Where to Eat in Vancouver: The Gluten Free Epicurean

Discovering that you or someone you live with is gluten intolerant is an experience that will forever change the way you think about eating out in restaurants. Instead of being a fun, easy treat or a quick save on the dinner front when there are no groceries in the fridge, eating out can become stressful. Your search for where to eat in Vancouver is that much harder as you look for something on the menu that won’t poison yourself or your loved one with accidental gluten exposure. But if you can go out to a place where you can eat Every. Single. Delicious. Thing. on the menu? Heaven.

Where to Eat in Vancouver for Gluten Free Treats

The Gluten Free Epicurean is a small, cozy place tucked between Collage Collage and Spool of Thread on a very hip street just off Kingsway and Fraser. The menu includes a selection of sweet and savory things, including several kinds of pizza each day (including vegan options), mini-quiche, muffins, sweet bars, tarts, cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon buns, pizza buns, apple fritters and ice-cream sandwiches. The freezer holds take-home pies and pizza dough, and there’s a selection of items like cake mixes, graham cracker crumbs and artisan crackers along the shelves at the back. They serve tea and juice, but no coffee (head to Matchstick next door for that.)

But Really, How Does it Taste?

I know some of you out there are thinking gluten free baking is always crumbly and tasteless, but the baking at the Gluten Free Epicurean is tender and, well, epicurean. Luxurious and indulgent. Their pizza crust blows the grocery store selection out of the water. The lemon bars are perfectly lemony. I got a vanilla cake mix there for my youngest daughter’s birthday, and everybody said, “I can’t believe this is gluten-free!” The cake was delicious. In fact, everything I’ve eaten there has been delicious. Seriously. Yum. If you’re wondering where to eat in Vancouver for great gluten free options, this is it.

Family Friendly Vancouver Restaurant

You don’t have to be gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease to eat at the Gluten Free Epicurean. It’s a totally kid-friendly place to pop in with your little ones on the way to or from nearby Robson Park. There’s a small but thoughtfully stocked play area with a wooden kitchen, some soft play food and a selection of wooden puzzles. Everyone there has always been very friendly and welcoming to my kids, and our family loves to go for a treat before going to a craft drop-in or clay class. This is where to eat in Vancouver for gluten free folks of all ages.

The Gluten Free Epicurean is open Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 – 6:00, and Sunday, 11:00 – 4:00. Arrive early for the best selection, and don’t forget that they’re closed on Mondays.