Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten-free Dining In Northern Virginia

terri

By terri
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

kathymacn Newbie
kathymacn
Posted
Just wanted to share with anyone in the Fairfax County or Loudoun County some positive and negative experiences I've had recently.

Take today, went to Amphora Restaurant with 2 friends and presented my dining card to the waiter and told him I was only going to have a salad but felt better if the Chef saw my card. The Manager comes over and refused to serve me at all. Even a salad! Said that there was too much of a chance of cross contamination. So I watched my friends eat and the waiter gave me an apple when I left. The Manager was rude and mean. The only other restaurant where they wouldn't serve me was Glory Days. They have only 1 grill and 1 fryer and everything is cooked together. They, however, offered me a plain salad.

Now for the good news! Ned Devines is wonderful for us! They make their potatoes from scratch with real milk and butter, their meats are not pre-marinated and they'll stand on their heads to give you what you want. Another good one is the Blue Ridge Grill near Leesburg. They actually have a dedicated french fry fryer and 2 grills, one for breaded things and one for not! Their french fries were awesome. Carrabas was great in Reston, Champs had a Greek Salad that worked well but forget Lakeside in Reston. Ate there twice and got sick both times. Tomorrow I'm trying PF Changs which I will go to with their gluten free menu in tow.

That is about the extent of my eating out history so far. I want to try McCormicks and Schmidts but they have only one grill and it's not a flame grill. Oh yes, Beacon Street in Chantilly also has only one grill and it's not flame. I will probably try the salad route with steamed shrimp at McCormicks next week. Oops, went to Legal Seafood in Tysons and they were so nice! But, got a little sick from them too....

  • 1 month later...
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Mayster Newbie
Mayster
Posted

How about Kabob places without their bread? I went to Moby Dick's Kabob place and told them I could not have the bread and they were very careful. My plate came out with just the rice and ground beef kabob. It seemed ok. Anyone have any experiences with this?

jaten Enthusiast
jaten
Posted

What a wonderful and timely thread for me!!!! I'm so glad it was renewed today through a new post because I missed this in Sept. I'll be in Fairfax in late December!!! Great info!!! Thanks everyone! :lol:

  • 3 months later...
terri Contributor
terri
Posted
  • Author

Today I went to Brios in Tysons 1 in the new area where Coastal Flats is. They were very very understanding of gluten and offered me a wide varity of meals to choose from. Their marinades and salad dressings are made from scratch and the manager was very knowledgable of the ingredients. She even asked if I had additional food allergies! I had the wood grilled salmon salad with asparagus and it was excellent. A very pleasant experience!

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Thanks for sharing all these dining options up here!

Tim-n-VA Contributor
Tim-n-VA
Posted

JR Stockyards is a place to avoid in Northern VA. I e-mailed prior to my visit and was told they could accomodate a gluten-free diet. I told my waitress that I needed gluten-free and said said "no croutons" when I ordered the salad. She brought my salad with croutons. When I called her on this she actually picked up my salad, half-turned hiding it and started picking out the croutons. At that point I took the salad, kept it at the table until she brought me a fresh one. I e-mailed the person who told me they could handle gluten-free and gave him the waitress name but got no response.

celiacheather Newbie
celiacheather
Posted

I'm in NOVA. I like Artie's, Mike's, Coastal Flats and Sweetwater. I have also eaten at Clyde's with no problem, however their options were very bland.

Oh, and I ate at PF Chang's for my birthday and *hallelujah* I didn't get sick.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 1 year later...
Tim-n-VA Contributor
Tim-n-VA
Posted

Last week for my wife's birthday we went to back to Ruth's Chris. They no longer have a printed gluten-free menu. I was assured when I made my reservation that the waiter would be able to tell me which items were safe. The waiter told me I shouldn't have sour cream. When I questioned that one he said it was because they didn't make it on site (a strange logic but I might be missing something). I told him I was willing to risk it. I didn't have any ill effects.

I liked the old system with the pre-printed menu. I suppose this system allows for daily specials easier.

  • 1 year later...
christinac Newbie
christinac
Posted

I'm so glad to read these special notes on places that advertise gluten-free menus and would like to add a really fabulous experience at Guapo's in Shirlington. They were incredibly attentive and asked the chef for specific items that qualify as safe. They served grilled chicken, black beans (they make them there without "flavoring"), steamed veggies and I even had good luck with the house-made tortillas and salsa which I was a little reluctant to try despite the assurance of the chef.

