Best/safest Gluten Free Restaurants In Nyc?

[Waitingindreams]

I am going to NYC this Saturday with a bunch of friends - I will most likely need to eat lunch and dinner with them. I haven't been to NYC since my diagnosis. My friends are all understanding about it, and i sent them the Yelp results for gluten free restaurants in NYC, which was organized into neighborhoods (very helpful!)

 

The friend we are visiting lives in Hell's kitchen, and I know we plan on visiting Central Park, but I'm not sure what else we'll be doing. Can anyone recommend great gluten free places near those areas? I can go by the Yelp reviews, but I was just curious if any places stood out to anyone.

 

Thanks!

[Nikki2777]

There was a recent thread on this, so you can do a search.   In Hell's Kitchen area, you are near  5 Napkin Burger, which has a gluten-free bun (I don't bother with it) and the one near me has a dedicated fryer for the delicious french fries.

 

Last time I recommended Nizza but someone said the quality might not be what it was.  There's a quick serve place called Little Beet in the 50s which is all gluten-free.  In Times Square, Ruby Foos has a decent gluten-free menu, but it's pricey.  Near Central Park on the Upper West Side, Pappardella has acceptable gluten-free pasta and knows what they're doing, but it's not a 'hot' Italian restaurant.  There are also options at Pain Quotidiens, which are everywhere.  A Thai restaurant called Topaz in the 50s has many gluten-free options (you have to ask) and I don't think I've ever gotten glutened there.  Almost any deli has Kind bars and decent fruit.

 

Enjoy your visit!

[WinterSong]

Hey there! This is my area of expertise! 

 

I personally think that good food is worth making a trip for, so if I were you I would go to Bistango (Italian) for dinner. There are two locations - one in Murray Hill and a second one just opened on the Upper East Side. Enjoy the yummy gluten-free bread and save room for dessert! Pala is another place that I love - my favorite gluten-free pizza in the city. You'll need a reservation for both of these places. 

 

However, my two cents about the areas that you are interested in:

-Lily's 57 (asian/thai/ect). Pretty good and my general choice in the area. 

-Nizza - but someone told me the other day that she got glutened there twice. I've never been, but that's because I didn't find their menu all that exciting.

- Ruby Foo - I've never been there. Too expensive and touristy.

-Five Napkin Burger

-Heartland Brewrey

 

I have never been told that Le Pain Quotidien has gluten-free options. I'm sure they say their soup is gluten-free, but there is so much bread and flour there that I'm never going to eat there myself. 

 

Honestly I don't think that Hell's Kitchen/Central Park South is the most exciting area for gluten-free food (or food in general). If I were you I would take a ten minute subway ride to go somewhere better 

[TGK112]

Keste's Pizza- West Village

Friedman's Lunch (also open for dinner at midtown location)--2 locations-- Chelsea market and midtown (around 31st and 6th.

[WinterSong]

No way! I didn't know that Friedman's Lunch has another location. It looks like they opened up pretty recently. I would second that recommendation

[Waitingindreams]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

 

It's unfortunate that I can't do my own thing here - or that I wasn't going with just one friend or my boyfriend. I am going with 4 other girls and we're meeting up with a guy friend that lives there. He has certain places that he wants to show us/have us eat at - and despite the fact that i researched nearby gluten free options he still mentioned a great place in the Brooklyn area that he wants us to try (he didn't give a name) yet he doesn't know if they have gluten free options. 

 

About ready to just pack my own food and eat at the park while we walk while they eat at the restaurants. It's very frustrating to put time into researching to make it easier for others, just to have the efforts rebuffed in favor of some random pizza joint that may or may not have gluten-free options.

 

Anyone else been in a similar situation? Last year we went to see him around the same time and I wasn't diagnosed yet, so it wasn't as difficult. Going away to the city for a day should not be such a hassle, especially when I put the work in beforehand.

[Nikki2777]

I know how hard that can be.  The good news is that if it's a trendy brooklyn restaurant, chances are they will have gluten-free options.  See if you can get him to tell you the name.

[Waitingindreams]

Well, that sounds promising. I did ask him, but I haven't heard back yet. I try very hard to not "play the victim" or demand extra attention for this, so it's just disheartening that some of my friends can't meet me halfway. I told them I don't care where they go for dessert, I don't need to go to a gluten free bakery or something, I just want to make sure I can eat a safe lunch/dinner. I don't think that's being difficult. 

 

Stressful! 

 

Another friend did say that if the others pick a non gluten friendly restaurant, that she'd go with me to a gluten free place. That was nice of her. 

[NJceliac]

Since it sounds like you will be in New York for 2 meals, it would be reasonable to eat at least one of those meals at a gluten-free friendly restaurant.  Your friend may not be used to the idea of you needing to be gluten free.  For some of my family (like my in-laws) it took a long time for them to adjust to the idea of choosing a restaurant based on this new criteria.  Saying that, I love visiting New York because I feel they are used to dealing with such diverse people with diverse allergies and health needs.  This is a list of restaurants I have compiled so far, some of these restaurants are in the location you will be in.  I have been to Nizza's and did not have any issue.  I also Love Love Love 5 Napkin Burger-- the burgers are amazing and I am a french fry addict.  Anyplace that has a dedicated fryer is awesome to me!  My family knows if we go to NY that always means at least one trip to 5 Napkin Burger!

 

Bloom's Deli --Lexington & 40th (midtown)

 

Nizza restaurant 45th & 9th (Hell's Kitchen, near times square)

 

5 napkin Burger

(the best ever!!!)

 

Risotteria: 270 Bleecker st between 6&7yh Avenue on corner of Morton street (Greenwich Village)

 

Bistango (Italian)

 

Pala (pizza & pasta)

 

Caracas Arepa Bar

 

Blue Smoke (midtown)

 

Friedman's lunch

 

Bloom dujoir ( upper west to eat in or midtown for take out or lower manhattan 

 

Energy kitchen 

 

Lilli's 57 (Asian/Sushi)

 

[Waitingindreams]

Thank you so much! This helps. Yeah, you're right. I'm still getting used to it myself. It's a huge adjustment. That's great that NYC is so gluten free friendly! I wasn't sure. I went to Maine back in September and they were great! I'm glad I have some specific options to look into. I figure if it's such a big deal, I can go to one of the restaurants myself and get something to go, and then eat it at Central Park. 

[Nikki2777]

I've also heard Bare Burger has option, though I haven't tried it.