Restaurant Reivew
Sweet Pea's Cafe
Sweet Peas is a decent choice for gluten-free and vegan diners visiting downtown Dunedin. Unfortunately, the quaint downtown is home to many pizza and breweries, all typically off limits for visitors following specialty diets. Although a bit pricey, Sweet Peas is a solid choice for anyone looking for a healthy menu with many specialty food choices.
Food
Sweet Peas serves both breakfast and lunch. Breakfast includes traditional choices like omelets, pancakes and waffles, and Egg and Cheese sandwiches. They use organic eggs, hormone free cheese, and organic cream.
Vegan and gluten-free pancakes are available. In addition, gluten-free and dairy free muffins can be enjoyed. Finding acceptable breakfast options is often hard for those with multiple food sensitivities, so it's nice to have several options.
Lunch includes an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. Gluten-free bread is available, although it will come at quite a price. I have seen restaurants charge $1 for gluten-free bread & wraps, however, never anywhere near $2.50!
Informing customers of the hefty up charge upfront would be nice. Or better yet, why don't restaurants stop taking advantage of their gluten-free customers? There are several salad choices available including a vegan friendly Coconut Kissed Quinoa and a Kale with Ginger Tahini Dressing option.
Sandwich options include Hummus and Veggie, Grilled Cheese, Turkey and Avocado, and more. The Hummus and Veggie on gluten-free bread was good, although very overpriced considering there was a $2.50 upcharge for the bread and the meal only included a miniscule side bowl of fruit. It just wasn't presented nice enough nor delicious enough tasting to warrant that price.
The turkey sandwich with gluten-free bread and avocado and tomato in place of the cheese was great too, although pricey at $11. On the other hand, the chickpea, curry & kale soup of the day (both vegan and gluten-free) was delicious and appropriately priced at $4.
Gluten-free and vegan options are marked as so on the menu, which enables you to choose yourself without asking a million questions. Organic coffee drinks and tea are also available.
Service
Service was friendly, although a bit unprofessional as there was a mistake with our bill that needed to be corrected. After talking with management, we found out the restaurant recently reopened, after a prolonged closing, with new staff.
Atmosphere
The restaurant is housed in an old house, leading to a cozy, home-style setting. They also have plenty of space outside dedicated to dining. Adirondack chairs and covered picnic tables offer the perfect relaxed dining environment on nice weather days.
Final Remarks
Overall, Sweet Pea's Cafe is a good choice for vegan and gluten-free diners. It's not the best restaurant in the area, however, it is one of the sole choices in Dunedin. The friendly staff and attractive outdoor setting earns it a few bonus points in my book.
