Philadelphia, Pa

[bmzob]

Hey everyone. I just moved to Center City, Phily this past weekend and I have no idea where anything is. I was wondering if anyone from around here knows where any gluten-free friendly restaraunts/stores are? Thanks!

[amybeth]

Mr. Ritts bakery is a gluten-free bakery

Dietary Shoppe on Ridge Avenue carries many gluten-free items

Sazon offers Venezuelan food and is very knowledgable about the diet.

Chart house

McCormick and Schmicks

Old Tavern - (??? haven't tried yet, but have heard good things)

Tangerine (and any other Steven Starr restaurant) is vey knowledgable (Jones may be difficult, as it's all "comfort food"

[savvvyseller]

Dietary Shoppe has (unfortunately) closed.

There's a Whole Foods on 22nd Street in the Art Museum area, and the Chinese restaurant in the strip shopping center across the street from the market can prepare foods gluten free.

gluten-free-friendly restaurants in the city include Bliss, Fogo de Chao, Roy's, Maggiano's, and My Thai near South Street. Ted's Montana Grill has a gluten-free menu.

Definitely go to Mr. Ritts for their (expensive) baked goods.

[hathor]

I was in Philly over the weekend and I checked out Sazon when my conference was over. It was wonderful. I found plenty of vegetarian dishes (that is something they have created -- I was told "we don't eat vegetables in Venezuela" ). The co-owner who waited on me knew which items on the menu were gluten-free and even volunteered information about how they avoid cross-contamination. It was refreshing to find a place that really gets it!

As for the Doubletree Hotel on Broad Street, where I had to have the rest of my meals -- ICK. I had advised them in advance as to my dietary needs and said that the chef could call me if he wanted to. What I got was plain, unseasoned white rice and steamed veggies. No appetizer, no dessert. This was the best their "best chef" could come up with (the guy the hotel coordinator had told the conference directors was working on my needs as they spoke ) It was like the beginning stages of an elimination diet. Everytime I tried to talk to the waiters they walked away from me. It was as if the chef was irked and had decided what I was going to get and that was it.

Both conference directors BTW were even more irked than I was, and I didn't even say anything to them at first. They just saw my food and saw red. They said they aren't going to pay the hotel for my meals and that I will get a corresponding amount refunded to me.

OK, I don't know if anyone else will be in a similar situation. But I did feel the need to vent

[mamaw]

Once you get settled in to the center city, take a drive to Doylestown (nice area) & have gluten-free pizza at "Jules". It is a thin crust pizza gluten-free of course. About 20 miles from center city.

We love Sazon's arepas!!!!

mamaw

[amybeth]

On that note, Jules Thin Crust is opening a Newtown, PA store in mid-November, which will also serve their Gluten Free Pie.

Newtown is a straight shot up 95 from Philly (approx 20-30 min. without traffic).

(It's the 2nd PA exit if traveling South on 95 into PA from Jersey)

[christycl]

HI-Just noticed your message - If you like Thai food there is a Thai restaurant called My Thai in the Rittenhouse Sq section in center city - They are well up on gluten-free food. Dietary Shoppe has closed. There is a good Whole Foods in center City (actually 2, depending on where you are) and also a Trader Joe's. I heartily recommend Mr. Ritts - they are also knowledgeable about what else is available. If I think of anything else I'll post. Good luck and welcome to Phila. Christy

[Sunshinez06]

Restaurants in the city I've been to and were awesome:

Tangerine

Pod

Buddakon

(All three of the above are Stephen Starr Restaurants and work well with food allergies. They have gluten free soy sauce at Pod and Buddakon and I was able to get crab/seafood fried rice there - YUM! Tangerine had less gluten-free options than the other two. Buddakon is also in Atlantic City if you go for a trip there.)

Bliss (I've just tried this one, its on the Avenue of the Arts. They are very gluten free friendly, but need minding after - aka they brought out a piece of regular biscotti on my gluten-free creme brulee)

There's an Indian food restaurant on South Street near South and 3rd, that I can't remember the name. They've been very helpful and even brought out a lentil bread for me. I had a couple delicious meals there.

