Groke is a very rare gem for coeliac dining – a brunch cafe that specialises in gluten free. I normally avoid brunch out completely, as there are so few places I’ve found I can enjoy it – partly because of the cross contamination risk from a hundred bread products, and partly because it’s one of those meals where you generally end up with something inferior. But not here…

In owner Tom’s words, “Groke has a brunch menu where coeliacs aren’t an afterthought.” A recently diagnosed coeliac himself, safe gluten free dining has been a priority since the beginning.

The opportunity for a visit came up a couple of weekends ago, when the weather was lovely and both of my teenagers were away. We decided to take the dog for a walk up the Five Weirs Walk and enjoy a quiet brunch out.

The cafe’s menu is relatively subtle with its references to gluten free (understandably not wanting to put gluten eaters off), saying all dishes can be gluten free – but all they do is switch the bread out, as all the other ingredients are already GF. I’m told by Tom that the kitchen is mostly gluten free, with a special area for bread with gluten in. As we know, it’s usually the other way round.

Inside the cafe, the gluten free credentials are a little bolder, with this fabulous selection of home bakes, all of which are gluten free.

The weather was lovely, as it’s been for weeks now, so we sat outside on the terrace overlooking the river and ordered a coffee whilst we perused the menu. There are all day breakfasts, brunch dishes, burgers and toasties, which can be served with beer, wine, cider and cocktails as well as coffee – nice.

The all day breakfasts are as you’d expect – a meat, veggie and vegan option. Brunch dishes include eggs Florentine, ham hock Benedict, Turkish eggs, hummous toast and bircher muesli. I made a slightly shameful order of huevos rancheros but with the titular eggs substituted for bacon and asparagus. Perhaps another reason I don’t eat brunch out is that I’m not a fan of poached and fried eggs – I can do a scramble as long as it’s got some other flavour with it – but I am a fan of refried beans, smoked tomatoes, coriander, sour cream and chilli oil on sourdough, and these were wonderfully accompanied by my bacon and asparagus. It was all rather divine – once I’d got over the slight embarrassment of ordering it. Perhaps I should come up with a name for it.

We were full after our brunches and a couple of coffees, so off we went for our walk. On the way back, we called in for a takeaway bake to have in the garden at home. We bought a caramel slice (aka millionaire’s shortbread) and a piece of apricot and pistachio flapjack and had half each.

I’m looking forward to going back here – brunch out seemed particularly decadent for me, and I could definitely get used to it. Or maybe we could go a bit later in the day and try a burger. The halloumi and red pepper stack with slaw, pickles and smoky baharat sauce sounds wonderful. Veggies and vegans are very well catered for here, as Tom is also vegetarian.

And in case you’re wondering how to pronounce Groke, as I was, it’s phonic and rhymes with broke (rather than broker, which I thought it might be, expecting it to be a Scandinavian word). It’s a word I’d never come across before, an old Scots word meaning to stare at someone’s plate hoping they will share their food. I won’t be sharing any of mine, so you’ll have to order your own!

Groke
1a Kelham Square,Kelham Island, Sheffield S3 8RY