The Hour Glass

183 Cedar St.
Sudbury, Ontario
705-674-5277

Description:  Every item on the menu can be made gluten free?  Somebody here must be celiac.  And indeed, the owner is.  But this means that the whole gamut of appetizers, pastas, and main dishes (from steaks to fish to burgers) is available.  And that makes this a rare restaurant, not least of all because this is Sudbury, not Toronto.  The menu is perhaps a little broader than is theoretically optimal for quality and freshness, but I'm not the one trying to make an income from a restaurant in Sudbury.  As a minor note, there is an additional charge for some items to be rendered gluten-free and charges to add garnishes to some other items.  Knowing the prices of gluten-free items, I don't object, although there is always the risk of seeming to nickel and dime the customer.

This cheesecake is gluten-free, as is the whole menu.

And the food?  Only one of our party had the house salad, which was very good.  All three of us had the fish and chips, this being so rare an option for the GF diner.  And....?  Excellent.  The fries were very good, thin and crispy.  The haddock was fresh, the breading crisp, and none of it was oily.  And mmmmmm, battered fish in tartar sauce.  Being unoriginal, we also all had the cheesecake.  This was obviously made on site, and tasted as fresh as such.  The crust was delicious, the filing rich, and the the portions healthy. 

Service was friendly and efficient, with generous water refills.  The setting was comfortable, with black linens that offered a touch of upscale without feeling overly formal.

In sum?  There is no question that a restaurant with a full GF menu will evoke positive feelings in a celiac diner.  That said, the food was wonderful, and our non-celiac diner agreed that this was an excellent restaurant.  I very much hope to return.