Restaurants I've heard were awesome:

Fogo de Chao (expensive, but delicious tends to be the general response)

Sazon

Those are in the city, which I'm still very much exploring. Out of the city:

Maggiano's in King of Prussia is excellent. They are very knowledgabe and have gluten-free pasta. I can't speak for Maggiano's in the city, but its worth checking out.

JB Dawson's is a local chain to the Philly area, that has a very tasty gluten free menu.

If you can get over to Voorhees, NJ there is a Pasta Pomodoro that has gluten-free pasta, bread, pizza, and desserts (my favorite restaurant ever)

Jules Thin Crust Pizza in Doylestown (I know other people mentioned it, but its worth mentioning again!)

Hope these help! I know some of them have been already mentioned.

Samantha

[hathor]

There's an Indian food restaurant on South Street near South and 3rd, that I can't remember the name. They've been very helpful and even brought out a lentil bread for me. I had a couple delicious meals there.

I think the one you are thinking of was what was our fallback restaurant, Cafe Spice. We had a hard time deciding between it and Sazon, going with the latter simply because we hadn't had Venezuelan before and we have Indian all the time. Cafe Spice's menu looks incredible.

[mjr6]

I would recommend Sazon on spring garden street to anyone, celiac or non celiac. For celiacs I dont think it gets any better, the family run restaurant is very friendly and they are very careful to avoid cross contamination, and only very few items on the menu that celiacs cant eat. Lots of choice and the arepas were great. I loved the food and i had the best hot chocolate I have ever had for dessert.

[NJKen]

Mr. Ritts has left Philadelphia and is now located in Millville, NJ.

[stolly]

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness is sponsoring Appetite for Awareness at the Wachovia Center next week on 9/24...about 20-30 or so restuarants from Philadelphia will be there cooking and offering samples of their gluten free food. Sounds like a great place to check out your gluten-free options in Philly. DD3 is the celiac in our house, but DH and I are going to support the cause. Here is the link Open Original Shared Link

[CheFsam]

Dietary Shoppe has (unfortunately) closed.

There's a Whole Foods on 22nd Street in the Art Museum area, and the Chinese restaurant in the strip shopping center across the street from the market can prepare foods gluten free.

gluten-free-friendly restaurants in the city include Bliss, Fogo de Chao, Roy's, Maggiano's, and My Thai near South Street. Ted's Montana Grill has a gluten-free menu.

Definitely go to Mr. Ritts for their (expensive) baked goods.

Hey, what about Trader Joe's? it's in the same neighborhood as Whole Foods, but way better prices, a gluten-free product list and helpful, knowledgeable staff. a little hard to find the store, but when you get there, it's worth it

P.S.- Jules Pizza is truly awesome & there's another one in Jenkintown, which can easily be reached from center city via 611 or Broad Street. It's on 611 & The Fairway behind Chili's.

[savvvyseller]

A new gluten-free bakery will be opening in Center City Philadelphia called Sweet Freedom Bakery. Their baked goods will be vegan and allergen-friendly. They're planning to open in November.

[mamaw]

Stolly

We are going to the Wachovia Center on Sept 30 for NFCA Gala. I'm not sure what was on the 24th????

[savvvyseller]

It was on the 24th last year.

Stolly

We are going to the Wachovia Center on Sept 30 for NFCA Gala. I'm not sure what was on the 24th????

[mamaw]

I guess I read the message wrong! Brain Fog, I always love to use celiac for my brain fog issues................We are coming hungry , I was told not to eat before hand!

thanks

[Simba]

Cafe Monterosa in Yardley offers a gluten-free Pizza...but a major word of caution...after many positive experiences there, I ordered a pie a couple of weeks ago and got sick as a dog...I think the new kid in the kitchen rolled out the dough in regular flour when he was making the pie (it was very powdery on the outside) and when he wrapped up the leftovers to go he threw it on top of a regular pizza in the box They took it out and only charged me for half a pie...gee thanks).

There are also a few locations for Mom's bake at Home Pizza, they have a gluten-free offering but I stopped going there when I noticed they take no precautions when handling the gluten-free and regular doughs and they spread the sauce from the same container with the same ladle.