I Ate Here: Cheeseburger in Paradise

I Ate Here is a new feature on my blog.  While not exactly a restaurant review (because I don’t feel I can fairly review a restaurant in one visit), I will share with you the vegetarian, gluten-free meal I ate.  Soon I’ll have a resource page listing the restaurants I’ve visited.  So here it is, my first I Ate Here post:

Last weekend the weather was beautiful, breezy and warm, perfect for dining on the patio of one of my favorite restaurants, Cheeseburger in Paradise.  I met my husband for a late lunch at the location in the Legends, located near the Kansas Speedway.  The wind carried the sounds of cars zooming around the track at the Speedway and the gospel concert at the new LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.  The patio at Cheeseburger in Paradise will be a great place to hear a bit of Buzz Beach Ball in August if you prefer to sit in a comfortable spot and have a great cocktail.  But about the food…

I’ve always liked eating at Cheeseburger in Paradise because they are one of very few places in Kansas City offering a gluten-free veggie burger. I’m not a fan of many chain restaurants, but choose to eat here anytime I am in the area.  I’ve never been gluten’d at Cheeseburger in Paradise, which is more than I can say for some other restaurants in the same area.  I heard recently via Twitter and Facebook they are now offering a gluten-free bun.  Our waitress didn’t know about the new gluten-free bun (and the gluten-free menu had not been updated to reflect the offering either) but said she would check with the manager to make sure. Sure enough, the bun was available and I ordered the Oh So Gouda Burger without the gouda. 

Shortly after our food arrived the managing partner dropped by our table and indulged me by answering all of my questions about the gluten-free buns, how they handle gluten-free orders and how their staff is trained.  I was surprised to hear they have always had separate utensils and food prep items for all orders that are entered into the computer as gluten-free.  I wish more restaurants would do this!

Clint, the managing partner, brought one of the buns out to show me.  They are French Meadow buns, individually packaged.  While not my favorite gluten-free hamburger bun on the market, it was a good bun, a nice option to have.  It held together well, was perfectly toasted, and had a slightly dry, crumbly texture once cut. While not an overly flavorful bun, I’ll eat it again instead of packing my own bun or eating a burger with a lettuce wrap.  It’s really exciting to see restaurants offering gluten-free burger buns!

Oh So Gouda Burger without the Gouda

If you eat dairy, I recommend the Copa Banana for dessert.  It’s creamy banana pudding any Southerner would be proud to serve topped with toasted coconut, strawberries and bananas along with a healthy dollop of whipped cream. It is served in an enormous martini glass, enough for two.  Just ask to have the Nilla wafers left off. 

The Cheeseburger in Paradise location mentioned in this post is located at 1705 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. 

*Full Disclosure:  In my non-blog work, I am a balloon artist and have had the great pleasure of working with Cheeseburger in Paradise since 2003. I was not compensated for this post and paid for my meal.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Single-serve packed buns