Farmer’s Kitchen Cafe

You’ve got to be kidding me. I was so so SO excited to get gluten free «good» food until I got it home. The bagels are too sweet… The cinnamon buns are made from the same dough! But what really broke my heart was the ravioli. $ 12 bucks a box for 12 ravioli. Fine. If it’s good it’s worth it. But then I cooked it. I had seen another user have issues and chalked it up to improper cooking technique.
Nope. It wasn’t the cooking. It was the ravioli. For sure. I cooked it from frozen at full boil. 2:30 is when the pasta fell apart and made the water look like vomit. 2:45 I was pulling the little bastards out but they kept disintegrating. Literally down to a bowl of baby food with pasta scraps. I literally nearly cried because I had been so excited.
You can make good gluten free pasta. Barilla can do it and box it. Hell, I’ve done it at home. This place doesn’t have that skill yet. I am utterly heartbroken at having my wallet and my hopes dashed.

I would definitely recommend this place despite the somewhat long wait. It served the best salad and pumpkin pie (with coconut whipped cream) that I’ve had in years. The salmon plate was also excellent. Overall, the quality was miraculous and the price reasonable.

My friend and I had lunch here today. Cute little hole in the wall place. I had a chicken pesto sandwich. It was delicious and flavorful. The fruit on the side was fresh and delicious. My friend had a pot pie and salad. There was homemade dressings to choose from. Everything was extra fresh and delicious. Tasted like it was taken from a garden out back.

Stopped in for lunch with my mother on 25 August (she’s 87 years old). We both had the BLT sandwich and were quite impressed with the quality of the ingredients and texture of the lightly toasted bread. Other gluten-​free bread I’ve tried falls apart — this, however, was very soft and flavorful holding up to the dripping tomatoes and other ingredients. We split a piece of strawberry-​peach pie topped with a coconut iced-​whip that was wonderful. Other patrons were enjoying a salad that looked great and was receiving wonderful reviews in our conversations. A relatively small shop that allowed for casual conversation. Wonderful experience — will definitely return.

I love this restaurant for precisely some of the reasons some of these other reviews complained about it. Why try to figure out a gluten-​free healthy locally-​farmed café, and just enjoy it! When you walk into the Farmer’s Kitchen Café, it reminds me of a stage set of a comfortable family kitchen (eh um… hence the name) that is country yet chic and health-​conscious. There are pine tables to sit at, in front of you a wall of refrigerated goodies you can purchase to take home, and to your right gluten-​free baked goods and fresh noodles. The decoration is lovely and high class with locally fired pottery and other locally crafted art. I bought an amazing blueberry pie there, and spoke to the owner who knew exactly who grew the blueberries… and seemed to know everything else about the farmers whose produce she buys. It’s a unique place with healthy comfort food, delightful staff and customers, and an all around wonderful dining experience! Btw, when I came back to pick up my pie at the end of the night – all of the baked goods had been sold! So, I haven’t tried these yet, but I’m guessing they’re amazing. Also, there’s a large window behind the baked goods where you can see them baking the bread and noodles.

EDIT: since writing this review they offered to give me a free ravioli, and also apologized that I wasn’t told that it should remain frozen until cooked. Impressed with the customer service :)
I’ve been here 2 – 3 times now and so far so good — except for the packaged ravioli.
I’ve tried the cinnamon rolls (gf), fresh beet juice blend, focaccia and sandwhich breads. Everything was super tasty and fresh. I really liked the cinnamon roll, it had a great texture and wasn’t overly sweet. The juice was also beyond delicious and came in a glass bottle.
The mushroom ravioli, however, was completely liquid. I kept it in the fridge the day I bought it, and the next day, and cooked it the day after that. I’m not sure if I did something wrong? But the ravioli pasta was liquid. I ended up mixing the pasta paste and filling and fried a sort of «pancake» with some oil in the skillet. Flavor was great! But just wish the pasta was solid.

