[Wartooth]

Hi all,

I will be staying in Gilroy, CA and making the drive to Monterey at the end of next week. I have been searching for gluten-free dining options as near to Gilroy as possible and have found little that inspires confidence. I know that the restaurants in the immediate Monterey area will be swamped due to the events going on. This is my first trip having to be gluten-free, so all the places I relied upon before are now out of the window.

High-end eateries are out of the question as we're doing this on a tight budget this year, and we're not the dress-for-dinner type. Seafood does not sit well with my husband, either.

I figure I'll likely be relying on trips to the local grocery store and eating in my room, but was hoping that just maybe I had a chance at finding a place to try one night.

Thanks.

[SacGFGirl]

I good place to start is urbanspoon. They now have a gluten free section: http://www.urbanspoon.com/tn/6/1/7190/SF-B...rey-restaurants

[NicoleAJ]

There's an In-n-Out right off of 101 near the Gilroy outlets. I've never had a problem with their fries--I'd just ask, if getting a burger with lettuce wrap on in that they change gloves when handling the meat.

[CalicoSue]

There is a Johnny Carino's Italian Restaurant right in Gilroy off Highway 101. They have a Gluten-free menu (no pasta, but their chicken dishes are delicious). They have Gluten-free salads and soups. I have eaten there lots of times - not too expensive, but definitely not fast food. Look them up on the Internet. Also, bring some toasted bread in with you. Their dipping oil with herbs are to absolutely "die for." I would go there just to dip my bread and have that as my main course! Here is their address:

6805 Camino Arroyo
Gilroy, CA 95020

Phone: 408-842-3130
Hours:
Monday - Thursday
4PM - 9PM
Friday - Saturday
11AM - 10PM
Sunday
11:30AM - 9PM

Enjoy!

Sue

Wartooth, on Aug 7 2009, 07:08 PM, said:

Hi all,

I will be staying in Gilroy, CA and making the drive to Monterey at the end of next week. I have been searching for gluten-free dining options as near to Gilroy as possible and have found little that inspires confidence. I know that the restaurants in the immediate Monterey area will be swamped due to the events going on. This is my first trip having to be gluten-free, so all the places I relied upon before are now out of the window.

High-end eateries are out of the question as we're doing this on a tight budget this year, and we're not the dress-for-dinner type. Seafood does not sit well with my husband, either.

I figure I'll likely be relying on trips to the local grocery store and eating in my room, but was hoping that just maybe I had a chance at finding a place to try one night.

Thanks.

[Wartooth]

Thanks for all the responses. This is a yearly event for us, so I'll be even better prepared next year. Downing Larabars all day, each day got a little old, but at the events, I didn't feel too confident in the offerings.

I hit that In-N-Out on Friday night. As always, In-N-Out did not let me down.

Saturday night, we were in Monterey on the wharf. They have folks in front of their restaurants trying to entice people to come in. The one that seemed to hold the most promise was a place called Isabella's. We spoke to the hostess, and either the owner or manager came out as well. They assured me that they could accommodate me, and a steak sure sounded lovely. It was a little pricey but not overly formal. Their steak plates were in the 20 dollar range.

The staff were notified of my dietary needs, our server let me know that all of my food would be cooked separately, and was happy to answer questions about what went into the food.

I had a thick and juicy chunk of sirloin cooked the way I wanted it, and with a delightful mushroom sauce on it, some vegetables and a loaded baked potato.

Not even a hint of any ill-effects, and I'm one that has fallen victim to cross-contamination pretty easily.

So, I'd like to say, hats off to Isabella's in Monterey for taking such good care of me.