We’ve been exploring our city- Chattanooga, Tennessee, and finding new places to visit. We had never had to worry about dining out before until my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Our options were suddenly limited, due to cross contamination of wheat. Thankfully, we found Sluggos Vegan Cafe. If you visit the Chattanooga area and need a Vegan or Gluten Free diet, it’s a tasty option.Since the local gluten-free bakery in my town closed, it’s been hard finding places for my friend and I to enjoy our weekly lunch out. Some places have no clue about gluten-free dining, and many of the ones who do are chain restaurants. While there’s nothing wrong with chain restaurants, one of my favorite things about our weekly lunch date is getting to try new, local foods. Last Sunday, after visiting the farmer’s market to pick up some fresh produce, my friend and I were looking for a place to eat. Our usual spot wasn’t open Sundays, and besides- we were ready for a change.
While driving back to my friend’s apartment, we happened to pass the local vegan café. We had stopped by a few times before, and I knew they had a good handle on gluten free cooking. There was a big sign out front advertising their brunch, from 12-3. It was 2:30, so we pulled in and wandered up to the front door.The décor inside can only be described as “hipster-grunge,” with sparse seating and local artwork on the walls. The floor is bare concrete, and the tables appear to be relics from the previous restaurant that inhabited the space. You order at the bar, sit down, and food is delivered to your table by a usually mustachioed waiter with at least three tattoos.
We had been to Sluggo’s for a weekday dinner several times, and were always impressed by their selection. Along with a regular menu and a gluten free menu, Sluggo’s also offers daily specials. In the past, they’ve had a vegan reuben, vegan sushi, and a vegan stir fry bowl. For the Sunday brunch, the day’s special was a challah bread French toast. I passed this up and headed straight for the gluten free menu- only to find out that almost all the brunch items were either naturally gluten free or available in a gluten free version!
After some back and forth between my friend and the guy behind the counter, who was very adamant that no, she could not have nachos, she had to order off the brunch menu that was available, we were finally ready to order. My friend had the breakfast burrito with hash browns, and I ordered the breakfast tacos with fruit.
The breakfast burrito was huge, filled with a spicy tofu scramble that was “better than eggs!” according to my awestruck omnivorous friend. It was topped with vegan “crema” and a housemade salsa. The burrito was great alone, but a dash of hot sauce put it over the top. The hashbrowns were actually more like home-fries, as they were huge chunks of fried potato mixed with greens. They were good, but if you’re expecting thin and crispy hashbrowns, this is not it. The tacos were a smaller version of the burrito, with the addition of avocado. My fruit was a mixed fruit, with juicy strawberries, cantaloupe, raspberries, and huge pieces of watermelon.
The tacos were served on corn tortillas, so they were naturally gluten free, but the staff took extra care to prevent cross-contamination. In the end, I didn’t get sick from the meal, which is the highest compliment I can give a restaurant. Although nothing can fill the hole in my heart from the closure of the gluten free café, Sluggo’s seems to have come close.
I honestly don’t know anything about the gluten free diets, but it’s great if you found something compatible to you!
Oh yummy, these options look delicious and so unique!!! When are you bringing me there?
It’s great that you’re able to find good food that’s close to you. I’m really picky now about what we eat, wish I had something like this close to me as well.
I love that you found a place that your daughter can eat. I feel like I’m not allowed to go out and eat anymore as I can’t have gluten or dairy. Live is HARD!!!! I feel for your daughter!
Wow – you’re so lucky! If you want gluten free, you have to make it yourself if you live near me. We don’t have anything like that.
It looks fantastic. My son needs gluten free so I love the options
I would totally love some of that watermelon right now! And that salad looks delicious.
There really are so many great options for Gluten Free needs. All of that looks so good
I love having healthier options when eating at restaurants. This place looks delicious!
Yum, that all looks really good! I’ve never heard of this place wonder if there’s one nearby I’d love to try it out
That looks amazing, so healthy!
I love that there are a lot of restaurants now that serve gluten free food. Though I’m not sure about how happy I would have been if I couldn’t have what I actually wanted 🙂
I’m glad it managed to fill your empty tummies even if not exactly what you were hoping for. At least there are more options for gluten-free now than ever.
Sounds like you found a decent replacement! I’m grateful to not have to sweat the gluten-free stuff, but I have a LOT of friends who do need to, and it is wonderful that places cater to that need.
Oh gosh, I wish there could be a time for me to try on gluten free foods like these.
