Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide
Being new to the gluten-free diet may make you nervous while eating out at restaurants. Dining out when gluten-free can be quite stressful. Whether you have coeliac disease, have a non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), or a wheat allergy, finding a gluten-friendly restaurant that can accommodate you may feel like a daunting task. After all, you have to find a restaurant that not only has gluten-sensitive options, but that the kitchen can make accommodations to reduce or eliminate any cross-contamination of gluten particles. This gluten-free restaurant guide is your helpful aid to finding gluten-free restaurants near you, learning what questions to ask, and how to have a safe and fun dining experience.
How to find a gluten-free restaurant
Sometimes a Google search of ‘gluten-free restaurants near me’ doesn’t give you all the hits you need. That’s where neighborhood forums on Facebook and other platforms come in handy. There, people informally share their experiences at a local restaurant or offer up a few hidden gems. This gluten-free restaurant guide is meant to give you the best of both worlds. It will tell you about kitchens that are 100 percent gluten-free or can make accommodations to reduce cross-contamination. Keep reading this gluten-free restaurant guide to find a restaurant that may be near you.
Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide Reviews
These gluten-free restaurant reviews can help make your decision on where to dine next easier. While this is not an exhaustive list of all the gluten-friendly restaurants in a given city, here are some restaurants that I’ve tried to help make your decision easier. If you have gluten-free restaurant recommendations, let me know by filling out the contact form. I’d love to hear about your favorite gluten-friendly restaurants.
Washington, DC
RPM Italian
RPM Italian is located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of the nation’s capital. It has a separate gluten-free menu and cooking station to reduce cross contamination. For a full review of RPM Italian click here.
Yardbird Table & Bar
Yardbird Table & Bar, located on New York Ave in the heart of Washington, D.C., has the best gluten-free chicken and waffles I’ve had. The menu clearly designates gluten-free items and there is a separate cook station for gluten-free items. For a full review of Yardbird Table & Bar click here.
Northern Virginia
Coastal Flats
Coastal Flats, a seafood restaurant in Northern Virginia has a dedicated gluten sensitive menu and separate cooking station. I stand by assessment in my review that Coastal Flats had the best flourless dessert I’ve had to date. For a full review of Coastal Flats click here.
Sisters Thai Alexandria
Sisters Thai Alexandria is one of my favorite restaurants in Alexandria, Virginia and is a perfect addition to this gluten-free restaurant guide. All the gluten-free menu items are clearly labeled and there is a separate cooking station, including a fryer, which made the crispy calamari even better to enjoy! The craft cocktails are also a bonus. The bartenders take such pride in making and garnishing the cocktails. It is a treat to watch if you sit at the bar. For a full review of Sisters Thai click here.
New York City
Senza Gluten by Jemiko Café & Bakery
Senza Gluten by Jemiko Cafe & Bakery is a 100% gluten-free Italian cafe and bakery in the West Village of NYC. The food and baked goods are amazing, especially the Chocolate Pecan & Walnuts Chubbies. They literally brought tears to my eyes on the first bite. Plus the owner, Chef Jemiko is really great! For a full review of Senza Gluten by Jemiko Cafe & Bakery click here.
Cleveland, OH
TownHall
TownHall is a hotspot in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. It is a health conscious restaurant with clear labels on the menu of gluten sensitive options. If you are looking for a place to grab drinks with friends or have a quick bite, TownHall is a great place to visit. For a full review of TownHall click here.
Dante
Dante was an awesome find in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The regular menu did not have gluten-free designations; however, they were happy to accommodate and ensured that they would eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination. Dante had a gluten-free five-course chef-designed tasting menu. Each course paired with a delicious wine to make a wonderful dining experience. For a full review of Dante, click here.
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What Questions to Ask at a Restaurant When You’re Gluten-Free
Going out to eat at a non-dedicated restaurant can be nerve wracking for a coeliac or for someone with NCGS. Hopefully, the restaurant has a server, manager, or chef who is patient and knowledgeable about gluten sensitivities and can guide you through the menu and ease any concerns. Here are a few questions that you can ask at a restaurant so that you can make an informed decision about a menu or item or eating at the restaurant at all.
- Do you have any gluten-free menu items?
- This may seem like an obvious question, but if the menu doesn’t have any clear markings to designate gluten-free or gluten-sensitive items, this is a question you want to ask to help narrow your choices. You don’t want to get your hopes up on a menu item to only find out that there’s gluten in it. Trust me. I’ve been there. If you’re not sure about an ingredient, don’t hesitate to ask for the recipe book so that you can see the full list of ingredients.
- Do you have a designated cook station, including fryer for your gluten-free or gluten-sensitive menu items?
- You want to ask this question because of cross-contamination. If you have coeliac disease or a severe allergy, you want to reduce or eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination. Having a dedicated fryer would certainly help with that!
- If you don’t have a separate cook station, would your kitchen be able to use clean cookware and utensils to prepare my meal?
- Again, this question helps you know if the kitchen will take the necessary precautions to reduce or eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination.
Want to connect?
I hope you are able to try some of these gluten-free restaurants in this gluten-free restaurant guide! Don’t hesitate to ask questions, but also be a patient guest. Not every server is educated on being gluten-free and the kitchen may need time to accommodate someone with a food allergy, particularly during a rush. If you have restaurant recommendations or want me to review a restaurant near you, fill out the contact card to let me know!