Restaurants - With and Without GF Menu Items
Skinny_Mocha
Posts: 208 Member
I thought this might be a nice thread to have: experiences with restaurants and whether they have GF options or not.
I did a search and didn't find a similar thread, but my apologies if this is a duplicate.
I'll start.
Portillo's does NOT have a gluten-free menu nor, apparently, any GF items. I called the one in Buffalo Grove, IL, hoping to discuss some ingredients, and make my own GF meal. The manager simply passed along the message (through the girl who answered the phone) that they "don't have any gluten free items." Boo.
I did a search and didn't find a similar thread, but my apologies if this is a duplicate.
I'll start.
Portillo's does NOT have a gluten-free menu nor, apparently, any GF items. I called the one in Buffalo Grove, IL, hoping to discuss some ingredients, and make my own GF meal. The manager simply passed along the message (through the girl who answered the phone) that they "don't have any gluten free items." Boo.
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There are only a few restaurants I eat at.
Chili's - They have an allergy menu, and neither my son nor I have gotten sick.
Cracker Barrel, same deal.
Wendy's and Burger King, not all... if having fries, be sure to ask if their fryer is dedicated to just fries.
Mark Allen's - Peru, IL. Was a local restaurant for us, but we moved to MN
. Just putting it out there if anyone is near!! lol 0 -
I am in Canada, so far for me I have found a few places I can go.
Montana's Steakhouse has an allergy list as well and are very good with gluten free options.
Boston Pizza offers a gluten free pizza - which is pretty good
I also have eaten at Wendy's, I stick to a plain baked potato and chili
I have also been to Swiss Chalet and told them I am gluten intolerant. I am able to have the quarter chicken, no dipping sauce with either salad, veggies or baked potato.
We also have a couple local places that offer a good GF menu. Since I have gone GF I find we don't eat out as much as we once did, not as much control over what I am getting on my plate.0 -
Here in Michigan we can eat at:
Outback
Red Robins (They even have GF bun!)
PF Changs
The Melting Pot
Chipotle
Logans
I'm sure their are more, I just can't remember!0 -
I didn't know RR has gf bun - good to know!
Olive Garden has GF options including pasta
Also Johnny Carino's - however it is hard to find meatless, gf at Johnny Carino's.
In Grand Rapids Michigan the Gilmore Collection restaurants feature several GF items and there are other local restaurants with GF options too (as well as a lot of locally sourced well-raised meats!)0 -
I'm in Mass. The chains mentioned above plus a local chain called The 99 have gluten free menus. I have only found one non-chain place that would do gluten free and that was a vegan place. I don't eat out much any more. *sigh*0
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Hi! I am in Cedar Springs (About 20 miles north of GR). Small world! Red Robins fries are even GF
I didn't know RR has gf bun - good to know!
Olive Garden has GF options including pasta
Also Johnny Carino's - however it is hard to find meatless, gf at Johnny Carino's.
In Grand Rapids Michigan the Gilmore Collection restaurants feature several GF items and there are other local restaurants with GF options too (as well as a lot of locally sourced well-raised meats!)0 -
In Western Canada, Chianti's has gf bread and pasta, and I get the spaghetti squash salad, sans chicken, with oil and vingear dressing.I am in Canada, so far for me I have found a few places I can go.
Montana's Steakhouse has an allergy list as well and are very good with gluten free options.
Boston Pizza offers a gluten free pizza - which is pretty good
I also have eaten at Wendy's, I stick to a plain baked potato and chili
I have also been to Swiss Chalet and told them I am gluten intolerant. I am able to have the quarter chicken, no dipping sauce with either salad, veggies or baked potato.
We also have a couple local places that offer a good GF menu. Since I have gone GF I find we don't eat out as much as we once did, not as much control over what I am getting on my plate.0 -
Jason's Deli has a gluten free menu too!
