Obscurity Brewing

 Obscurity Brewing and Mead Hall - Came to check out this place as a stop on our beer passport this summer. While we weren't planning to get food while here, we weren't that hungry. But as we sampled Meads, Cider and my husband had beer, food sounded good, so we opted to try the BBQ platter. Chatted it up with our beertender about gluten free options, what was safe, if the sauces were safe, (Which they all are safe) and she put our order in. Sadly she forgot to mark it gluten free, so it came out with a piece of bread in the middle of the plate. 

I will say I'm more and more annoyed with places that just add bread to things, why can't you just add it to the menu listing! Then we could more specifically say "Make sure not to add the bread!!" 

Our server apologized multiple times that it was her fault and had a fresh plate brought out to us. We were wowed. This was honestly some of the best BBQ we've had in a long time. Their Alabama white sauce was tasty and not just peppery. The Ribs fell right off the bones, and the brisket was lean and not fatty at all. We also really like the elote. There was the right amount of spice and flavor. Almost as good as the elote we had that was topped with bacon! 

We actually came back with friends a few weeks later. We planned out a brewery hop for the day to try different things, making note to everyone that this was where we were getting dinner, because it's just that good! They have a rotation of 3-4 ciders or meads from their cider/meadery across the street, and also have cocktails, so it's a well rounded selection of food and adult beverages and great fun atmosphere. I give them 5 dragonflies, because the BBQ was so good and the staff was very understanding.

Mission BBQ - Top Notch

Mission BBQ opened near to where we live, back prior to the pandemic, so we decided to check it out. We liked, the food was good, the service was good, but two things were drawbacks for us. They had mostly bench seating, and we had other places in the area that were better. But the pandemic put a bit of a wrench in our other options, so we opted to try Mission BBQ again now. They have a pretty comprehensive menu for gluten free on their website, which was super helpful!

1st thing we noticed when we got inside was there were more regular chairs and less bench seats, which was nice. Talking to the cashier who took our order, and he was able to confirm the only thing in the fryers was the French fries, so those were gluten free. He also flagged our entire order to have 'no cornbread', when our order was called, they confirmed 'no cornbread', I let them know, it was just my tray, and they could give the other trays cornbread. 

One of the servers came over and noted that he saw me staring at my phone while ordering, and offered to give us a to-go menu to look at for our next visit. When I told him I was looking at my phone for the allergy options, he went and got us a print out for the allergy options! He even went over options not on the menu, including the Chicago Sweet sauce being safe. Ultimately there was only 1 sauce that wasn't safe, and it was the mustard one. They even brought out containers of the Alabama white sauce, since it needs refrigeration, they don't keep it on the table. 

The meal was very good! We'd done a 3 meat sampler with brisket, sausage and pulled chicken, I got fries and my hubby got his fav, mac and cheese. They seemed to be very aware of keeping things separate and safe. They were even super nice and gave our friends free dessert, since it was their first time there. Unfortunately the dessert was not gluten free, which was sad, but I had dessert waiting for me at home.  Over I have to give them 5 out of 5 dragonflies, I would normally rate them down for a lack of a dessert option. But the number of meat options, sauce options and sides. I mean, they have French Fries, that's huge! 

 

Firewater BBQ - Take 2

We were going to be in the Geneva area, and my husband asked what my thoughts were on going back to Firewater BBQ. We liked their food the previous time we'd been there, a couple years ago, but had not been back. We'd encountered a minor hiccup the previous time we were there, that despite asking the cashier repeated what was gluten free, what sauces were gluten free, and confirming what sides were gluten free, my meat was placed on top of a piece of bread on my tray. 

They were nice and made a new tray for me and apologized, and I apologized as well, that since it was our first time, I didn't realize a random piece of bread would be on the tray, since Nothing mentioned it on the menu, and I'd said 'gluten free' at least a dozen times while ordering, the gal never mentioned it to me.

Fast forward 2 years, and we were heading over to Penrose Brewing (again) and we thought we'd pick up some food to nosh from somewhere different this time. So we opted to order from Firewater and take it with. I double checked their website, which now mentions Gluten Free options and gives some guidance on what is safe or not. When we got there right away I ordered first, and told the gentleman taking my order, "No Bread, Gluten Free!" I confirmed which sauces were gluten free, and reconfirmed the sides listed on the site were gluten free. My husband ordered his food and we waited for our togo order. They were starting to get backed up with orders, while we grabbed napkins, silverware and pickles. They have prepaked pickles and jalapenos you can have with your food! 

When they finally called our order number I grabbed the bag and while my husband and I exchanged a look, I told him I felt like I needed to check my food. Sure enough I open my container and BAM! There is a hunk of Corn Bread on top of the paper holding my meat. I lifted the paper up and could see the crumbs on the meat as well. Once I got a hold of one of the people packing food I nicely told her I'd told the cashier who took our order I was gluten free and specifically said no bread. He'd told me to "hold on let me type this in." The person who seemed to be the manager walked over and asked what was going on, I re-explained to him, and he said "yeah it's contaminated let me take care of this, there was no note." I told him again "I specifically told your cashier No Bread!" He said he'd talk to him and remade my meal. 

When we got to Penrose with our food my husband looked at his and commented he should have said his was gluten free also, so we could share, cause his had a slice of plain old white bread in the bottom. I laughed cause he commented they could have at least buttered it or toasted it so it wasn't just cheap white bread with his ribs. 

The food was good, the sauces are very tasty. There was one sauce I couldn't have, and it was either the mustard or the vinegar one, which I didn't mind at all, I'm really more of a traditional Chicago sauce or Alabama White sauce person, and they had Alabama white sauce so I was super happy! For anyone who hasn't had Alabama White sauce before, it's great on Pork and Chicken, amazing on wings. You have to try it at least once! 

Over all I give them 3 dragonflies, while we love the food, and their website makes it seem like they understand, ultimately, they're a chain and understanding is only as good as the people making and serving the food. So if you order with them be prepared to talk your self silly requesting a safe meal, and still need it to be remade!