Cafe Tarragon: Milwaukee's Best Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian Restaurant

I am new to the world of gluten free eating. It was a shock to realize that gluten is EVERYWHERE. Eating out became a hassle having to explain what contains gluten and having to beg to have my food prepared separately. So when I stumbled upon Cafe Tarragon while surfing restaurant.com I was excited to have found a restaurant that seemed to cater to specialized diets.

The problem came when I tried to get my family and friends to go with me to Cafe Tarragon. As soon as I mentioned that the entire menu was vegetarian no wanted to go with me! After weeks of begging I finally convinced a friend to go with me and "accidently" neglected to tell my other friend that the restaurant was vegetarian.

I plugged in Cafe Tarragons address into my GPS and away we went. A few minutes later the GPS announced that we had arrived at our destination, but I didn't see a sign for Cafe Tarragon...only a sign that said "Forever Green". Just as I was about to panic I looked down at the sidewalk sign that announced Cafe Tarragon was inside Forever Green. (Side note: Bring change for meter parking.)

Once inside we found a cozy little store and nestled in the back was Cafe Tarragon. We were greeted with a smile and a hearty welcome. Brandon the Chef immediately asked us what our dietary specialties were and then led us through the menu. Chef Brandon reassured us that he understood our needs and let us know that the kitchen is never exposed to wheat flour.

At first I was disappointed because the menu seemed limited, but as I read the descriptions for each dish my mouth began to water. Every dish sounded yummy, even the tofu dishes sounded delicious. I quickly settled on a Muffaletta sandwich and both of my friends chose the Black Bean Tostadas.

Minutes later we were greeted with three well presented and very full plates of our chosen dishes. The Muffaletta sandwich was delightful. The gluten free bread had the taste and texture of "real" bread and the muffaletta had just the right amount of flavor, not to sour, and it was not greasy. Many muffalettas are to heavy on the oil which minimizes the flavor and makes the sandwich messy. My sandwich was served with a side of chips and fresh fruit which included papaya, strawberries, and an orange slice. The chips were so yummy I asked what brand they were and Brandon freely gave me the information.

I of course had to try my friends Black Bean Tostadas; all I can say is YUMMY! The tostadas were piled high with black beans, corn, avocado, and more. My next trip to Cafe Tarragon will be for Black Bean Tostadas!

At this point I was already in love with Cafe Tarragon...then Brandon brought us our dessert. Gluten free Chocolate Brownie Cake that was to die for!! Every bite was a little piece of heaven. The cake was served with a side of agave nectar which complimented the fudginess of the cake. I seriously think this cake could win an award. The recipe is Chef Brandon's own recipe using, well I'll let Brandon tell you his "secret" ingredient.

Cafe Tarragon is an oasis of bliss where vegans, vegetarians, and non gluteners can enjoy delicious, healthy food at a decent price with no worry of cross contamination. Once you fall in love with Cafe Tarragon and Chef Brandon you can take advantage of Chef Brandon's cooking lessons. A ninety minute cooking class is just $35 per person.

Chef Brandon who graduated from the Kendall College Culinary Program in 2007 was gracious enough to share one of his signature salad recipes.

Spinach Detox Salad
1 Bunch Spinach, washed and cut into ribbons

1 Yellow Onion, diced

1 Sweet Potato, grated fine

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 inch piece of ginger, grated

¼ cup golden raisins

1 quarter cup sunflower seeds

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

1 Tbsp Tamari Sauce (any soy sauce will work), more to taste


Combine all ingredients, toss and allow to marinate for a few minutes. Enjoy!