When it comes to gluten-free and vegan accommodations, Fratelli Cafe in Hollywood goes above and beyond to make gluten-free dining possible. Yaron Abraham, the owner, has the warmest energy, which is shown through his restaurant staff, the restaurant’s environment, and the food’s taste. This European-style cafe has a wide range of dishes ranging from breakfast scrambles and crepes, to deliciously crafted salads and burgers (nobread) for lunch or dinner…
Fratelli, meaning “brother” in Italian, is located on Melrose Avenue. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Fratelli Cafe is great for any occasion– a weekday work gathering to a casual coffee date, or even a Sunday brunch with the family.
To start, I ordered the Green Giant juice (spinach, cucumber, celery) which was the perfect morning kick-starter. The juice was refreshing and a healthy option for a non-coffee drinker. Fratelli offers a variety of espresso and coffee beverages that can be made dairy-free with almond or soy milk. The vanilla latte is especially tasty with a sweet flavor that isn’t too overpowering.
Although the breakfast menu may appear to be gluten-unfriendly, the restaurant is more than willing to make adjustments so that you too can enjoy the breakfast burritos and scrambles. I ordered the Allman’s breakfast burrito, gluten-free of course, and to accommodate my allergy, the chefs used four corn tortilla tacos, which were stuffed with eggs, turkey bacon, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. The serving size was more than enough, leaving me with leftovers to take home. All of the breakfast dishes are paired with a side of potatoes, fruit, or cottage cheese. Unfortunately, the crepes and french toast items are NOT gluten-free, so make sure to stay away from those.
For lunch, I suggest the gluten-free style chicken quesadilla; it’s so rare for restaurants to serve gluten-free quesadillas! The chicken was very fresh, and the perfectly melted cheese stayed warm with every bite. The quesadilla was also served on four small corn tortillas that looked similar to tacos, but instead were melted together with cheddar cheese. Each lunch dish comes with a side of fresh greens or potatoes. Fratelli has a wide selection of burgers that can easily be made gluten-free by subbing lettuce for the bread. The veggie burger in particular is superb if you are looking for a meat alternative. The panini are not gluten-free, but I’m sure the friendly and helpful staff will find a way to accommodate and serve the items on a bed of lettuce. Lastly, we ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad WITH NO DRESSING. This salad consists of chicken, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, red onions, crushed peanuts, and it can also be made vegan.
Fratelli Cafe is a place you can walk into and feel like a local, regardless of if you are one or not. Yaron has created an open and friendly environment which will have you sitting there for hours. Fratelli Cafe is worth the trip to Hollywood. If you ever find yourself shopping on Melrose, don’t miss the opportunity to check it out! I guarantee it will have you going back.