Elroy's Fine Foods — Restaurant in Monterey

We went to see what this store was all about. Interesting specialty type store. Decided to try one self serve sweet. While waiting in line at checkout I noticed an apparent manager take 2 individual pastry sleeve bags from the other cashier. Turns out a customer filled the bags with sweets at the self serve area, got to the counter and decided not to purchase the items. Both manager & clerk sniffed( closely) the 2 bags. Manager then put one cookie back into the cookie jar. She’d decided what flavor it was by then. The second bag she couldn’t decide. I had no idea if it was a cookie, scone, bread, etc. Then I saw her touch items in the bag, in order to identify these items. Smelled them, picked one up with her hand and placed it in the cookie jar —- for sale! She was not wearing gloves. Then smelled and touched second item and added it to the cookie jar. I was astounded watching this— thinking of all the health dept regulations she had just broken. OK. The cookies are huge, really big and about $4 or so, but guessing which cookie it is (1) and (2) placing them back in a “for sale” cookie jar after being touched by the her, and apparently the first customer who thought they’d purchase them just to recoup the maybe $10-$12 was too much for me! I made a comment that I couldn’t believe she replaced them in the cookie jars and she said the customer changed their mind. What if she “guessed” wring on the type of cookie? People have allergies! It was not a sanitary move. I could not believe what I witnessed to save a few dollars for the store!! I won’t ever be back. This was all visible...

CELIAC/GLUTEN FREE FRIENDLY :)

Was trying to go to the morning dove bakery for a gf cinnamon roll and a coffee but it was closed, so we popped into Elroy’s because it looked so cute and inviting! Such lovely space, light, atmosphere and employees. The oat milk they use for coffee is Pacific, so not gluten free, but they did have pretty good almond milk. We found a breakfast burrito with a gluten free tortilla and I was able to ask if it was cooked separately from gluten filled tortillas. The lady behind the counter assured me that it was safe from cross contact, as she cooks the GF burritos before the flour ones. I haven’t had a reaction yet so I think we’re in the clear! It was a pretty good burrito too, maybe needs a lil hot sauce but I haven’t had a burrito in years so I was happy!! They also had some pastries made with oat flour, but I didn’t eat them or ask about their contamination status. They also had a GF mini frittata which looked really good. Takeout items are labeled with a cross contamination disclaimer, but I’m sure you could ask them about specific dishes’ safety. Tons of GF options in the grocery too, including Jack’s Paleo cookies, simple mills, Siete products, jovial pastas and more! Definitely worth a stop, it’s a...

We love coming to Elroys but I am hesitant to come back after today. Today an off leash dog was in the parking lot directly in front of the store, owned by an old man in a black BMW who seemed to be affiliated with the store in some way with a relationship with some of the employees and the cleaners next door. It seems he was affiliated with the business? Anyways, he was dismissive when I asked him to do something about his off leash dog. He let it continue to be off leash outside for a while after and told me to go ahead and call the police. I felt unsafe. I hope genuinely that Elroys cares about their customers feeling safe and I am feeling hesitant to come back knowing this man is here frequently and is close with the staff, and is letting his dog roam around like this. I've also seen people in the store with pet dogs that are clearly not service animals. I have a severe allergy to dogs and cannot be in the same building as them, so I hope this...