Yummy or Yucky Gluten-Free Foods

What are some other gluten free restaurants in the Bay Area you may now of? I was recently diagnosed and I'm trying to regain normality again. lol. Any help or suggestions would be wonderful! Thank you!

Hi Kelsey,

Welcome to the Celiac community! Regaining normality is not as challenging, or foreboding a step, as one might think. There are a ton of places in and around the Bay Area that offer gluten-free meals, options, etc. I would suggest the following places to shop for your gluten-free food items: Draeger's, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes. Some commercial grocery stores (like Safeway or Luckys) may have some gluten-free options, but this is not a guarantee. Your best bets are Whole Foods (which I highly recommend) and Draeger's (another excellent option).

As far as dining out is concerned, P.F. Chang's actually has a complete gluten-free menu with wonderful options. The waiters are very aware of the need to be gluten-free. Outback Steakhouse is another restaurant with a gluten-free menu. But, be forewarned, they are not as careful about cross-contamination. I once found a crouton in my salad, even though the restaurant says they will mix everything separately. Draeger's has a wonderful restaurant on the second floor of their store that I would highly recommend for brunch. Again, they are very aware of the need to be gluten-free. Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco and Berkeley offers gluten-free items, and is another restaurant that follows the 'raw' philosophy. It, too, is an excellent place to grab a bite.

Generally, eating out is fairly easy if you are willing to work with the restaurant about what could be prepared for you. If you know where you are going ahead of time, then call. Communication is key! Also, bring your own salad dressing. This is always a big help for me.

Also, for special treats and desserts, Yogurt Park in Berkeley is the way to go! Of their 86 flavors, only a handful contain gluten (all the ones with cookie in the name). So, roughly 80 of their ice creams flavors are good to go. Cold Stone is gluten-free with the exception of any cake batter or cookie dough-flavored ice cream. However, you will want to be careful when mixing toppings in. Make sure the counter they do this on is clean so that no cross-contamination occurs! Baskin-Robbins is also fine. If you are in the city, be sure to visit Ghiradelli's!

Ok, I think that is a good jumping off point. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I am more than happy to help you with anything you may need.

~Katie

Katie,

Some really good tips. I am getting married in September and my fiance was recently diagnosed with celiac. We're doing a road trip up the coast starting from San Francisco and ending up in Vancouver. Any recommendations along the way? Thanks

To those I would add Zest Bakery and Creola in San Carlos. Zest is completely gluten-free, and has added sandwiches to its menu, and Creola is run by a chef who is extremely knowledgable. My daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease nearly 2 years ago, and is very self-conscious about it (teenagers!). The chef came out and took her through the menu so she could make her choices. He even modified a dessert for her.

I second Zest Bakery (though their hours were limited the last time I visited).