A pricey but high quality option for lunch and dinner. When you walk in here your first time you’ll probably be confused, is it a restaurant? a bakery? someones kitchen? Ends up being a little bit of all three.
The quality of the food is great and it is all delicious and made fresh. It’s gluten free but don’t let that discourage you from eating here, it’s not very noticeable.
Dinner–
You’ll have to call ahead and make a reservation and the menu is usually set with whatever they’re catering that night, the servings are quite large. Here’s what I’ve had,
Dinner 1
Beet Salad (great!)
Chicken Soup
Sweet Potato Latkes (really good, and I usually don’t like this stuff)
Swedish Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes (meatballs weren’t that great)
Lemon Tart
Pumpkin Pie
Dinner 2
Caesar Salad with schnitzel (too much dressing, but the meat was delicoius)
Watercress Soup
Chicken Pot Pie
Banana Bread
The bill for four people has ranged from 80 – 100 (not including tip) dollars so it is pricey.
The fun thing about going here for dinner is it is a bit of an adventure, you never know what you’re really going to get, but since the quality is so good you don’t have to worry about it being bad.
It’ll probably be a while before I can afford go there for dinner again but their lunch food is equally as good and cheaper.

I had one of the best Chicken Pesto sandwiches I have ever had at The Farmers Kitchen Café in Davis, CA. They are a Gluten Free restaurant which is a treat when traveling with my Celiac Daughter. The chef even wrapped it up to go as we were on our way to tour the university. If you have celiac and are looking for a dedicated gluten free eating experience, try The Farmers Kirchen Café. We loved it!

I had the most beautiful salad here. Every single piece of fruit and vegetable was crisp and perfectly ripe. Also the atmosphere is so cute and friendly. I will definitely go back here!

This was one of my more unique dining experiences in Davis. My friend and I went at 5:30pm on a Friday so the place was completely empty.
the lady running the front told us that normally we’d have to make a reservation. I was very confused but I guess normally they only serve subscribers or members unless otherwise noted. So FOR FUTURE REFERENCE TO ANYONE READING THIS: call a couple hours beforehand to tell them you are coming. However the lady was very accommodating and said they didn’t expect too many people and allowed us to stay.
There wasn’t very much of a choice in our meal though. I was ok with anything at almost any price so I didn’t even ask. My only goal was to get a basic idea of the food here so I can check it off my list of places to try in Davis. The lady thought about it for a while and said she could arrange for us to get some chicken pot pie and salad. She sat us down and brought us some water. The food took quite a while to make. Maybe 20 – 30 minutes? Luckily my friend and I were catching up so we didn’t mind but I wouldn’t suggest coming here if you are looking for immediate gratification.
The pot pie (small/​medium bowl) and salad were both delicious. I especially loved the pot pie’s crust which was gluten free (which was great for my friend who is allergic). The salad dressing was also great. Another employee also made sure we had enough water. The meal ended up being 13 dollars which was a bit steep for the amount of food but I understand gluten-​free meals can be more expensive.
Overall the food was good and worth trying once. It was a confusing experience and I’m glad I tried it but I don’t think I’ll be back to eat here. Maybe I’ll drop by to buy a pie to go?

This was my second time visiting this place and I thought my feelings may change towards it. The first time I came in to look around I was confused about what the place was. I then noticed it’s half gluten-​free items for sale, half restaurant. The layout however is very odd and makes it unclear that it’s a restaurant.
Last week I came in for my second time with a friend. My intention was to come in for lunch but changed my mind upon entering. The two ladies were not very friendly and barely greeted us upon entering. They looked consumed into what they were doing. Neither asked us if we wanted to take a seat or look around. It was also dead quiet which can make eating a meal there with a friend awkward if everyone can hear what you’re saying.
Hence, we decided to just look around. In the back I browsed through their pastas and baked goods. I ended up grabbing a brownie to buy so it wouldn’t be a wasted trip. One of the ladies rung me up and it was $ 4.50! Holy smokes! I figured it was an amazing brownie but NOPE! It was very dry and not brownie consistency at all, more like a very dry, crumby chocolate cookie that’s NOT good. I was disappointed and had higher hopes since I eat mostly gluten-​free and found this place on Unilocal with great reviews.
My personal experience was not enjoyable and pricey considering the poor qualtiy of the product.