I also wanted to share another safe place, at least for me, Bangkok 54 on Columbia Pike. Ask for Nack, one of the owners, and explain your situation - she is wonderful. Their rice noodle, steamed and curry dishes have been safe for me, so far - they make their curries from scratch. I recommend making a reservation, though, it gets busy.

Thanks to everyone who posts reviews!!!:-)

ChickensDon'tClap Rookie
ChickensDon'tClap
Posted

Good to hear about your Guapo's experience, Christina. I'll have to give it a try!

I had good luck at Silverado in Annandale and Carlyle in Shirlington (both in the Great American Restaurants chain).

I got glutened last Friday, but I'm not sure if it was my lunch (I ate a beef kebab with rice) or if it was what I ate at Mike's American. I asked for the plain grilled chicken in my salad (not sure which salad - it had avocado, pecans, and cranberries), but I have a feeling that this was not plain chicken. I'll have to pay attention next time. I also need to find out what kind of marinade on the beef kebab and if there's anything funky in the rice.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Good info:

Open Original Shared Link

  • 1 year later...
imouse1 Newbie
imouse1
Posted

Thanks for the info. What he said could apply to any restaurant anywhere. If they pick up rolls and place them in a bread basket, and then make your salad without changing their gloves, you're contaminated. I have to travel on a 3 week business trip next January and I'm already losing sleep thinking about it! Guess I'll load up on medicine and hope for the best. I'll pack lots of those tuna and chicken pouches and rice cakes and peanut butter. Imagine being in New Orleans and eating peanut butter! :P

What medicine do you use to control your symptoms? This is the first time I've heard of anyone actually saying anything about medication!

StephanieGF Rookie
StephanieGF
Posted

I had no idea that the Great American Restaurants had gluten free menus. I so wish they would have put that on their websites, they have been missing out on customers I'm sure, me for one. Thanks for the info.

  • 8 months later...
sueohn Newbie
sueohn
Posted

Has anyone tried the Banjara Indian restaurant in Ashburn Village? I don't know anything about Indian food, but I've always wanted to try it.

StephanieGF Rookie
StephanieGF
Posted

Has anyone tried the Banjara Indian restaurant in Ashburn Village? I don't know anything about Indian food, but I've always wanted to try it.

I use to go here back in my pre-gluten free days. I have no idea how they would handle gluten cross contamination. I will say that back when I did eat there, it was very good indian food.

  • 7 months later...
Michele G Newbie
Michele G
Posted

Bungalow Billiards in Chantilly does not have a gluten-free menu, however them manager's best friend has Celiac, so he knows what is safe. If you go there, ask for him, and he can advise on menu selections and ensure that the chef's use protocols to avoid cross contamination. We did this last time we went, and my husband had no issues at all. Besides, it's a great, fun place to hang out!

  • 4 weeks later...
chrissyinnj Apprentice
chrissyinnj
Posted

Hello! As far as gluten, you're safe to eat everything we carry, except our large wheat flour tortillas for burritos, our soft wheat flour taco shells, and our hot red tomatillo salsa (there is white vinegar in it). Everything else will be fine.

I thought vinegar was okay to have....just not malt vinegar. Am I messing this up?

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I thought vinegar was okay to have....just not malt vinegar. Am I messing this up?

The original posts are 7 years old. The info is likely out of date and the restaurants may not even be in business.

Your right about the vinegar. Some places go by very old info regarding gluten or do not understand.

  • 2 years later...
ViennaGirl Newbie
ViennaGirl
Posted

I know this thread is very old, but the chef of Bazin's in Vienna was just diagnosed with celiac, and Bazin's now has a gluten free menu that I would completely trust. It's expensive, but worth it for the safety. 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,394
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Graceland.h
    Newest Member
    Graceland.h
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Coeliac UK Research Conference 2025

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thanks for sharing this!
    • Scott Adams
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had the same thing happen to me at around your age, and to this day it's the most painful experience I've ever had. For me it was the right side of my head, above my ear, running from my nerves in my neck. For years before my outbreak I felt a tingling sensation shooting along the exact nerves that ended up exactly where the shingles blisters appeared. I highly recommend the two shot shingles vaccine as soon as your turn 50--I did this because I started to get the same tingling sensations in the same area, and after the vaccines I've never felt that again.  As you likely know, shingles is caused by chicken pox, which was once though of as one of those harmless childhood viruses that everyone should catch in the wild--little did they know that it can stay in your nervous system for your entire life, and cause major issues as you age.
    • trents
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By trents · Posted