Aww I miss the 99 in Mass and CT!0 -
Grand Rapids, MI: Winchester, The Electric Cheeta, Marie Catribs are my favorites, also Olive garden has a few gluten free pasta dishes. 0
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Five guys
Uno's has a gf pizza
Chick Fil A
Chipotle0 -
This site may be helpful, too: http://gfrestaurants.com/0
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Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House - several locations in Illinois, but rumored to also be in Buffalo, New York.
They not only have DELICIOUS gluten-free pancakes, but they also provide special menus (including substitute suggestions) for people with various allergies like soy, dairy, egg, gluten, nuts, and so on.
What a great experience!0 -
i'm glad to hear all these Chicago suggestions; I'll be back there this weekend.
I just got this list from our local GF bakery:
Mitchell's Fish Market
Outback Steakhouse
California Pizza Kitchen
PF Chang's
Uno's
Eat n Park
The Olive Garden
Loving Hut
Applebees
Red Robin
Moe's Mexican Grill
Aladdin's
Stone Pepper Grill
Chipotle
5 Guys Burgers
Lone Star
Bucca de Beppo
Capital Grill
There is also a list of Pittsburgh-local places that sell GF items/menus.0 -
My bff is a manager at Olive Garden and all the Darden (parent company of OG) restaurants have GF menus. This includes OG, Red Lobster and Longhorn. They are also VERY careful when you ask for the GF menu. The ticket comes up in the kitchen for one person and looks like a party of 15. There are several places on the ticket that have in big red letters "GLUTEN FREE" They know that they have to use new bowls and utensils and they're very strict about it.
Also, every time I've been to Red Robin and ask for the GF menu they bring it over and the manager usually comes to the table and asks who the GF person is and watches my order through the kitchen. I don't know about all of them but mine has a dedicated fryer for the fries too. And in case yours doesn't know it ask for the fries without the seasoned salt that they have. The last time I went the server told me that she'd make sure the fries didn't have the seasoning because that's a problem. She explained that some of the GF customers had complained of getting sick after eating off the GF menu and that they had traced it back to the salt.
I love Five Guys and Chipotle too!
Applebee's is a big no-no! Went there once and ordered from the GF menu. We got chips and salsa (they were on the gf menu) and got to the bottom and found a big piece of breading. I didn't know they fried the chips there. I got home and was sicker than a dog for 3 days. I discovered that their "gf menu" only includes items that are naturally gf. Their prep and seasonings aren't safe! I haven't been back and I'm sad cause I love Applebees.
If I think of any others I'll be back! 0 -
Here in Michigan we can eat at:
Outback
Red Robins (They even have GF bun!)
PF Changs
The Melting Pot
Chipotle
Logans
I'm sure their are more, I just can't remember!
Chicago Area also has the option of Outback, Red Robin, PF Chang'a (a personal fave), Chiptle and the pizza place Aurelio's, which as lots of Illinois locations as well as Las Vegas, a place in Florida and a couple of places.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries french fries are gluten free as they don't fry anything at all in the restaurant except potatoes. Not sure about the burgers or dogs since I don't eat beef or pork.0 -
The only thing fried at 5 Guys is potatoes and they don't put the buns on the grill. At least that's the case with the one that I go to. I know that places sometimes do things differently from area to area.0
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The best chain restaurants I have come across with understanding and accommodating GF are PF Chang's, Outback, and Maggiano's. At Maggiano's, the chef will even come out and talk to you about what your options are and can make things special for you if you'd like.
Some other good ones are Chili's, Joe's Crab Shack, Chipotle, Qdoba, Jimmy John's, and Rainforest Cafe. I have also ordered from Culver's and been ok.
I haven't tried Olive Garden because I've heard bad things about their GF pasta. Does anyone know if this is still the case or have you had good experiences there?0 -
I've never had OG's gf pasta. I usually get the mixed grill but my friend says it's better than it used to be. She said it used to be basically a TV dinner and now they have actual gf pasta that they cook there and they know the protocol of having to use new pans, utensils, etc.
