I have gone to various Ike’s locations for years, and I am a sensitive Celiac. I have yet to get sick. They take extra precautions, so your food will take 15 extra minutes on top of a normal sandwich time. I recommend ordering in advance through the app or online. Also, the bread is incredibly dry, so order extra sauce on the bread. I normally order Italian dressing and ask it to be put on both sides of the bread before the toppings. It is a $3 upcharge for gluten free and then extra for the sauce, so know your sandwich will be pricey. So. Delicious. And. Worth it.
— Somewhat
— Most/All
— Excellent
This is the best sandwich shop ever! While offering gluten free options for celiac, they also offer regular food. Staff is nice and organized. Food takes a little too long to prepare. But delicious. Definitely recommend.
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Great gluten free sandwich options!!
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
Catered to my celiac properly. went and washed her hands and changed her gloves. Got the Matt Cain extra dirty with a rice crispy treat. With no reaction! Bread fell apart but that’s to be expected. Lots of options to choose from!
— Somewhat
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Just stopped by to ask about their allergy food handling. The girl working there was so sweet she wrote me a list of things that contain gluten. Well be coming back to order !
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
I’ve eaten here a couple times now without issues. I’m impressed that online ordering via their website clearly shows gluten free both allergy and preference designations. The chicken Caesar sandwich was okay, the Paul Reuben blew me away.
— Somewhat
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
my one-hour-after report: some bloating, no pain. I would guess there was some cross contamination, less than 30ppm. Enough for extremely mild symptoms. I would not consider this a glutening. Or perhaps just a mild glutening.
I was very impressed with Ike's. When I ordered, I told them I had a gluten allergy and they prepped my food separately on an identifying tray, which was great. They also used new gloves and ingredients from separate bins. All of the vegan meats are gluten, so I subbed vegan Turkey for regular on the Pilgrim, and had the turmeric cardamom peach lemon lemonade which was really nice! A very Bay Area experience for sure. They also gave me a TON of napkins with my order which i very appreciated. They are large napkins for a restaurant.
Parking is street and it's paid.
The vibe of Ike's is good-- mostly tall chairs but three low tables, so my service dog and I took a low one. They played an eclectic collection of music (Queen back to back with Snoop Dogg).
It's a very open space with floor to ceiling windows.
The employees are friendly and accommodating. My total order was $21 which is a bit steep for a sandwich and drink, but hey it's gluten free right?
The bathroom is a working bathroom. The appearance and features are abysmal. The floor was not dirty but it wasn't clean either. No hook on the door, no surface to put anything down on, and the trash was overflowing. It smelled fine. The code is 1194.
— Somewhat
— Separate gluten-free menu
— Some
— Good
Gluten free bread and sandwich team very helpful and knowledgeable about gluten free preparation of items. They also pointed out the chips are gluten free! Great experience
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Good
They are always careful with my sandwich, and I’ve never had a reaction. I’ve probably eaten at this location 15 times, and I’ve been fine. I am a pretty sensitive celiac so, I think they are careful. Also it’s super delicious!
— Somewhat
— Most/All
— Excellent
Best GF sandwich rolls we’ve experienced! They have such yummy options and dairy free as well if you need that.
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Some
— Excellent
I love the gluten free bread they use for their sandwiches. However, I am gluten intolerant, not Celiac. If you’re worried about cross contamination, this probably wouldn’t be the best place for you.
— Somewhat
— Most/All
— Excellent
For years I loved going to Ike’s in Santa Rosa. They took extra precautions like having a separate prep area, to avoid gluten cross-contamination.
After relocating to Boise a few years ago, I missed Ike’s big-time. On a road trip back to California for a wedding, I planned a stop at Ike’s in Reno. I counted down the days.
The actual experience was my worst restaurant experience I can recall since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I got glutened so bad it took 2 weeks to recover. In hindsight, my wife recalls that they made the sandwich on the same prep surface, was put on the same toaster moving belt, and cut in half with the same knife as all the regular sandwiches.
I miss Ike’s, but can’t risk that again. Maybe Santa Rosa & other locations are more careful and/or educated.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much
— Excellent
Delicious sandwich on GF bread! Probably one of the best I’ve had!
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Some
— Excellent
The first time I ate here it was fantastic. The sandwich was good, and I didn’t get sick afterwards.
The second time I ate here I unwrapped my sandwich to find weirdly normal looking bread. I tested it in a Nima and it wasn’t gluten free. The staff was unapologetic and didn’t seem to care about allergies/celiac whatsoever. I recommend the sandwiches as long as you have a Nima and watch them like hawks while they make it.
