Biscuit Bitch Review

EDIT 07/06/2015: We went back recently for lunch, and were told by the chefs that there was a big chance of cross contamination with the cooking surfaces here. I'm afraid that as long as this is the case, we can no longer recommend it for people that are gluten intolerant.

Jason here. Recently we had family visiting from out of town, and this time we decided take the underground tour. It was a lot of fun, and I recommend it. After the tour, while walking around we struck out at our first gluten free restaurant choice and had to quickly find another. Not too far away was Biscuit Bitch, so we opted to head there.

It’s a smaller restaurant, with only a few places for seating. When we visited it was packed, but we lucked out and discovered some empty seats just outside.

From what I could tell, every option on their menu could be made Gluten Free by substituting for a gluten free biscuit. It should be noted, that Biscuit Bitch calls out that they are not a dedicated gluten free bakery. I did not have any issues, and there are many more testimonials online to the same effect.

I ordered the Smokin’ Hot Seattle Bitch, which is a biscuit smothered in gravy, with hot sausage, cream cheese, and grilled onion. It comes in a large paper tray, filled to the brim. When I ordered I wasn’t really sure of the size, so receiving such a deep filled dish was fantastic.

What I loved most, was how much gravy was heaped on top of the biscuit. I love gravy, and I enjoyed it here with every single bite. The sausage had a spicy kick to them, just as promised. However, the gravy and sweet tasting onions helped counteract that. It was a nice blending of spicy and savory, just what I was looking for. The cream cheese was not with every bit, so for me it helped keep the meal interesting throughout.

Kayleigh here. While I was really intrigued with the Smokin’ Hot Seattle Bitch, I had to give their maple peanut butter a try. I got a biscuit with that and banana (basically a Royal Canadian Bitch without the bacon), and thoroughly enjoyed it. With the size of the biscuit and the light sweetness to it all, it was the perfect breakfast- or the perfect lunch for a breakfast lover. I definitely have to order something else next time I go, just to try one of their savory options!

Make sure you get a coffee along with it. You will have to order drinks at a separate counter (technically a separate restaurant name- Caffé Lieto), but you'll be waiting a few minutes for your order anyways, and they have several unique espresso drinks on the menu.

Safe Travels in Japan - Cafe Gusto

Café Gusto  

(website is in Japanese only)

Jason here. Before we went on our trip to Japan, Kayleigh spent a great deal of time investigating restaurants that would be gluten friendly. Particularly chains which we might be able to find anywhere, and use as a backup in a pinch.

The first chain restaurant we went to was Café Gusto. This restaurant seems to specialize in American food, sporting a wide variety of burger patties. Many of them stuffed with cheeses, and covered in gravy.

The menu is mostly in English, and they even have an allergy sheet. The waitress spoke really good English, so communicating was no issue. Unfortunately, the allergy sheet eliminates a large swathe of options off the menu. I ultimately settled on an Italian salad (without dressing), and some French fries.

The salad and fries were what you would expect, but my favorite part of Café Gusto was the buffet style drinks. The soda machine had Melon Fanta, which would end up becoming my favorite drink in Japan. For those that have had Ramune, it tastes much like the melon variety of those. It’s a fizzy, light, yet somehow incredibly sweet drink. The odd part is, I don’t really like melons as fruit, yet somehow this drink really called out to me.

Ultimately, this is a great restaurant to go to with a group of people. The large menu, will allow them to find something to their liking, and the salad and fries were good. As a chain, one was usually convenient to find, and it relieved some stress as a safe backup.

Kayleigh here- that reminds me! Most American restaurants give you unlimited soft drinks when you order one, but it's a bit more of a novelty in Japan. This was the only place we visited that had a soda fountain for customers to use, and it gave us a chance to sample quite a few unique sodas and juices without having to buy a whole bottle at a vending machine. The food itself was pretty similar to what you would normally get at a diner- it sounded like the menu items change seasonally, so just ask for an updated allergen menu when you get there.

Mediterranean Kitchen Review

Kayleigh here. I had been hearing buzz for a while about a very accommodating Greek restaurant in the area, so we finally made our way out to see for ourselves. Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue has a fairly small space, not many tables, but is quite busy during the dinner hour. We came on a sunny July evening, so we were able to get a table outside where it was quieter, and despite being in an out-of-the-way spot our waiter was always prompt and attentive.

Bowls of aromatic, golden yellow soup were served as soon as we were seated, with the waiter reassuring us that the soup of the day was vegetarian as well as gluten and dairy free. Once he knew of our concern, he went over the menu and let us know the few dishes that did contain gluten, and that the pita bread that came complimentary with the entrees would be served on a separate plate for the table, not touching the rest of the dish. Instead of the usual feeling that we have to push for special treatment for Jason and really quiz them about the components of the dish, we got the impression that allergies and dietary preferences were carefully considered in the menu design. It was nice to go to a regular restaurant without feeling like you need to nag the staff!

As for the food, I really wish I had gotten a recipe for the starter soup they served- it was phenomenal for such a simple tasting dish! The chefs were clearly not afraid of strong flavors and bold combinations, as each dish was strongly spiced and memorable on its own, but managed to play well with the other components of the plate and give a balance to the meal. Despite how much I enjoyed it, though, I barely managed to make a dent in the giant plate, so I ended up using the doggy bagged rice and hummus in almost a weeks’ worth of lunches afterwards. Glad to say, though, that the flavors and textures held up well and tasted almost as good cold.

Jason here. Kayleigh has been wanted to visit a Greek restaurant for some time. Having visitors is a great time for us to go out and try things one or either of would not normally choose. Greek food just is not top of mind for me, so it’s not something we would usually go to ourselves. Mediterranean Kitchen is nice because it’s right downtown in Bellevue, with easy to find parking available.

For my meal I got the Lamb Shish Kabob, served with rice, and charbroiled tomatoes and onions, and a side bowl of soup. As Kayleigh mentioned, we were served the soup the day first and it was fantastic. I quickly downed the whole bowl, and considered ordering just a larger portion for my main dish. I didn’t quite catch its name, but it was a thick soup that I believe consisted of split peas.

The main dish was a very large portion, which I was thankful for. I’m well known for my love of left overs that I can take into lunch. Same as Kayleigh, when I finished it looked like I had barely made a dent. The yellow rice had a hint of saffron to it, but I couldn’t be certain. It was not mentioned specifically for my dish, but listed for a few of the others. The only bit I could have passed on was the Greek yogurt which adds a bit of sour to the dish. It doesn’t count against the dish, as I recognize it as a quirk of my own personal taste and I knew it was included when I ordered. Overall I was very satisfied with my meal, and even more so that I got to enjoy it for lunch the next few days.