was recently diagnosed with a random autoimmune disease that restricts some foods I can eat, including gluten, so I was so happy to see they have a gluten-free option for their combo sandwich! I’m really not supposed to eat a lot of food, but the thing is the quality of ingredients is so incredible, I never have a poor reaction to their meat, dairy, or butter. I love they have partnerships with lots of local businesses, and you can really taste the quality. Okay, so I know I raved about the combo sandwich, but their menu is so full of variety and they have the best seasonal specials. My dad loves the Kale Frittata, and I’ve also enjoyed their Sprouted Grain English Muffin, and their grits are so yum! Please try everything once, you won’t regret it. Also always get the combo. lol. Now - the drinks. You might be saying, why is this tiny little Songbird latte $10? Yeah, I wonder that too. I think it’s because of inflation, and also because the quality of house-made syrup, cruelty-free coffee, and delicious milk varieties are just worth it. But hey, don’t want to spend that much? Get one of their insanely delicious teas, matchas, or juices. But don’t sleep on that kombucha. I won’t lie, it’s a bit of a small amount for the price point, but again, you get what you pay for here. My boyfriend tried their Coffee with a Kick as well, and he got a SUBSTANTIAL amount of liquor in that jawn 🤣. Very pleased. I know it’s a long review, but I must address one final thing. All of you weirdos are always complaining about the wait, and being “pushed out.” Go work in a restaurant once in your life. Please. Learn patience. It’s worth the wait.

Tammy Rae Bartley

Loved that they had gluten free options!

David Dotson

Excellent smoothies & acai bowls - custom to your order preference! Coconut, almond or oat milk options+ swap out or add to base or toppings - try out new combinations! Waffles are available in Gluten-Free!

Oma Norris

Annamarie Hammer

Betty Cooper

Brian Stackhouse