I love that more and more places are accommodating to special diets. They are easier to find with our amartphines and apps showing online menus too. Glad you were able to find such a great spot!
Those Plates look amazing.
I just got back from eating dinner but reading this makes me hungry all over again! It looks so delicious!
That cafe looks & sounds delish! I would totally go there *drool*
It is great that you were able to find a new place even though it isn’t quite the same. Sounds like the food is pretty tasty at the new place.
I love that more places are starting to have items available for those of us with gluten allergies. It is always a slow process when things like this make their way to restaurants but they do eventually get there. I would love to go there to try this out, it looks amazing.
That’s great that you found a place to go to. It mist be so difficult to be so limited in what you can eat. It would be so hard for me!
That’s great that you found a place that will help ease the stress of eating out. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be.
Having an illness is even more stressful when you want to dine out. I am glad you were able to find a place that you can enjoy without worrying about it making you ill!
How wonderful to have a cafe that is gluten free near by. I wish we had one we could take our grandson to.
Gosh that looks so good, I was just saying that I had a taste for a salad right now.
The food looks delicious, and I’m glad more and more gluten-free places are opening. We have a few near us now, including a great bakery – which always amazes me that it can be gluten-free!
what a great find, we have still to find a place in my town with good gluten free and vegan food
That looks like the perfect lunch! Yum!
All that fruit just looks so delicious. One more reason that I can’t wait for summer to get here!!!
I’m so excited that there are now restaurants and cafes that cater to people who follow a gluten free diet. There are so many meal options now.
Gluten free is super good, it’s sad that Gluten Free Cafe closes; guess not many people are interested in it.
Darn it’s a shame the Gluten Free Cafe had to close. I am glad you were able to find a close second and enjoy some gluten free foods.
I am sorry your local restaurant closed, but it sounds like this is a great place, as well, with tons of great choices…
I love how colorful the dishes are
Sounds nice and healthy! What a great choice! I would so go there to eat!
My husband eats gluten free and would love this place! Anything fresh and healthy pretty much is always delish!
Based on the pictures that you took, I would have to say that it looks amazingly delicious. I think I’d want to try it because it’s not only gluten free but vegan. I’ve heard of places on Food Network that are so tasty and you would never even feel like you are missing out on meat. I’d say they are all worth a try. I’m such a meat lover so I’d try this and those for sure.
Looks yummy! I love restaurants that are up with the current trends and needs.
That’s wonderful that you found an almost replacement. Sounds like a very tasty place!
Yummm.. this looks like my kind of lunch or dinner…I wish we had more restaurants like that here in Florida.. this looks like a great place. thanks for sharing
I wish we had restaurants like this where I live. This looks really good!
I am so glad you found a great restaurant that serves GF food. There need to be more places like this!
I don’t actually have a gluten-free diet that I follow, but I love when something is just naturally gluten-free. Everything looks so yummy, I wouldn’t even miss the gluten!
This sounds like a great place and it is fantastic they have GF food.
Wow that actually looks very delicious, I would love to try some!
Even though I am not a vegetarian, they have a yummy little vegan cafe near me that has some delicious food!
I want to visit! The food looks so good. I especially love the plate with all of the fresh fruit. It’s hard to find good restaurants with healthy and gluten free options.
That’s pretty cool there are restaurants recognizing the need for allergy free places to eat!
I have to eat vegan and I love the idea that restaurants are completely vegan we have some good ones here in Michigan. I understand how hard it is to eat at restaurants and find things you can eat and drink.
How great that you have a GF option in your area! I really wish we did.
What a really great place! Your food looks delicious. What a greet find!
My friend is GF and she is having a hard time finding great places to eat. I will pass this on to her.
I’ve never heard of Sluggos, but those pics look delish!!! Wish we had one near us!
I’m glad you found a sort of replacement where you can eat out. I love a vegan cafe, having gluten free options for those who want/need them is even better!
I love that they are dedicated to those who need to eat gluten free! I wish more places around us would realize there is a big demand for gluten free foods.
I would love to find a GF restaurant close to where I live. That dish looks heavenly. Have you been back?
Reading your description about the food has me soooo hungry right now, so Sluggo’s has tofu stuffing that is better than eggs huh? I definitely must try that burrito one day. My local Vegan restaurant is called Choice’s Vegan Cafe and though I am not a vegetarian I love their food.
How great to have a gluten free brunch! I wonder if we have anything like that by me, were not gluten free but I have found the foods are usually healthier.
It’s great that there are places solely dedicated to those who live a gluten free lifestyle. I don’t think there are any places like that around me.