November 2013
I was inspired to come here after a friend (foodie friend) encouraged me to give it a try. I was in the area with clients, who are not from here, and asked them to come to lunch with me. I was expecting something akin to a restaurant, so I was surprised to find it is less like a restaurant and more like a combination kitchen/​tea-​herb shop/​book store/​small frozen goods store… with a cozy little space of maybe 4 – 5 tables. I was a bit «concerned» because here I was trying to impress clients with a great restaurant and I’m taking them to this little place. Lol!
Let me just say that if you are even remotely concerned about the food you consume and would like to finally experience REAL food prepared innate healthy and wholesome way… then by all means make a mad dash to this wonderful place with an open mind and heart.
The menu changes daily and seasonally. The food is gluten/​soy/​casein/​sugar FREE!!! And it is to-​die-​for delicious. And if you live near here consider yourself very fortunate! I would love to have this place close to me in Fair Oaks!
Most importantly… you can buy some items from the freezer section to bake at your leisure. YUMMMMMMM!!!
Ps…I ordered a sesame oil sautéed Swiss chard dish, that came with tofu and risotto that was so incredibly good (and such a huge portion) that I couldn’t resist eating all of it right then… and had trouble buttoning my pants!
Bön Appetit!

When I go out to a restaurant I am looking for fresh and nutritious food, that hopefully will have some flavor.
This little café is perfect!
It is run by a lady very familiar with healthy eating and cuisine from around the world.
This food would be right at home in a fancy five-​star restaurant.
This is a simple storefront café, just a few tables, family owned and run.
Sorry, no candlelit rooms with hovering waiters.
The food is excellent!
For me every dish is an adventure, a new taste sensation.
My only complaint is that the menu changes each week. Just when I find a new «favorite dish», it is not available after a week or two. I do understand that the café only serves fresh seasonal food, my «new favorite» will return sometime.
I don’t know any other restaurant that rewrites their menu every week — amazing!
I have signed up as a subscriber for their dinner service.

Some people complain about slow service–
This is not McDonalds where your food is delivered in a few minutes.
You place your order and the kitchen staff actually prepares and cooks your food.
It takes a bit more time, but we all need to slow down and relax during meals anyway.

Came here for a working lunch with two colleagues, one of whom follows a gluten-​free diet. The entire menu here is gluten-​free with most items dairy-​free and corn-​free as well.
I ordered the curried chicken salad sandwich. The curry chicken filling was delicious and the gluten-​free bread was soft, resembling focaccia. It came with a side of fresh plums and grapes. I do not require a specialized diet but found the lunch to be satisfying with no sacrifice in flavor from being gluten-​free.
We were in and out for lunch in 45 minutes with one other table being served.
Tables are placed in the same room where they sell their baked goods and fresh produce on display in refrigeration so expect an informal homey ambiance.

*bakery review only*
does one really need to hoof it 50+ miles to enjoy gf delights? nope, here’s a gluten-​free bakery for Celiacs and the gluten intolerant population always left out of the party. they have an extraordinary, extensive bakery menu; after much deliberation I settled on a cinnamon roll: moist with enough glaze to add a perfect sweetness to the spices, and a brownie: oh so chewy, gooey, moist, and fudgy with huge chocolate flavor. they also make a sticky bun, and I’m severely butt hurt I didn’t grab it when I had the chance.
I’m guessing the owner? greeted me that morning, was VERY informative about the gf bakery, it’s practices, and beliefs, and helped me decide which treat to choose. vegans beware– they do use eggs and butter in their goods (I visited before my plant-​based journey began don’t judge).
pop in after your farmer’s market adventure for a baked good, stroll around downtown Davis, and I’d call that a perfect Saturday morning :-)

We happened upon this place because of Small Business Saturday. Unfortunately they had been pretty cleaned out by the Thanksgiving rush so there weren’t too many options. The woman working the register was extremely helpful and soo nice. Basically you can tell her what you’re looking for and she’ll make it happen. Also for people like me who have no idea, she suggested the usuals’ favorites along with a few anecdotes.
I ended up just buying a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough. Finally made it tonight and they were SO good. I’ve never really gotten into the health food hype, but who knew something «good» for you could be so delicious?!
I’ll admit, it was pricey, I got a little over a dozen cookies for $ 5.50 (I think). But considering they sell in the store for 65c and on campus for over a dollar, I don’t feel robbed. They were truly amazing. If you ever have a little extra cash, get this stuff. And you’ll feel a lot better after eating these than a box of Chips Ahoy.
Definitely recommend.