— Not very
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much
— Excellent
I’ve eaten here before without issue, but got glutened today. They asked about allergy or preference, but there’s some issue with cross-contamination or not following directions in the kitchen.
— Not at all
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
So good best sandwich I have a long long time! Celiac, and sensitive to cross contamination and I didn’t get get sick. Had separate area for food prep! Definitely recommend
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
I had no issues at all with the gluten free bread
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Excellent
Very tasty Marilyn Monroe roll. Tasted like I remember real rolls tasting! I asked for the allergen menu to work out what ones were gf.
— Somewhat
— Some
— Excellent
Very knowledgeable about what items had gluten and made sure to let me know that the sauce I had chosen was not gluten free. They even have a chart you can ask for that has all the common allergens listed in their sauces.
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
I love Ike’s! They have the most delicious fresh-baked gluten free bread and their sandwiches are amazing every time. I have celiac and have eaten here many times and have never been contaminated. The employees are super knowledgeable and the menu is marked well. They will let you know if something in your sandwich is gluten free or not.
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Some
— Excellent
The cashier was super helpful, and understood celiac (he said a family member of his has celiac). He let the sandwich makers know so they would change their gloves and make our sandwiches carefully. The bread was warm, soft and delicious, and no GI upset. The sandwich was delicious as well. Highly recommend!
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
I was really impressed that they had gluten free bread on the menu and specifically asked me if it was a preference or allergy. When I responded with allergy he appeared to take it very seriously and used new gloves and kept the sandwich on foil during the creation to avoid cross contamination.
Edit: The morning after, I think there may have been cross contamination because something is not sitting well.
— Somewhat
— Some
— Average
This sandwich chain has some of the best gluten free bread I’ve had in a long time. I usually get my sandwiches delivered, and the gluten free bread holds up even with a 30+ minute transport time. Additionally, there are plenty of gf options for sandwich filling (I’m particularly a fan of the reading rainbow).
Make sure you let the employees know that your gf needs are based on “allergies” and not preference. The few times I’ve went to the Maryland Parkway location they’ve even gone so far to tell me that the tomatoes were cut with the same knives used to cut the bread, so they are very aware and informed about cross contamination. (However, they still have gluten products in the store, so please use your discretion!)
— Somewhat
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Delicious and unique sandwiches! Allergens of ingredients clearly labeled and available. Good GF sandwich bread. Staff asks if Gf for preference or allergy and takes steps to prevent cross contamination. Will return.
— Most/All
— Excellent
I was very surprised to find this place was not on this app. It was a great experience with great food as well. Most times I find sandwich places are not gluten free just because of the bread options, however when you do have gluten free bread options it makes almost the whole restaurant gluten free. They have a delicious gluten free bread and normal bread as well. They have a dedicated area in the back where they prepare all things gluten free as well as having your food on a tinfoil the entire time. The food was amazing and they have many options for sandwiches just make sure to confirm what’s gluten free and what’s not. All food is fresh.
— Very
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Most/All
— Good
My girlfriend is celiac, took 1 bite of a sandwich with their gluten free bread and got super sick, if your celiac I wouldn't trust this place
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
They have great gluten free bread for sandwiches. Baguette-style bread. Possibility of cross-contamination since they mainly do regular bread sandwiches but they’ll be extra careful if you say it’s an allergy.
— Somewhat
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Some
— Excellent
Love this place. The GF bread is so good you will never believe it.
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
Delicious bread from Mariposa, and you can specify it’s for an allergy so that they’ll change gloves and utensils to lessen the risk of cross contamination. I eat here all the time without a problem and most of the sandwiches can be made GF!
— Somewhat
— Most/All
— Excellent
Great staff and very accommodating to my gluten allergy. The sandwich I got (John Wayne I believe was what it was called) was tasty and had a nice gluten free bun. It didn’t blow me away but definitely fit the bill on my sandwich craving. My only concern was that it it was a long wait time and the shop was not busy. There were only two people working (all of which were nice).
— Somewhat
— Separate gluten-free menu
— Some
— Average
They prepare gf sandwiches in the back. Our order took 20 min and they were not that busy. I’ve been to the downtown location several times and the gf bread is amazing there. It’s different at this location. Very dry.
