This Maine Café Makes Crepes, Sandwiches, And Desserts Gluten-Free Without Sacrificing Flavor

Not one speck of wheat, rye, or barley flour gets through the door at this café. Every crepe, sandwich, cupcake, and muffin on the counter is gluten-free.

The menu doesn’t read like a list of sad substitutes, either. There are breakfast crepes, grilled sandwiches, quiches, buckwheat pancakes, and house-roasted coffee.

I have so many questions, and most of them start with “Can I try that too?”

Then there’s the rest of the place. It has a rooftop deck, a big patio, a free book corner, and even a free play area for little kids. Parents get a breather while staying right in the building.

For anyone with celiac disease in Maine, a spot like this feels like finding treasure. For everyone else, it’s simply a café worth the trip.

So what does a fully gluten-free menu look like when flavor stays the top priority?

Every Single Crumb Here Is Safe, And That Changes Everything

Roots Cafe runs as a 100 percent gluten-free kitchen. That means no wheat, rye, or barley flour ever enters the building.

For folks with celiac disease, that one fact is a huge relief. They don’t have to grill the cashier about shared fryers or flour dust drifting across the prep table.

Everyone else at the table can relax too. Nobody has to order the one sad salad while friends enjoy sandwiches and pastries.

The kitchen also leans hard into real ingredients. The café focuses on all-natural, preservative-free, whole foods, and many items are made from scratch.

Fresh ingredients are sourced locally and responsibly whenever possible. That’s a nice bonus for anyone who likes knowing where lunch came from.

The café opened in September 2018 in Westbrook, Maine. It was founded by Aimee Fortier, Lorraine Fagela, and Faye Wilson as a women-owned business.

Here’s a smart tip for first-timers. Bring the friend who always says gluten-free food tastes like cardboard, and let the menu argue for you.

A mixed group can order freely without anyone feeling left out. That alone makes this place a rare find for families and friend groups.

Crepes Steal The Show, Sweet Or Savory

Thin, folded, and flexible enough for almost any craving, crepes are the star attraction at this Westbrook café. They also happen to be completely gluten-free.

Sweet tooths have plenty of options. Fillings include Nutella, peanut butter with banana, strawberry, or blueberry.

Peanut butter and banana in a crepe sounds like a lunchbox classic that went to culinary school. Nutella, meanwhile, needs no defense at all.

There’s a savory side too. The breakfast crepe gets packed with eggs, veggies, and cheese, with bacon as an option for meat lovers.

That makes crepes a smart pick at almost any hour. One can be breakfast, and another can sneak in as dessert later.

A dessert crepe is also on the menu for anyone who wants to end on a sweet note. Splitting one with a friend is a fair plan, at least in theory.

Gluten-free crepes can be tricky to get right. Getting them thin and foldable without wheat takes real skill in the kitchen.

So if crepes have been off your plate for years, start here. It might feel like reuniting with an old friend.

Grilled Sandwiches That Don’t Fall Apart On You

Good gluten-free bread is the holy grail for many people. Plenty of loaves crumble the second you look at them sideways.

The sandwiches at Roots Cafe come entirely gluten-free, and many are warmed and grilled. Choices have included an Italian sandwich and a cranberry chicken option.

A club sandwich shows up on the menu as well. It gets the warm, pressed treatment, so expect toasty rather than cold and stacked.

Can’t pick just one thing? Half sandwiches pair with soup or salad, which makes sampling the menu much easier.

Tomato soup sounds like the classic grilled sandwich buddy. Salads like the Strawberry Fields bring a fresh, fruity twist to the plate.

Quiche is another popular savory option for lunch. A veggie version has been on the menu for folks skipping meat.

A sandwich might seem like a small thing. For someone who’s avoided regular bread for years, though, a warm grilled sandwich feels like a big deal.

Order the half-and-half combo on a first visit. That way you get a little of everything and still leave room for something sweet.

Save Room, Because The Pastry Case Is Watching You

Cupcakes, muffins, coffee cake, and donuts all fill the dessert lineup here. Not one of them contains gluten.

The baked goods change with what’s freshly made. Past treats have included apple cider donuts, cranberry orange muffins, and coffee cake.

Cupcakes are a regular feature in the case. They make an easy grab for a birthday surprise or an afternoon pick-me-up.

One nice detail is the sweetness level. The treats aim for balance instead of a full sugar rush.

That means you can enjoy a muffin with coffee and not need a nap by noon. Your dentist may approve, quietly.

