The Joy of Gluten Free (West End)

Great tasting food, but the customer service has a bitter aftertaste.

Cozy. Quaint. Warm home feeling. A perfect little shop to pick up the most fabulous ready to serve: sweet or savoury pies, cookies, breads, cakes, oh my! She helps those with allergies and restrictions and provided the most crave worthy desserts. Thank you ? happiest customer. This location owner operates, bakes, and puts smiles on everyones face. You’d be suprised to learn it was dairy free if you didn’t know it!! :)
The cost, ?, is worth every bite.

Dietary restrictions: I am gluten free and dairy free. This place provides fabulous and delicious sweet and savoury dishes/ meals/ treats for this plus other restrictions.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Various Cookies, Carrot Cake, Pie, Cupcakes

At the very least, the owner's responses to customer reviews are HILARIOUS. I check to see if Susan's written anything new weekly. 😂

I expected the staff of an independent place serving folks who need gluten free foods to be more friendly. Not just a one time thing. One experience came when they baked a birthday cake for us just a short time before we picked it up. On the drive home, the icing ran and cake shifted. When called, the lady suggested it was an issue with how the cake was transported. Oh well.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 2

If I could give less then 1 star, I would. The most vile, rude and nasty owner I have ever encountered. Don’t even think about asking any questions about the store or the products. Thank goodness there are now so many other Gluten Free options. We were made to feel like an inconvenience and intrusion for entering her store and when we tried to inquire about some of the products we were met with rude hostility.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

The zucchini chocolate cake was disgusting and the owner was very rude. Won't be going back.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

Fun place! Great snacks!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The cherry pie. The cherry. pie. Every flavour a cherry can be in every bite. Amazing. I ate a lot of it. I couldn’t stop. I’d do it all again. I regret nothing. (I also had the peach blueberry crisp. Leftovers of that are sadly also unlikely.)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Apple Crisp Pie, Pie

Owner is not very friendly and judgemental. Food is good. The use of gloves to pay using the Interac machine is not very environmental friendly. Interesting since she Reuses her glove. Could avoid this but insist using the tip option on the machine. Not necessary for that type of business. Will it go back!

Wheelchair accessibility: I don't believe it has an automatic door, but there's no step to get in.

Thank you "The Joy of Gluten Free and Chef Susan for the beautiful adorable cake for my daughter's baby shower last weekend. Everyone thought it was the cutest and more importantly my daughter and our gluten-free guests all thought it was so delicious! Your guidance (Chef Susan) as I selected the cake for the event was so appreciated. It really showed you cared.

I have been avoiding gluten for many years and this was my first time in a dedicated gluten free bakery. I was overwhelmed by all the amazing looking goodies available. We were there for some bread and the shopkeeper was kind enough to put up with our questions. We thanked her for her help and also purchased some lasagna noodles. We purchased the sorghum almond bread and sourdough. The sourdough was devine and everything I remember in flavour. It also had a good texture, though it wasn't fluffy. The sorghum almond bread was a bit on the crumbly side but tasted pretty good too. We will definitely stop by again.

Vegetarian options: Some vegan options.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free, peanut free, soy free facility. Also has vegan and dairy/lactose free options.

Parking: It's located in a shopping centre, so parking will ebb and flow with how busy other shops are.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

If anyone is here seeing this in 2024, save yourself the bad day the owner will cause and turn around. The owner is the nasiest person I've ever met. Good food though

This place is one of the best allergy friendly spots in Ottawa- I am a coeliac, vegan and allergic to soy. The Joy of Gluten free offers great products for everyone who has severe dietary restrictions. On a screwed up day - I visited the store on public transit ( beyond one hour) and it was worth every effort. The owner (Susan) is one of the most humbled humans- I came across. Thank you for a great business and supporting a great cause in Ottawa. It takes creativity to be innovative and unconventional. Will see you soon again!(Vegan waffles and quinoa cookie - simply yumilicious- I enjoyed them on the big lovely red chair :))

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I've had celiac for almost 20 years and have never been able to experience a chocolate croissant until today. Thank you so so much!!! I'm so happy And now we've eaten the two dinner pies we bought, and oh my... heaven? ? did I mention we drove here from Indiana to experience this heaven

Dietary restrictions: Celiac friendly

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Carrot Cake, Chocolate Almond Torte, Pie