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Connecticut Restaurant Report - Seminara's, Westport

babysteps

By babysteps
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

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babysteps Contributor
babysteps
Posted

Ate last week at Seminara's in Westport, CT

MIXED results

They seemed willing but not used to dealing with dietary restrictions. Note that I was a gluten-free dining newbie! I think if I'd stuck to eating from my own plate that I would have been fine.

When the waitress checked, she said that the rice balls were wheat-free. But they arrived at table coated with breadcrumbs. She did take them back promptly and cheerfully. Apparently the coating was indeed regular bread crumbs that the waitress thought were panko - hello, also filled with gluten! So, I switched to a nice salad with oil & vinegar dressing.

I was glutened from this meal, but may have been my own fault as I tried my spouse's dish without having asked about the gluten status of it. My own entree was fine (I think - had the roast chicken, ate it without sauce and after skinning it for lunch the next day with no ill effects). This was only my second dine-out experience after going gluten free.

See separate post in restaurant section on my successful recent NYC dinners, at Picholine and Taverna Kyclades.

Now at home we use "oh, I thought it was Panko" as shorthand for gluten miscommunication.

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jkmunchkin Rising Star
jkmunchkin
Posted

Good to know. I was actually just in Westport today. Thanks.

babysteps Contributor
babysteps
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Jillian!!

Any dining successes to share in Westchester or CT?

jkmunchkin Rising Star
jkmunchkin
Posted
Thanks Jillian!!

Any dining successes to share in Westchester or CT?

There are 2 Chinese restaurants in Westchester that have gluten free menus, that I love. Ray's Cafe in Rye Brook and Golden Wok in Ardsley.

There is a mexican restaurant in Tarrytown, Santa Fe that we go to pretty often (actually went there last night) that is delicious and always extremely helpful. They definately get the gluten thing.

My family owns kosher restaurants in Westchester and we have a gluten free menu in one of them. Epsteins in Hartsdale.

I may try Spiga in Scarsdale tomorrow. I'll let you know.

As for CT, I went to Gates in New Caanan a couple weeks ago, which was good and very helpful. I was shocked to hear that the risotto had flour in it, so I opted for a chicken dish. It normally would have been floured, but they were very accomodating.

At my old job I used to go to Wilton once a week for work, and my boss and I would go the Wilton Food Co. for lunch all the time. It's pretty good, and they make everything fresh which is great. It's good for a casual, fairly quick lunch.

I'm suddenly drawing a blank on all the places I've eaten. LOL!! But I very rarely have a bad restaurant experience. I'll see what else I can think of.

babysteps Contributor
babysteps
Posted
  • Author
I'm suddenly drawing a blank on all the places I've eaten. LOL!! But I very rarely have a bad restaurant experience. I'll see what else I can think of.

Excellent - will have to try some of the ones you mention

I'm still very new at this, but as far as I can tell most white-tablecloth and/or cook-from-scratch restaurants are pretty accommodating - once I got my 'gluten free' speech down and learned to ask about everything twice :)

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