Huckleberry in Santa Monica is famous for having the best brunch in town. I’ve heard people wait hours on the weekends just to grab a seat at this hotspot! After checking out the menu, I understand why. There are countless delicious-looking pastries and entrees for both the gluten-free and gluten-full, and I knew I needed to go to the restaurant and check it out for myself…
So is Huckleberry worth the hype? Of course! The restaurant is cute and casual, and because a lot of the food is already prepared, your food is served pretty quick- even during brunch madness! I went mid-week for a late lunch (clearly I was paranoid about the infamous wait), and chatted all things gluten free with the staff. To start, there are several gluten free pastries including a lemon poppyseed teacake, chocolate hazelnut cake, and vegan GF chocolate macaron tart that are nobread approved. The kitchen at Huckleberry is not a dedicated GF kitchen, and the GF desserts are not kept together in a separate case so your food is subject to cross contamination. For my lunch I ordered the trio of veggie sides. Kale salad with lemon vinaigrette and pine nuts, roasted carrots with avocado, and shaved brussels sprouts all served on a large plate. Not only was this dish incredibly healthy, but it was incredibly filling! The quinoa cake and meatballs from the prepared food section also looked amazing, but unfortunately they are not gluten free. There is no gluten free bread offered at Huckleberry so the sandwiches are a no-go, but if you really want a sandwich you can just ask for no bread! The chopped romaine and tuna salad are both gluten free, and the warm brisket plate, rotisserie chicken, and sausages are all GF if you ask for nobread.
Popular nobread brunch options include the organic golden quinoa with Farmer’s market vegetables and sunny side up eggs, poached eggs no breadcrumbs, brisket hash and roasted duck hash. For those of you who can go to Huckleberry mid-week, I recommend you do so! It’s a great way to enjoy your favorite gluten free dishes without a crowd. With plenty more menu options I am dying to try, I will absolutely be back in again soon!