As preface, the Silly Axe Café (2216 Dundee Road; 502-290-7197), which opened in 2019, describes itself thusly:

Dedicated gluten free restaurant featuring a rotating menu, 12 hard to find craft ciders on tap, chef driven, family friendly, allergen friendly, large grab and go, house sandwiches, weekly meal specials.

This “celiac safe haven” at the Douglass Loop is the creation of Chef Angela Pike.

Angela Pike ran a successful personal chef business for nine years. With a series of health scares and events, Chef Angela found out that gluten was the culprit, and was diagnosed with celiac. She has dedicated her career to help with the needs of an ever growing gluten free population.

In a recent Courier Journal survey of Christmas Eve and Day dining options, Silly Axe Café proved to be one of the few locally-owned indie options. The listing is repeated here, but of course you’ll want to visit the CJ to survey your other choices.

Silly Axe Café

WHAT: Order from the regular menu or from the December Holiday menu that includes: Beef tenderloin with red wine reduction au jus, garlic cheddar mashed potato bake, garlic roasted green beans with pomegranate; add a seasonal salad for an additional cost (DF option available, meal is egg-free and soy-free). $160 for four; $100 for two; $60 single.

The Christmas Story meal: Go nontraditional with a dinner of your favorite Chinese food. Choice of chicken fried rice or beef lo mein, one egg roll per person, choice of egg drop soup or traditional ginger salad. Beef Lo mein also comes with house-made lo mein noodles (soy-free option available egg-free option available with no soup dairy-free). Chicken fried rice dinner, $60 for four; $35 for two, $18 single. Beef Lo Mein dinner, $80 for four; $50 for two, $25 single.

WHERE: 2116 Dundee Road
WHEN: All orders must be placed by Dec. 20. Available for pickup Dec. 24.
MORE INFORMATION: Meals must be picked up on Dec. 24 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. If a different day is needed, contact the restaurant to see if that is possible.