I also had a great experience in Vegas when I went last month. We went to Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill and the chef came out and talked to me and he was pretty knowledgeable about gluten. He told me what I could and couldn't have and made sure that everything was right. When the waitress brought the bread she put it on the other side of the table and said something about having the bread while we wait and then looks and me and goes "but not you." LOL And when the food came out she knew that mine was different. And BTW, they have a great seasoning that they use on almost everything and it's delicious! It was for sale at the store next to the restaurant and we got some. Only $5 for 7oz. I looked and it's available on Toby Keith's website. I highly recommend it and it's gf! :happy:0 -
This is fantastic!
UNO Chicago Bar and Grill has the gluten free pizza and a whole gluten free menu. The manager even brings your food out separately.
I plan on trying the GF Red Robin bun tonight. I LOVE RED ROBIN!!
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Did you know the mixed grill is only GF if you order it without demi-glace?I've never had OG's gf pasta. I usually get the mixed grill but my friend says it's better than it used to be. She said it used to be basically a TV dinner and now they have actual gf pasta that they cook there and they know the protocol of having to use new pans, utensils, etc.0
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It is part of the gf menu and they know the protocol for gf and it comes without seasoning on the veggies and they do the meat without demi glaze. Also, the marinara sauce is gf now too. They open a fresh bag for gf guests. I just talked to my friend and she confirmed it for me.0
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Good! I have friends who have gone to OG and they didn't know and got glutened.It is part of the gf menu and they know the protocol for gf and it comes without seasoning on the veggies and they do the meat without demi glaze. Also, the marinara sauce is gf now too. They open a fresh bag for gf guests. I just talked to my friend and she confirmed it for me.0
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When they first sit down, have them ask for the gf menu and make sure the server knows that they or you are ordering gf.0
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I'm excited to hear Olive Garden and Red Lobster have GF menus! We got a gift card and were afraid to go to olive garden because there wasn't much I could eat, I thought. Thank you for this thread!0
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I have a restaurant to add: Charlie Brown's Steakhouse has a Gluten Free menu.0
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I live in Traverse City MI and I am recently gluten free and learing to ask for the menu at restaurants is new. Thanks for the ones that do have gluten free. I know Cracker Barrell does here and so does Fire Fly. I am a little scared to eat out for fear of getting sick.0
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Hey, I'm down here in Florida, some of the places I go are:
Chipotles,
Tijuana Flats
First Watch
Carrabas
Jason's Deli
Frieda's Cafe
Margaritaville (Yes, I got to have a Cheeseburger in Paradise and fries gluten free!!!!)
The Universal Studio's Hotels
Cody's Roadhouse
Maggiano's
Serendipity Cafe
Firestone Pizza
Ozona Pizza
Julian's Italian Restaurant
I was surprised to find out that most of the restaurants on Universal's City Walk have gluten free options, I have not been to Disney to see if they do, but I will post if I do.0 -
I'm in Cornwall, UK and on this side of the water we have little GF outside the cities, but it is getting better. I regularly go somewhere they say they do GF to only find baked potato or salad as an option. :ohwell:
If you're coming over here you might find http://www.coeliacmap.com/ useful.0 -
I tried Outback twice, and will never eat there again. The sodium content in their food is so high, it's disgusting. It was all I could do to keep from gagging. Even their steamed broccoli was high in sodium! Not that this really relates to the GF topic, but it's just something I noticed.
Here in my area, Cap City Diner is about the best accommodating restaurant for GF eating. I miss dinner rolls, and when they introduced GF dinner rolls, I was sold on them.0 -
dont try olive garden's GF pasta people.. its GROSS. pre packaged, frozen and microwaved when you order. i'm not making it up, the girl even told me - oh, no its not cooked fresh. i was like.. gross. thanks. its not good. they do have a bunch of other things on their GF menu though, the mixed grill is yummmmy.0
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