19 replies to this topic

[clover]

Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?

[jenvan]

I know you said not LEY restaurants--but Big Bowl now has gluten-free pad thai--and it is amazing!!! I would drive back to Chi-town just for it alone!

I LOVE Vinci's too--go there everytime I'm in town. They have a great gluten-free menu for all courses and the rice pasta is excellent. http://www.vincichicago.com/ Great staff too.

[kabowman]

I am planning a trip to Chicago this summer too and this is what I have found so far online:

http://www.adobogril.../menu.aspx?s=65
http://www.csagc.cjb.net/
http://www.daluciano...n-free-menu.cfm
http://homepage.mac....estaurants.html
http://www.vincichic.../menu.aspx?s=62
http://www.park-ridg...aurantlist.html

I know I can also eat at some chains so those will be my backup in case these are not too kid friendly.

[clover]

Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?

THANK YOU!!


THESE ARE ALL GREAT-- thank you thank you thank you.

[hlm34]

PF Changs is awesome. And i am with Jen, Vinci is fabulous. Real italian food - not just some tasteless, spiceless, sauceless version of something on the regular menu. I also just went to a nice restaurant called Carnivale. Its new and hip and soooo good. Latin Food. They make their own chips (in their own fryer) and the guacamole is to DIE for. I could have eaten it with a spoon. The waiter was very friendly. I gave him my card that has all the gluten ingredients listed. He told me that there were only a few things on the menu that I COULDNT have. I had a strip steak with rice and beans and a salad with a dressing of oranges, tomatoes and oil, it was so good. I went with a large group and everyone was raving about their food.

Wildfire is a steak place. Is that a chain? They have a gluten free menu too. Pretty good.

Adobo Grill is by the same owners as Vinci. It is a high-end mexican restaurant. Two different locations. They have a gluten-free menu as well. They have good guacamole too - however their chips are fried in oil with other flour stuff. Their substitute for the non-gluten-free chips is raw plaintain chips - like eating a raw slice of potato. not good. So BYOTC (bring your own tortilla chips), but the rest of the food (and margaritas!) are good.

Another new find for all you Chicagoans out there. Smoke Daddy in the Wicker Park area has gluten free ribs. I spoke with the co-owner of the place. Turns out his partner used to own a gluten-free store in Montana! Anyway, i dont know about any of the sides, and you have to make sure that they know not to serve it on a piece of white bread, which is what they usually do.

[Deej]

I'm visiting Chicago from Canada - we planned ahead thanks to those of you on this thread and ate at the Adobo Grill last night. It was fabulous. I didn't mind the plantain chips at all - the guac was so wonderful it really didn't matter. I had the Filete al Pasilla and a couple of GREAT margaritas. I was really thrilled because my husband and I were hosting a group of people and they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and their food and I not only didn't feel left out, but I felt like I got the best meal! Thanks to all of you. This is a great board!

[Guinevere]

Try the Chicago Diner! Great vegetarian restaurant that has a separate gluten free menu! they also have alot of dairy free too! i live in NW suburbs and drive sometimes just to eat there. There's even desserts that are dairy/wheat free.

[toddzgrrl02]

I wanted to bump this up and see if there were any updates. We are taking my stepdaughter to Chicago in Aug to see Wicked (the musical) and would like to be able to feed her while there. We'll be gone two days and I was hoping to find some kid-friendly places she might be interested in eating at. She's 14, but usually pretty picky.

Thanks!

[kenlove]

Bonefish is a chain owned by Outback that has a great gluten-free menu. You would never know it's a chain too.
Great gluten-free selection.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?

[tom]

http://www.park-ridg...aurantlist.html

I popped in here just because I grew up in Chicago, or more specifically, Mt. Prospect, right next to Park Ridge (Dad grew up there & many relatives still there!)

Anyway, they've changed the url sometime in the last 2 yrs.

New one is http://csagc.park-ri...taurantlist.htm

[NancyR]

Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?

Although it's not downtown, this restaurant in downtown St. Charles called Taste of Himalayas is great for celiacs and worth the drive. They serve Indian and Nepalese fare. It was an amazing experience. The owner, was so gracious and accommodating. He even showed me a plaque he has by the door that says to please inform him of any allergies etc. so he can gladly accommodate you. He carefully went through his menu with me to determine what I can and cannot eat (I have several food restrictions in addition to being gluten intolerant). The food was truly delicious, the service was exceptional, the atmosphere was comfortable, clean and welcoming! From the papadums, to the dessert, I was in heaven. My husband and I will be eating there at least once a week. We are delighted to be able to add this restaurant to our short list of options!

Here is the address and phone number. They even deliver locally!

Taste of Himalayas
110 N. 3rd Street
St. Charles, IL 60174

630-444-1575

[StrongerToday]

Bump! Going to the Windy City in July.. surely there are some more places??

[once and again]

Father & Sons Pizza on North Avenue has a gluten free pizza with a pretty good crust. Carabba's and Outback both have gluten free menus. The Celiac Society of Chicago has a fundraiser with a buffet of foods from various restaurants. The restaurants usually have a gluten-free menu afterwards. Wildfire and Ben Pao have been featured at the fundraisers and have gluten-free menus. Can't remember which restaurants were featured this year.

Do try Adobo - it is great and lots of fun too. have been there with groups of people and they are always quite happy to eat there. Ina's is supposed to have gluten-free fried chicken one week day in the summer. Also try Flattop Grill - they will accommodate many allergies and have several locations. Stir Crazy will also accommodate gluten-free. Also really, really like Bonefish Grill though they are only in the 'burbs.

[hlm34]

there is a restaurant in the west loop called Ina's (breakfastqueen.com). the 2nd wednesday of every month she does gluten free fried chicken night, complete with great gluten free rolls. sooooo good. you usually need to call for reservations, but its worth it.

[lt1981]

Rosebud restaurants offer gluten free pasta if you call ahead at least a few days. Also, Rose Angelis in Lincoln Park offers gluten free pasta if you order ahead. Vinci has a gluten free menu, as does Adobo Grill. Obviously PF Changs has a fabulous selection. Most mexican restaurants, including frontera grill and salpicon use corn based tortillas. Hannah's Bretzel in the loop is now offering gluten free bread for their sandwiches.

In the suburbs Happ Inn has a gluten free menu with gluten-free pizza etc. Walker Bros. pancake house has delicious gluten free pancakes--they have locations in Glenview, Lincolnshire, Highland Park, Lake Zurich and Arlington Heights.