Gluten Free In Estes Park Colorado

[GFestes]

I must be gluten free as I am EXTREMELY sensitive to even the slightest cross contamination. I now live in Estes Park, Colorado. While many restaurants in my former town have learned to serve gluten free dishes, I am just beginning to learn about Estes.

Many Estes Park restaurants offer gluten free options. Most do not offer the printed gluten-free menus common in franchise restaurants. This makes it a bit more difficult to discover which restaurants are safest and what to order from the menu. Some input from the gluten free community would be helpful, especially if the wait staff on duty that day is not up to speed.

While Poppy's Pizza ad Grill and Mama Rose's Homemade Italian are my favorites so far, I have also eaten safely at Village Pizza and the Stanley Hotel. Several others have said they can feed me and I will add other posts as I try them out. My next venture is Notchtop Bakery & Cafe.

Poppy's serves a gluten free "pizza" which substitutes shredded zucchini in place of crust. (Actually quite good as well as healthy -- I had my doubts before trying it.) Of the 5 sauces, I prefer the traditional marinara. All toppings except vegetarian pepperoni are gluten free -- even the sausage! However, it is always smart to check for updates or substitutions.

We ate at Mama Rose's for Christmas dinner (with 9 people). The gluten free pasta (not made in house, but very good), makes holiday meals much more festive -- because I get as good a meal as everyone else.

READERS -- If you have one favorite Estes Park restaurant, or know of several options, please contribute that information here. In a tourist based economy, there are always people looking for this information. If you live here or are visiting Estes Park, I hope the information will be helpful.

[MindytheOrganist]

We were there last September/October for vacation and loved Estes Park! We agree on Poppys and Mama Roses - they were great places to eat.

There is also another place that has a breakfast bar which includes gluten-free cereal, but I cannot remember the name.

We rented a cabin so we could cook our own food, and we ate our lunches in RMNP.

[GFestes]

I have not tried it yet, but I believe the cereal bar you refer to is at the Estes Park Pie Shop.

[GFestes]

After a long time without gluten issues -- I think I got over confident. My husband actually asked me OUT to breakfast, having discovered Notchtop Bakery and Cafe which serves gluten free breads. Even after the owner decried any cross contamination protocol -- I suggested a fruit plate, which he prepared himself, to accompany ny gluten-free muffin (baked and wrapped at a separate location). He was right. I was wrong. Lesson: Listen when a restauranteur tells you not to eat there.

[GFestes]

For those in the Estes Park (Colorado) area:

Individuals using a gluten free or wheat free diet are getting together for dinner (Feb. 6, 2012 @ 6:00pm). We will meet at Poppy's Pizza and Grill to trade ideas on HOW to be gluten free. What works for you? How do you explain? etc. etc. Anyone interested in joining us?

[Mschaber]

Do not eat at The Locals Grill in Estes Park if you have food restrictions! We have two young children with autoimmune diseases that require elimination of gluten. We asked our server if he could please ask the manager if the fries have gluten (sometime fries are coated to prevent sticking in the package). The server returned after a few minutes and said the owner would not check. We then asked if he could tell us what kind of chips they serve. He said he didn't want to go ask the owner because "he is in a bad mood, he has been drinking". We asked to speak with the owner directly. Owner came out of the kitchen yelling. He told us, "I am sick of people asking me about allergies, it is not my fault you cant eat like a 'normal' person. Just leave, get out of here, I'm not dealing with you". He said this in front of my young children, who already suffer from the daily implications of having a chronic disease. I told the owner, "Do not speak like that in front of my kids, it is not their fault they were born with a disease". He replied, "I will f***ing talk to you and your kids any way I want, you dumb b****". I am appalled, furious and heartbroken my children had to witness such ignorance and hatred. Needless to say, we left without eating and were welcomed with kindness by other restaurants in the area for the duration if our trip (none of which had any issue answering our questions about their food ingredients). Now I am forever left with the burning image of my young children sobbing and asking me, "Why does that man hate us just because we have a disease and can't eat some foods?". Please do NOT eat here if you have any food allergies or insensitivities, spare yourself the abusive treatment and emotional turmoil.

[kareng]

Do not eat at The Locals Grill in Estes Park if you have food restrictions! We have two young children with autoimmune diseases that require elimination of gluten. We asked our server if he could please ask the manager if the fries have gluten (sometime fries are coated to prevent sticking in the package). The server returned after a few minutes and said the owner would not check. We then asked if he could tell us what kind of chips they serve. He said he didn't want to go ask the owner because "he is in a bad mood, he has been drinking". We asked to speak with the owner directly. Owner came out of the kitchen yelling. He told us, "I am sick of people asking me about allergies, it is not my fault you cant eat like a 'normal' person. Just leave, get out of here, I'm not dealing with you". He said this in front of my young children, who already suffer from the daily implications of having a chronic disease. I told the owner, "Do not speak like that in front of my kids, it is not their fault they were born with a disease". He replied, "I will f***ing talk to you and your kids any way I want, you dumb b****". I am appalled, furious and heartbroken my children had to witness such ignorance and hatred. Needless to say, we left without eating and were welcomed with kindness by other restaurants in the area for the duration if our trip (none of which had any issue answering our questions about their food ingredients). Now I am forever left with the burning image of my young children sobbing and asking me, "Why does that man hate us just because we have a disease and can't eat some foods?". Please do NOT eat here if you have any food allergies or insensitivities, spare yourself the abusive treatment and emotional turmoil.

That's awful. All they had to say was that they can't accommodate "allergies".

When my kids were young,a local hate group ( I live in kansas so you can guess but I won't give them any publicity) was yelling thier filth at us. My kids asked the same thing " why do they hate us? They don't know us". We told them some people have an evil sickness in thier brains and they yell that stuff at everyone. It makes no sense to the rest of us who aren't sick and mean. Seemed to make some sense to them.

I also want to mention that gluten on the pre- cooked fries is not the only reason to avoid them. Shared fryers will cc them.