Gluten Free Kitchen — Restaurant in Stockport

I was so pleased to discover that a 100% GF eatery had opened around south Manchester that I experienced my usual combination of cautious excitement tinged with bracing-myself-for-further-disappointment as I ventured to Gluten Free Kitchen in Stockport.

The first thing that struck me was their dedication to offering a 100% GF experience: a sign on the door warned in no uncertain terms that NO gluten or wheat containing products were to be brought onto the premises.

Once I had stepped into the compact shop-cum-cafe space and seen a surprisingly wide range of delectable sweet and savoury items on offer, the excitement rose more than the disappointment.

As I am reasonably capable of making my own socially acceptable GF cakes and cookies, I selected several savoury items from the display cabinet. There was more than one type of GF bread (including naan, bagel and baguettes) - bread that was even soft to squeeze. I have already had one of the bagels at home - toasted; it's really good!

The sausage roll that I felt somewhat guilty about buying, given its size-to-price ratio, was jaw-droppingly delectable. (I decided to eat it cold.) The sausage-meat filling was delicious in flavour and texture, but it is the pastry I want to write home about. It was the tastiest pastry I can remember having for many, many years - even going back to my pre-GF days. It was crunchy, crumbly, salty, had body, reminded me of the kinds of home-made pies I used to enjoy as a child. It didn't leave any of that cloying, fatty aftertaste, but just a desire for more.

I must say, the prices of both the savoury baked items and the sweet treats (I was sorely tempted by the lemon meringue pie) were slightly higher than I would have wanted to pay, so I didn't go as all-out on the spending splurge I had planned.

It's great to have a GF joint that serves more excitement than disappointment. I look forward to going to Gluten Free Kitchen again soon and I look forward to my lunch at home, comprising their sundried tomato quiche and a soft, white sandwich roll I saved...

For context: I'm 8 years gluten-free and have visited many gf cafés (and eaten way too many of their cakes).

Staff were great, warm and friendly, only good things to say on that score.

I had the steak bake and it was pretty tasteless; it needed seasoning with some herbs and black pepper. Of the cakes I took away (see pic) I had the S'more cookie (delicious), White choc Blondie (a bit dry), Red velvet cake (a bit dry), Coffee cake (I could taste the oil).

While I was in the café I had an Americano which was too weak; it needed either less water or a second shot (or a stronger blend). I also had a white choc cookie which was still warm, and totally delicious.

Prices are reasonable, £3-4 for the cakes, though £3.50 for a cookie is a bit much.

I judge a place on whether I'd return, and this café is a 9 miles from home, so it's a tough one. Probably I would, but I'd be clearer on my choice of coffee, and selectively choose from the baked goods; they all looked delicious, but some didn't quite hit the mark.

I want to support gf venues, they're a lifeline for a group of us, but I believe in being honest (and I did say I would...

Im over the moon that our community finally has a gluten free bakery. Ive been going for some weeks trying as much of their stock as possible. Ive had some good experiences with their savoury offerings however im afraid no orange was tasted in the jaffa cake orange jelly and my personal preference would be a plain /dark chocolate covering. The coffee cake was really dry and very sugary. Unfortunately, i could barely taste the coffee over the sweetness. I feel like these guys are brilliant and on the right track. But id like to see more attention to flavour in their...