After reading all kinds of information about Brick Oven on Brodie Lane, I decided to call the owner and find out how much of it is true. Sometimes what we read on the Internet is wishful thinking. In this case you will appreciate knowing that Christine Moore, the owner, was biopsy diagnosed about a year ago. This means we have a friend in the kitchen! Brick Oven is family owned, and she is the general manager of the Brodie Lane location. Christine very quickly got on board to make her restaurant into a very gluten-free friendly place for other celiacs to enjoy safe dining. There are several other locations in Austin, but this review is only for the Brodie Lane location. Christine herself is there Tuesday-Saturday, and they are open from 11 am to 9 pm. Brick Oven Brodie Lane is open on Sunday and Monday, but Christine will not be there to oversee your gluten-free order on those days.

At present you can order pizzas and certain pastas. Before long there will be a separate gluten-free menu, which will make it easier to order and know the prices. Christine plans to expand the gluten-free menu as she works through it to determine which recipes can be modified to be gluten free. For now, use the following information:

Brick Oven Gluten-Free Information

Wheat products are used in this restaurant. We do all we can to insure there is no cross contamination. Flour can become airborne, so we cannot be considered entirely gluten free.

• Pizza. We use gluten-free crust from Gluten Free Kneads. You may order any medium-size pizza from our menu except the Mediterranean as the meatballs contain breadcrumbs.
• Pastas. We can make Spaghetti Marinara plain or with meat sauce, Pasta Rustica, Basil Pesto Fettucini, Chicken Rigatoni, Pasta Primavera, or Capellini Pomodoro. Our Alfredo Sauce is thickened with cornstarch. The pasta may be limited to certain shapes as we often run out of some brands. We will try to have a lasagna every day.
• Sandwiches. We use a rice almond toasted bread, and our chicken or veggie sandwiches are available. We use Tomato Basil Vinaigrette and Gluten-Free Ranch Dressing to add to the flavor.
• Desserts. We stock gluten-free ice cream cones and gluten-free brownies. We have Amy’’s Ice Cream in Vanilla and Chocolate as well as some specialty desserts. Please ask your server for more information.
• For Children. Mac and Cheese, pastas, and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• Beer. We offer Redbridge Gluten-Free Beer. Wine is always gluten free.
• Appetizers. Bruchetta, Portabello Mushroom, Spinach and Artichole Dip, and salads.

Stay tuned! We expect to have a more detailed menu for Brick Oven before long, with details on other items that will be safe to order. Meanwhile, here is a review written by Buda member Darlene Freitag.

I have enjoyed the gluten-free pizza at Brick Oven on Slaughter and Brodie Lane for awhile. I didn’t know until the Alamo Celiac Austin meeting this month (April 2009) that they were now serving pasta, too! Christine, the owner, brought some awesome bread and two delicious pasta entrées to the meeting for us to sample.

Last Sunday our family ate there, and I was unsure which of the several gluten-free menu entrées I had sampled, so I took a chance. The Chicken Rigatoni I ordered was not the one Christine brought to the meeting but was amazing. After the meal I was so full, but I couldn’t turn down my first ice cream cone in years, so I had Amyᰱs Chocolate in a rice cone. I felt like a kid again. She also has gluten-free brownies.

Last evening we returned and Christine was there and told me which entrée I tried at the meeting, so I ordered it. There are three appetizers that are also gluten free. I ordered the Portobello Mushrooms with onions and feta cheese in a wine sauce served with garlic bread – yes, you heard right – garlic bread! The Chicken Rigatoni in Chipotle Pesto Cream was wonderful and had a lot of thinly sliced, moist, and well-seasoned chicken strips throughout, as well as fresh tomatoes and mushrooms. The spiral pasta was firm and held the sauce well. I have heard the lasagna is great, and I will try that on my next visit.

Christine’s goal is for gluten-free diners to be able to enjoy a fantastic meal that includes appetizers, salads, entrées, bread, and dessert without fear of becoming ill. I believe she has achieved her goal, and we are the lucky recipients of her dedication.

Although Brick Oven on Brodie at Slaughter is the only location that is offering this menu, it would be well worth the drive from other areas of town. I believe what I am especially happy about is the fact that when a diner orders gluten free, Christine personally oversees the preparation to help ensure against cross contamination, etc. She did say that because it is a pizza place there is a small amount of flour in the air, so if a person is extra-sensitive it may not work for them. I am pretty sensitive and have eaten there many times and have not found this to be problematic.

Having celiac herself, Christine realizes the importance of safety and understands how much it means to us to have so many wonderful items to choose from.

My husband thought the combination of ice cream cones, pizza, and Mac and Cheese would make it a great choice for kids with their families and a good place for parties!

Christine is there Tuesday through Saturday, but the gluten-free menu is available every day for lunch and dinner.(AB and OM 06/09)