Very disappointed after making a special trip on our vacation. The woman at the front said “Only the Turkey and ham is GF. This is not a make your-own-sandwich shop.” When I asked which sandwiches were gluten free, I was handed a large book of ingredients. We asked for a simple Turkey, pesto and cheese. (One of “their”sandwiches). We were told the pesto has gluten (which I’ve never heard of as gluten is not an ingredient in pesto). So, she had plain Turkey and cheese. And they were NOT friendly nor were they happy to accommodate. :(
— No gluten-free information on the menu
GF hoagie bread! Love the options and sandwich was very good!!
— Excellent
Sooo good. So many options. Asked if it was an allergy or preference.
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
They were very understanding that it’s an allergy and took every action to make sure there was no contamination! Great customer service
— Very
— Some
— Excellent
Lots of options! They’re really good about cross contact and the gluten free bread is really good. It is so nice to be able to get a deli sandwich and most of theirs are gf. They also have lots of vegetarian options.
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
My family visited this sandwich shop and it was wonderful to have a well made sandwich with delicious gf bread. They asked if the wheat omission was due to an allergy or not and everything was done quickly. I would recommend Ike's to anyone in the area and it unfortunate is so far from where we all live.
— Very
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Sandwich was delicious! A little expensive but it’s so nice to be able to order a sandwich!
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Ordered one of their veggie subs on gf bread. I asked the woman at the counter if they prepared it in a different area and she told me they did take precautions. She asked if it was an allergy or a preference and checked for me to make sure the artichokes were gluten free.
But! I think I got very minorly glutened because I had an inexplicable low key stomach ache for the rest of the evening. Luckily it didn't ruin my night but I did have to lay down for a bit and take some Tums.
Ultimately despite seeming promising, I wouldn't recommend it for Celiacs. :( Plus, the sandwich wasn't even that good.
— Not very
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Some
— Average
Great place! Goes above and beyond/ they asked if gluten-free was allergy or preferred and took extra steps due to my celiac
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Ike’s never makes me sick! They have amazing gluten free Sub bread and always take precautions.
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
There is a separate gluten free allergy option when ordering online. Staff is knowledgeable and prepare sandwich in separate area with separate ingredients.
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
UPDATE. Read below for follow-up: Celiacs, DO NOT EAT HERE.
Old review (2020): I follow a celiac diet (although not celiac myself) and am sensitive to certain ingredients so it was important to find somewhere that could accommodate allergies. Ike has an amazing menu of items that caters to meat eaters, vegans, and gluten sensitive people alike. They literally have an option called "allergy" to add to the order so that they can accommodate the order as such. I had the Matt Cain with a gluten free bun and no sauce (can't take a risk). I thought for sure it was going to be a dry unremarkable sandwich but was pleasantly surprised to find it tasty, warm, and fresh. The beef created it's own juice which made it delicious and easier to eat. I loved the bun. Made very well and almost like the real yeasty thing. The only thing I found negative was that they had no salt and pepper. That was odd. But regardless, I still had a good sandwich. I commend the team here for careful food handling cause I had no skin reactions and typically celiac/gluten sensitive people are paranoid even eating at places like this because of cross contamination.
New review (2022): Today when I looked up the nutrition/allergen info on the website, almost the entire menu is contaminated with wheat and gluten! Idk what happened between now and then but it is no longer safe for us.
— Not at all
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Not Much/None
I was shamed for ordering their GF bread. They made me feel so uncomfortable about dietary restrictions even though they offer GF bread.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much/None
— Poor
I’ve had Ike’s before without issue, but this location gave me the worst glutening I’ve had in years. I don’t know if there was cross-contamination or an ingredient changed and they didn’t update its gluten-free status, but regardless: don’t trust this place.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Some
— Good
Great food made with care. When I asked for mine on gluten free bread (which was a really good gf sub roll) she said is this a preference or an allergy! For someone with celiac this was music to my ears! They took all the precautions! I will be back!
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent
Awesome gluten-free roll for the sandwich. I haven't had a good hot sandwich in years and was able to enjoy one here.
— Somewhat
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Super cool they ask if it’s an allergy or preference. When I said allergy they confirmed they made it separately with clean gloves and utensils. Bread roll from Mariposa was super delicious!
— Very
— Separate gluten-free menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
They have a gluten from sub sandwich bread. Staff was knowledgeable and took special precautions to give me a truly gluten free sub.
— Very
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Some
— Good
This location is terrible. They gave me regular bread more than once. Their locations in Concord and Danville do an amazing job of taking precautions against cross contamination and never make me sick. Go there instead!
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Some
— Average