This little cafe in San Jose was recommended to me by a friend and colleague who is also gluten and dairy-free. As soon as I walked into this simple restaurant, I could feel the love. I was greeted immediately by the owner, Fenny. The gluten-free options were not apparent at first so I inquired about what gluten and dairy-free options they offered. Fenny was very helpful and made me feel right at home. This type of experience can be rare when dining out with special diet restrictions. Very often restaurant staff can be very rude and unhelpful. I even had a server at the Rainforest Cafe in San Francisco tell me in a very bold way that if I had diet restrictions, this (the Rainforest Cafe) is probably not the place I should eat. On another occasion, I had a very positive experience so who waits on you can make a big difference. Fenny at the Green Bites Cafe was great. She was sweet, helpful and accommodating.
The cafe offers a variety of interesting salads and sandwiches (which you can order as combos, if wanted) and both sweet and savory crepes. You can view the full Green Bites Cafe's menu here.
For my lunch, I chose the Oriental salad with rice noodles. The greens and other vegetables were very fresh. I forgot to order chicken for my salad so Fenny quickly offered some awesome grilled chicken and would not charge extra for it. The chicken was tasty and cooked to perfection.
For Sammy, my gluten and dairy-free child, we ordered a grilled cheese made with vegan cheese and Fenny's homemade gluten-free brioche bread. The sandwich was yummy. My daughter (not gluten-free) and I took several bites of the grilled cheese and agreed it was quite tasty. Much to Sam's dismay, we kept taking bites from the sandwich because it was so good. It was nice for Sam to get something different than chicken or hamburger (without a bun) at a restaurant.
For dessert, Fenny made us a beautiful gluten and dairy-free crepe with strawberries, bananas and chocolate sauce. It isn't very often I get a crepe so I was thrilled. For those sensitive to cross-contamination, I'm not sure crepes are the best option. Although Fenny wiped down the crepe maker, it seems like a cross contamination hazard to me. Maybe I'm wrong, and I didn't get sick, but I'd be careful if you're extra sensitive.
A popular, savory crepe served at Green Bites Cafe is the El Mariachi with spinach, Monterey Jack cheese, avocado, tomato, bell pepper and salsa. At some point in the future, I would like to try it (with vegan cheese, of course).
Green Bites Cafe offers a variety of healthy options including fresh juiced vegetables and fruits. Be sure to check out "Neal's Deal Vegetable Drink" which is made from apple, carrot, celery, cucumber, broccoli and spinach. Smoothies are also available. For a non-dairy option, almond milk is offered for 50 cents extra. They even offer homemade kale and fruit chips. Located at the corner of Stokes Street and South Bascom Avenue, Green Bites Cafe is open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 7 - 3 p.m. on Saturdays. They are closed on Sundays. It's a great spot to stop for a healthy breakfast, lunch or light dinner. Stop in at Green Bites Cafe and feel the love.
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