      Keep us posted.
    • Clear2me
      Gluten free nuts

      By Clear2me · Posted

      Thanks for the info. I recently moved to CA from Wyoming and in that western region the Costco and Sam's /Walmart Brands have many nuts and more products that are labeled gluten free. I was told it's because those products are packaged and processed  in different  plants. Some plants can be labeled  gluten free because the plant does not also package gluten products and they know that for example the trucks, containers equipment are not used to handle wheat, barely or Rye. The Walmart butter in the western region says gluten free but not here. Most of The Kirkland and Members Mark brands in CA say they are from Vietnam. That's not the case in Wyoming and Colorado. I've spoken to customer service at the stores here in California. They were not helpful. I check labels every time I go to the store. The stores where I am are a Sh*tshow. The Magalopoly grocery chain Vons/Safeway/Albertsons, etc. are the same. Fishers and Planters brands no longer say gluten free. It could be regional. There are nuts with sugar coatings and fruit and nut mixes at the big chains that are labeled gluten free but I don't want the fruit or sugar.  It's so difficult I am considering moving again. I thought it would be easier to find safe food in a more populated area. It's actually worse.  I was undiagnosed for most of my life but not because I didn't try to figure it out. So I have had all the complications possible. I don't have any spare organs left.  No a little gluten will hurt you. The autoimmune process continues to destroy your organs though you may not feel it. If you are getting a little all the time and as much as we try we probably all are and so the damage is happening. Now the FDA has pretty much abandoned celiacs. There are no requirements for labeling for common allergens on medications. All the generic drugs made outside the US are not regulated for common allergens and the FDA is taking the last gluten free porcine Thyroid med, NP Thyroid, off the market in 2026. I was being glutened by a generic levothyroxin. The insurance wouldn't pay for the gluten free brand any longer because the FDA took them all off their approved formulary. So now I am paying $147 out of pocket for NP Thyroid but shortly I will have no safe choice. Other people with allergies should be aware that these foreign generic pharmaceutical producers are using ground shellfish shell as pill coatings and anti-desicants. The FDA knows this but  now just waits for consumers to complain or die. The take over of Wholefoods by Amazon destroyed a very reliable source of good high quality food for people with allergies and for people who wanted good reliably organic food. Bezos thought  he could make a fortune off people who were paying alot for organic and allergen free food by substituting cheap brands from Thailand. He didn't understand who the customers were who were willing to pay more for that food and why. I went from spending hundreds to nothing because Bezo removed every single trusted brand that I was buying. Now they are closing Whole foods stores across the country. In CA, Mill Valley store (closed July 2025) and the National Blvd. store in West Los Angeles (closed October 2025). The Cupertino store will close.  In recent years I have learned to be careful and trust no one. I have been deleberately glutened in a restaurant that was my favorite (a new employee). The Chef owner was not in the kitchen that night. I've had  a metal scouring pad cut up over my food.The chain offered gluten free dishes but it only takes one crazy who thinks you're a problem as a food fadist. Good thing I always look. Good thing they didn't do that to food going to a child with a busy mom.  I give big tips and apologize for having to ask in restaurants but mental illness seem to be rampant. I've learn the hard way.          I don't buy any processed food that doesn't say gluten free.  I am a life long Catholic. I worked for the Church while at college. I don't go to Church anymore because the men at the top decided Jesus is gluten. The special hosts are gluten less not gluten free. No I can't drink wine after people with gluten in their mouth and a variety of deadly germs. I have been abandoned and excluded by my Church/Family.  Having nearly died several times, safe food is paramount. If your immune system collapses as mine did, you get sepsis. It can kill you very quickly. I spent 5 days unconscious and had to have my appendix and gall bladder removed because they were necrotic. I was 25. They didn't figure out I had celiac till I was 53. No one will take the time to tell you what can happen when your immune system gets overwhelmed from its constant fighting the gluten and just stops. It is miserable that our food is processed so carelessly. Our food in many aspects is not safe. And the merging of all the grocery chains has made it far worse. Its a disaster. Krogers also recently purchased Vitacost where I was getting the products I could no longer get at Whole Foods. Kroger is eliminating those products from Vitacost just a Bezos did from WF. I am looking for reliable and certified sources for nuts. I have lived the worst consequences of the disease and being exposed unknowingly and maliciously. Once I was diagnosed I learned way more than anyone should have to about the food industry.  I don't do gray areas. And now I dont eat out except very rarely.  I have not eaten fast food for 30 years before the celiac diagnosis. Gluten aside..... It's not food and it's not safe.  No one has got our backs. Sharing safe food sources is one thing we can do to try to be safe.        
    • Mmoc
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By Mmoc · Posted

      Thank you kindly for your response. I have since gotten the other type of bloods done and am awaiting results. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.