Gluten-free baking usually struggles with dryness. Dense, crumbly pastries are a common complaint, so good texture here really matters.

Here’s a practical move. Grab a treat to go even if you’re full, because Future You will be grateful by mid-afternoon.

Breakfast Here Goes Way Beyond Toast

Organic buckwheat pancakes kick off the breakfast menu. Don’t worry about the name, since buckwheat is naturally gluten-free.

Fun fact: buckwheat isn’t even related to wheat. It’s actually a seed from a plant related to rhubarb.

The morning lineup keeps going from there. Eggs benedict, huevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, and avocado toast all make appearances.

Eggs benedict is usually off-limits for gluten-free eaters because of the English muffin. Finding it here feels like a small breakfast miracle.

Omelets and frittatas round things out for the egg crowd. A bacon and onion frittata has been one of the savory picks.

The breakfast burrito is a solid choice for anyone heading out the door. It travels well and fills you up.

Hours can shift, so check the current schedule before planning an early trip. Morning is a great time to visit.

Start with the pancakes if you’re sharing. Then split something savory, and everyone at the table wins.

Coffee Fans, Your Latte Comes House-Roasted

The beans are organic and fair-trade. The drink menu covers a lot of ground.

Espresso drinks, hot and iced coffee, tea, smoothies, and custom sodas are all available.

Flavored lattes add some fun to the routine. A lavender latte and a maple latte have both been on the menu.

Maple feels like the most Maine move possible. It’s basically the state flavor, poured into a mug.

Vietnamese coffee is another option for anyone wanting something bolder. It’s rich, sweet, and great for a slow afternoon.

Not a coffee drinker? Smoothies and custom sodas mean kids and caffeine-skippers have plenty to choose from.

Little touches show up now and then too. Some drinks have come with a bit of edible glitter and a fun sticker on the side.

Pair a latte with a muffin for the simplest happy combo. Then grab a seat and let the morning slow down a bit.

Parents Get A Coffee Break While Kids Play

Free childcare inside a café sounds almost too good to be true. Yet that’s exactly what this place offers to families.

The play area is managed by Green Tree Ministries. Kids from 8 weeks to 6 years old can play there for up to an hour.

Parents stay on-site in the café the whole time. So you can sip coffee nearby while the little ones burn off energy.

Anyone who’s tried eating a crepe while holding a toddler knows the value here. Both hands free?

That’s luxury.

An hour is enough time to finish a meal, answer emails, or chat with a friend. It might even be enough time to finish a whole latte while it’s still hot.

This feature also fits the café’s bigger mission. The founders built Roots around community and making people feel welcome.

A portion of the profits goes back into the community too. That’s a nice thought while you enjoy your sandwich.

Check availability before you go, since childcare hours may differ from café hours. A quick call can save a cranky afternoon.

Grab A Book, Find An Outlet, And Stay Awhile

A book-exchange corner greets you near the entrance at Roots Cafe. Books can be borrowed on the honor system, and some are free to take.

The shelves lean toward Christian titles and Bibles. The café’s faith-based outlook shows up throughout the space, so expect it as part of the vibe.

Inside, the room feels cozy, warm, and spacious. It’s a relaxed setting with plenty of seating.

Remote workers and students will appreciate the practical stuff. Free Wi-Fi and plenty of power outlets make it a solid work spot.

Board games and catch-ups with friends fit right in too. It’s the kind of room where a quick coffee turns into two hours.

You’ll also spot locally made goods like shirts and jewelry. They’re handy for a last-minute gift.

Plenty of parking is another perk. Anyone who’s circled the block in a busy downtown knows that’s no small thing.

Bring a laptop charger and a book of your own to swap. Then claim a table and settle into a slower pace.

Sunny Days Belong On That Rooftop Deck

Good weather unlocks the best seats in the house. The café has both a large outdoor patio and a rooftop deck.

The rooftop was part of the original plan from the start. It opened later, in late summer 2019, about a year after the café’s debut.

Maine summers are short, so outdoor seating feels precious. Eating a crepe in the open air seems like the right way to spend them.

You’ll find the café at 20 School St C, Westbrook, ME 04092. It sits close to Portland, making it an easy stop for day-trippers.

Shoppers on a big supply run nearby can swing in for lunch. It’s a far tastier break than a food court.

Patio and rooftop seating depend on the weather. Bring a light jacket in spring or fall, just in case the breeze picks up.

A sunny afternoon, a maple latte, and a gluten-free treat outdoors? That’s a pretty great way to enjoy Maine.