Food was just alright, the overall impression we got was of being at a somewhat senile but nice grandmas house for dinner. She tried to make up what we wanted, but she kept forgetting what was in the fridge and what had spoiled. About ¾ths of the items we requested had to be modified or were not in the kitchen at all.
We ate (from best to worst):
Butternut squash soup — very good, not excellent
Black bean soup — very good, not excellent
Chicken soup — better than canned, but not quite as good as homemade.
Lemonade — You can’t make lemonade by stirring unrefined sugar into lemon juice. I was already exhausted with this place by the time the lemonade came out (warm) at the end of the meal so I didn’t give her the helpful hint of making your unrefined sugar into simple syrup to use in the lemonade. Ugh.
Chicken picatta — decent, a little pickley, maybe the way the capers were prepared? The chicken picatta came with pasta that was bland average rice noodles. However, there was a thin wire sticking out the middle. As I ate some of the noodles I realized it belonged to a twist tie, I kept getting pieces of the paper in my mouth.
It also came with a very scant salad.
Eggplant panini — terrible, two thumbs all the way down. We all tried this, we all thought it tasted off. The bread was good, a little eggy, but the eggplant tasted only of old balsamic vinegar. It was completely inedible and the hostess got in a little argument with herself about whether or not she should charge us for it. When I tried to nicely tell her that it tasted similar to jarred preserved eggplant that I ate past its expiration date (I know it doesn’t sound nice but she had been waffling for 5 minutes about how much everyone likes the eggplant, why didn’t we like it) she told me there was no such thing as preserved eggplant… then told me that her eggplant stayed good for months after she preserved it in vinegar and oil.. .
I know I wrote an essay, so I will conclude with a quote from one of my meal-​mates:
«The food is fine, but this restaurant seems like it is run by people who have never been to a restaurant before.»

My mom, brother and I specifically stopped here on the way back from the mountains to the Bay Area because it came up on a search for gluten-​free establishments in Davis. (I am a UCD alum, so I like stopping in Davis when possible.) Aside from a customer being helped at the cashier, it was empty (though, not surprising for 2:30pm on a summer weekday).
The owner was friendly and very helpful as we were deciding on what to order from the menu. She talked to us for quite some time about how other restaurants that attempt to serve gluten-​free food alongside gluten-​containing food can be difficult and even risky for a gluten-​free customer. She feels much more at ease having a facility that is ENTIRELY gluten-​free so that there is no danger of cross-​contamination. Bravo. (We definitely did not have the customer service problems that other reviewers seemed to have. And we’re Asian, too. I don’t know if service would have been different if we were there during a more busy time of the day, or with other employees helping us.)
We all got different sandwiches, and they were all VERY good. The gluten-​free bread used for the sandwiches were of a great texture — not too dense or dry like most of the gluten-​free bread I’ve had elsewhere tends to be. My mom even remarked that she wouldn’t have known she was eating a gluten-​free sandwich if it wasn’t the reason why we went there. She also very much enjoyed the free-​range chicken that was in her chicken salad sandwich.
We also got a slice of the peach pie (made with heirloom peaches) to share, and we really enjoyed that as well. Sweet but not too sweet. Great fresh flavor of the peaches. Nice tender gluten-​free crust.
I also bought a bag of the gluten-​free chocolate chip cookies to take home with us, and they were DELICIOUS. Again, you wouldn’t know they were gluten– (and casein-​) free if they didn’t say so on the bag.
I’m almost sorry I don’t live in Davis (or California for that matter) anymore to come back here more often.

I have no idea how any of the food tastes nor do I have any desire to. I realize that the store was very busy during the time that I visisted but the employee (or store owner, I’m not sure) whoever it was that spoke to me, was so rude that I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever been given such rude customer service. Perhaps it’s because I’m asian and everyone else in the store was of a European background? I don’t know. I definitely know that this customer service actually made me feel degraded.
I will never go back here and I will tell all of my friends to do so likewise.

Natural Food Works is a store and café that not only feeds the belly but nurtures the whole being. The owner and operator has a philosophy of creating nutritious food and sustaining local community. She encourages people to eat from their heritage which in many cases is gluten, egg and dairy free. The food is made to order and is always flavorful and fresh. She makes fried chicken the old fashioned way.
The selection of gluten free products rivals any one store. She features gluten free brown rice based, fettuccine made from a family recipe. The breads are spongy and reminiscent of my childhood tradition. Eating the gluten free bread is an enjoyable choice rather than a deprived, living without, rock hard alternatives.
If you are passing through Davis, I would highly recommend a visit to Natural Food Works. You can sample the cookies, and bread as well as have a great conversation from an interesting family.