HighScore Burgers Review

EDIT- Since this review, HighScore Burgers has closed its doors. It sounds like a new joint will open up in its place, but we'll have to wait and see if they also offer a gluten free menu.

Jason here. The other week Kayleigh and I went out with some friends to HighScore Burgers, a local burger place in Redmond.  

We had heard about this place as a cool little shop where you can go, have a burger and some ice cream, and then drop a few quarters to place arcade machines and pinball. I was expecting a lot more neon lights and the sounds of arcade games. Instead, it was a much more relaxed atmosphere and reminded me of a boardwalk shop, where you could sit outside and enjoy your meal and cool breeze. We did go during the middle of the day, so there were only a few other people sitting outside and relaxing.

                               

I had a lot of fun playing arcade games from my child hood like Ninja Turtles and Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. They also had a bunch of pinball machines including a Roller Coaster Tycoon one, and then a handful classic games like Ms. Pacman, Galaga, and Centipede.  I did not get a chance to play some of the classic game tables, so pardon if I am mistaken on the names.

Before we went, we saw there were some reviews online which mentioned they had gluten free buns. That is always a very good sign, as gluten free buns often mean more variety in side options, too. Unfortunately, when I asked I was told that effectively only the burgers were gluten free and they were out of gluten free buns. So for my meal I ordered two bacon cheese burgers on lettuce. The burgers themselves were good, but the lack of any side made the meal lack in variety.

Kayleigh here. HighScore Burgers does get a few points in my book for Vegetarian/Vegan options on top of the Gluten Free buns. Their black bean burger was quite tasty with their house sauce, and actually went well with the lettuce leaves (again, they were out of GF buns when we went). They had a surprisingly large selection of vegan ice cream as well, but unfortunately they did note that the ice cream is not guaranteed to be gluten free, due to equipment cross-contamination.

If I am walking through the area again, and all I want is a quick snack I would stop here again grab a burger and play a few games. If I was going out looking for a meal, I would unfortunately look elsewhere.

Restaurant Review List!

Kayleigh and Jason here. We thought we'd make your life a little bit easier, and sort out all the restaurants we've been to in one convenient list. Just click on the restaurant name to go to our review. Here's to trying one (or all) of these gluten free friendly places!

National Chain Retaurants (several states, including WA):

Cheesecake Factory - American / ask server for gluten free substitutions
Chili's - American / gluten free menu upon request
Chipotle - Mexican / All gluten free except burrito's flour tortillas
PF Changs - Chinese / gluten free menu upon request
Red Robin - Burgers / ask server for gluten free substitutions
Whole Foods - prepared foods vary with location / ask cooks and servers what options are gluten free

Seattle Restaurants:


Americana - American / menu has gluten free labels / 1 location
Assimba Ethiopian Cuisine - Ethiopian / entire menu is gluten free / 1 location
Biscuit Bitch - American / all meals can be made gluten free / 1 location
Blue Moon Burgers - burgers / most of menu can be made gluten free / 3 locations
Cafe Flora - vegetarian / menu has gluten free labels / 1 location
Elysian Brewery - brewpub / menu has gluten free labels / 1 location with GF options
Local 360 - American / menu has gluten free labels / 1 location
Long Provincial Vietnamese - Vietnamese / almost entirely gluten free / 1 location
Kell's Irish Pub - Irish / ask server for gluten free substitutions / 1 location in Seattle
The Pike Pub - brewpub / menu has gluten free labels / 1 location
Tamarind Tree - Vietnamese / almost entirely gluten free / 1 location

Bellevue Restaurants:

Bake's Place - bar / menu has gluten free labels
Bombay House - Indian / most of menu gluten free
Daniel's Broiler - steakhouse / ask server for gluten free options
Eden B. Bakery - sandwiches, salads, and baked goods / everything is gluten free
Ishoni Yakiniku - Yakiniku / talk with server about what can be gluten free
Lil' John - American / ask server for gluten free options
Mediterranean Kitchen / ask server for gluten free options
Romio's Pizza and Pasta - pizza and subs / gluten free menu available
Square Lotus - Vietnamese / most of menu gluten free
Wibbley's Gourmet Burgers - burgers / ask server for gluten free options

Washington State Restaurants:

AFK Elixers and Eatery - bar / ask server for gluten free options / Renton and Everett
 Agave Cocina & Cantina - Mexican / most of menu gluten free, just ask server / Remond and Issaquah
Arnies - seafood / ask server for gluten free options / Edmonds and Mukilteo
Asiana Bistro - Chinese / all items can be made gluten free / Redmond
Bluesteele Cafe -  coffeehouse / ask server for gluten free options / Lakewood
Flying Apron - Vegan cafe / all items gluten free / Seattle and Redmond
Friesenburgers - Fast Food / gluten free menu available / Tacoma
HighScore Burgers - Fast Food / gluten free burger buns / Redmond
McMenamin's Bar - Brewpub / menu has gluten free labels / Seattle and Portland areas
Wilde Rover - Irish Pub / menu has gluten free labels / Kirkland

