On 28th street, just west of Breton is Papa Chops – a fast casual food spot specializing in gluten-free fare. My pal, Mal, and I went there after a heartwarming watch of “Inside Out 2” for a post-movie meal.
We got there a half-hour from closing time, but the employees were kind and accommodating as we pored over the extensive menu. Mozzarella sticks, burgers, pizza; they’ve got lots to choose from to satisfy whatever gluten-free grub you’re craving. After much debating, I settled on the ‘straight up chicken’ sandwich and a side of fries. Mal, also unsure of what to get, ultimately landed on chili cheese fries; they won out over the Caesar wrap.
Once we made our selections, I lingered near the order counter, noticing the characters printed on the menu in an anime illustration style. The cashier said something about the pair being representative of the owner and his daughter, which I found charming, especially since I’m a fan of the genre myself. The same characters were featured on a stack of comic book coloring pages – the man a superhero, named Papa Chops, flying in to deliver food to a kid who can’t have gluten.
I joined my friend at the table she grabbed near the fountain machine, and we made idle chit chat until our food arrived. A smiling guy dropped off a big paper bag and bid us a good meal. We spread the contents on the table, laying our food on a handful of compostable napkins.
Without much fanfare (and much hunger), I took my first bite of the sandwich. It was good; the garlic aioli served up some serious flavor. As far as buns go, I could tell it didn’t have gluten, but it didn’t make the sandwich any less tasty. It was perhaps not as fluffy as a bun made from traditional wheat flour, but it was an all-around good sandwich made even better with the well-seasoned fries that accompanied it.
I take for granted how easy it is for me to go into a restaurant and take my pick of the menu, usually without a second thought. There are some folks for whom a dinner out becomes a complicated, stressful experience that ends in frustration. But then, there’s a place like Papa Chops, that saves the day by serving up a wide variety of options so customers can confidently take their pick of the menu knowing they’re getting something that’s not just gluten-free, but actually good.
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