Review of Aubergine Kitchen

I had high hopes given the number of gluten-free items marked on their menu. They also had multiple dairy free options.

However, I was appalled at the lack of understanding of the staff of what gluten actually was. My friend ordered a glutinous pizza right before me. I ordered the Parmigiana bowl with turmeric rice. I mention like 3 times I needed a gluten free bowl hoping they’d clue in. He asked if I needed no cheese. Then I watched the line cook use the ladle to spread the marinara on my friends glutinous crust pizza, and then go to pour marinara on my gluten-free bowl using the same sauce and ladle. I stopped him and said that I can’t have a sauce that has cross contamination from Gluten on it and I watched him touch the ladle to the crust. I asked him could he get me some marinara sauce from the back or a fridge that would be fresh so that I could continue to have the bowl. He could not understand why I would need fresh marinara. After four different people trying to help us out the manager got involved and reassured me that there was no gluten in the sauce. We explained to him the cross contamination multiple times, and even he struggled to understand why I would need a different sauce. He finally agreed and got me sauce from the back.

So I can imagine that all of their ingredients are cross contaminated significantly.

While we were standing, waiting for our food to get figured out, another line cook, with a gloved hand, reached in and picked out a piece of sausage and ate it And then continue on helping prepare another other customers meal. It was shocking, and we spoke loudly about it, but nobody did anything. They were also staff members taking selfies behind the counter in front of all of the customers. Total lack of professionality. The manager had his earbuds in the whole time as well.

Some had hair not on some did not. Some had gloves on, and some did not. I don’t understand how things were so inconsistent.

Needless to say, I got contaminated for sure. Definitely not celiac safe.

Also the rice was undercooked. Definitely not worth it.

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Below Average

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options