Jim's Smokin' Cafe

Food was soo good!!

Came in on a Sunday at lunch time and they had a quiet atmosphere but were getting busy. This was my first time visiting Jims Smokin Cafe but definitely won't be our last when we're in town! I spoke with the waitress who approached and asked about GF options. She told me that she was also GF with other limitations on diet, and the owners wife was Keto and low fodmap. It was then clarified most of the menu items were gluten free except the bread and pasta specific items. She said they'd change gloves and cut servings from dedicated pieces of meat for those who were celiac or extremely sensitive to gluten. The owner then stopped by our table, joined in our discussion and explained he created the rubs and sauces, and tightly controlled what went into them as well as preparation. Said they smoked all the meats in-house and they also do catering for large events. Sundays are his favorite day as they have a breakfast buffet with varying items they only serve that one day a week. He enjoys creating new items and offering them for customers.

I ended up getting the buffet as I'm GF and don't eat it, but not celiac, so possible minimal cross-contamination doesn't have an effect on me anymore. They had a brown sugar pork belly bacon (stole the show!), pastrami potato hash, smoked sausages, smoked green beans, scalloped potatoes augratin and an egg/cheese fritata that were all safe to eat. Only negative was the eggs were a smidge dry. They were out, but normally carry a cloud bread which is GF. Everything else including service was excellent!

All this being said, they do not have a dedicated GF kitchen, but do have a intrinsic understanding of what being GF means for those of us living it.

Highly recommended! ❤

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Other dedicated kitchen equipment (oven, toaster, pots, pans, utensils, etc.)
• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

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

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for breakfast/brunch
• Good for dinner
• Good for keto
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Offers outdoor seating

The owner was on site, super helpful, knowledgeable about celiac, and an amazing chef! He even had a special gf bread substitute made of egg and cheese for my smoked pastrami sandwich! So so good!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

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

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout

Most menu items are GF (not marked). The owner was very friendly, and explained to us all the options. Best smoked meats in Niles.

Celiac friendly?

Yes