Seattle and Eastside Restaurants (multiple WA locations):

Cactus - Mexican / gluten free menu upon request - Seattle and Eastside
Essentials Baking Company - sandwiches - gluten free bread option - Seattle and Bellevue
Garlic Jims's - pizza / offers extensive gluten free menu / locations all over, plus a few in Oregon
Jak's Grill - steakhouse / ask server for gluten free options / Seattle and Issaquah
Lunchbox Laboratory - burgers / ask server for gluten free substitutions / Seattle, Bellevue, and Gig Harbor
The Matador - Mexican / gluten free menu upon request / Seattle, Redmond, and Tacoma
Redmond Bar and Grill - Bar / ask server for gluten free options / Redmond
Prime Steakhouse - Steakhouse / menu has gluten free labels / Redmond
Wild Ginger - Asian / most of menu can be made gluten free / Seattle and Bellevue

Misc. US Restaurants (not in WA):

Antica Trattoria - Italian / ask server for gluten free options / La Mesa, CA
Barrio Star - Mexican / menu has gluten free labels / San Diego, CA
Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria - pizza / menu has gluten free labels / Encinitas, CA
The Golden Egg - breakfast / menu has gluten  free labels / Portsmouth, NH
Juliano's Italian Pizzaria - pizza / menu has gluten free labels / Derry, NH
Rok's Bistro - steakhouse / ask server for current gluten free options / Sunnyvale, CA

International Restaurants:
Japan - Foreword
Japan - Conbinis/Convenience Stores - all over Japan
Japan - Gyu Kaku - Yakiniku - all over Japan, several international locations
Japan - Artnia - Cafe - Shinjuku, Tokyo
Japan - CoCo Ichibanya - curry - all over Japan, some international locations
Japan - Komatuan - Soba - Marunouchi, Tokyo
Japan - McDonalds - fast food - all over Japan
Japan - Numazu Uogashizushi - sushi - several in Tokyo
Japan -  Matsuya Yakiniku Sute-ki - Yakiniku - a few locations in Japan
Japan - Yatagarasu - Chicken - Nara
Japan - Cafe Gusto - family-style restaurant - all over Japan
Japan - Ura no Niwa - fresh/healthy fare - Ebisu, Tokyo
Japan - Ryokan Hoeiso - Kaiseki dining - Hakone 

Everyday Product Review Part 3

Continuing on our theme, we have moved on to the final part of our product review posts- baking mixes and misc. products! We do tend to mix flours and make our own starchy sides from scratch, but we can't fool ourselves into thinking they taste just like their regular counterparts. And while we have gotten used to the unique tastes and textures that gluten free products take on, we know many of our friends and family still prefer the real deal. All of these products are so close to normal when prepared they are well worth any cost.

Part 1: Baked Goods

Part 2: Snacks

Pasta – Tinkyada - We went through quite a few gluten free pasta brands before settling on this one. We had originally received it as a gift from east coast relatives, but it has since shown up at the Safeway near us, so we no longer need it shipped! The ‘not mushy’ on the front of the package says it all- it doesn’t get soggy and break down over time, like many gluten free pastas.

Jason here. I love the “not mushy” it says on the front. These are a little more finicky to cook then regular pasta, but when done right they come just fine and of course, not mushy.

Brownie mix – Gluten Free Pantry Double Chocolate Brownie Mix - This was actually the first ‘gluten free’ product I purchased- seemed like a quick and easy option. They come out very moist and chewy, with tiny chocolate chips sprinkled throughout to give surprise bursts of flavor. We tend to keep a box in the pantry for last-minute gatherings.

Jason here. This chocolate brownie mix creates really good brownies quickly. The key part for me is that it is nearly zero work to actually make these, and they taste just like regular brownies. For a nice addition, I like to drizzle some chocolate syrup into the brownie ban just before putting it into the oven. This creates some interesting swirls and can sometimes leave chocolate syrupy areas.

Pancake Mix – King Arthur Gluten Free Pancake or Waffle Mix - Fantastically simple to whip up, perfect for a sleepy Sunday morning when you just want to enjoy the peace and quiet a bit longer. They come out fluffy, springy, and slightly sweet- just like what you would find at an old fashioned diner. If you feel like putting in the extra effort, figure out some add-ins like chocolate chips, blueberries, or pecans, or make some sort of fruit compote to top them. Worth the extra effort!

Jason here. One of my favorite breakfast items is chocolate chip pancakes. I don’t know why every restaurant doesn’t offer these, as all you have to do is add chocolate chips to the batter or drop them right in the pancake as it cooks. The pancake mix we used did make fluffy pancake that tasted great. However, making your own homemade pancake mix is fairly easy.