gluten-free In Nyc

[IMWalt]

This is a continuation from a topic I posted a few months ago. In that, someone recommended a few places in the big apple for gluten-free eats. I have been in NYC or Boston for most of the last month, and would like to share my adventures.

The first place I hit was Rissoteria on Bleecker Street. Got there at 9:30 on a Tuesday night and the place was packed. It was also "Pasta night", which may have explained that. I waited about 10 minutes to sit at the bar. It is a very tiny place, but loads of gluten-free options on the menu. Just about everything on the menu has a regular and a gluten-free version. I don't know how they keep everything seperate, but I had no reaction. I orderd a pizza, but I can't remember what I had on it. It was small and not cheap at $18, but it was nice to order pizza while dining out. They have 4 gluten-free beers. I had only had Redbridge before, so I got a "New Grist" and a "Greene's Amber Ale". The Greene's is from Belgium and very good. Purely for research purposes I also had a New Grist, which I like better than Redbridge. Since then, I have found Greene's at stores in Boston and NY. I have seen it sold from $6-8 per bottle. Not cheap but very good. I brought back a couple bottles from Boston during my last trip.

Another night tried a place on 20th and 3rd called Barfly. It is a small pub that supposedly has the best burgers in town. You can sit outside and watch people and cars. I had my son with me that trip and we each had a burger (mine without bun) and brown rice. The rice had pine nuts in it and was very good. A bargain at $8 and it was very good.

Next up was S'mac on 11th and 2nd. I took a Cajun style to go, and then forgot and left it at my next stop, so I can't comment. I'll try again at some point.

I then tried Sambuca on West 72nd. My waiter recommended the ravioli stuffed with ricotta. I had a New Grist with it, and it was absolutetely fantastic. I think it was the best marinara I have had. The dinner roll was very stale, but I washed it down with the beer. Tab without tip was $30.

Two weeks ago I met my Columbia grad-school niece in Hell's Kitchen at a place called "The Eatery". I asked the waitress about some peanut-crusted salmon, and after checking with the chef told me that it has flour on it. However, she told me that they are very aware of gluten-free diets, and the chef made me a plate of Yellow-fin Tuna tartare with some kind of sald with edamame in it. It was very good. I washed that down with a Belvedere martini. Be warned, martini's are VERY expensive in NYC. I had a fruit salad for desert. Dinner, drink and dessert for us was $103 including tip.

The next night was another place in Hell's Kitchen at 9th and 45th called Basilica. I ordered Eggplant parm with veggies and potato instead of the pasta that usually comes with it. A bargain at $14. It was wonderful. I highly recommend this place. Make reservations because it is very tiny and gets busy with theatre-goers.

I also popped down to Babycakes bakery. It's just east of Chinatown at Broome and Orchard. I bought a VERY tiny chocolate cupcake for $4, and a generous piece of blueberry crumb pie for $4. The cucpcake was good, but not any better than what I make at home. I saved the blueberry pie for breakfast the next day and it was very good.

I've looked for gluten-free beer at a number of watering holes, but no luck. There's a place on 51st between 8th and 9th that advertises having over 80 beers, but none of them gluten-free. However, many places have cider available, and I found a place on 31st that on some days has bottles of cider for $2 during happy hour. As I recall it is around 5th Ave. It is called something like "31-12". I know there is a 12 in the name. Heading west it is on the left, and there is a hotel above it. There's a palce on the corner of Amsterdam and 76th that has cider on tap and a nice menu. I have not eaten there yet.

So far it has been much easier staying gluten-free in the city than I thought it would be. Hope this info helps somebody!

Walt

[GFinDC]

Great write up Walt! I am sure someone will search this out and benefit from it. Thanks for sharing your finds!.

[Gemini]

This is a continuation from a topic I posted a few months ago. In that, someone recommended a few places in the big apple for gluten-free eats. I have been in NYC or Boston for most of the last month, and would like to share my adventures.

The first place I hit was Rissoteria on Bleecker Street. Got there at 9:30 on a Tuesday night and the place was packed. It was also "Pasta night", which may have explained that. I waited about 10 minutes to sit at the bar. It is a very tiny place, but loads of gluten-free options on the menu. Just about everything on the menu has a regular and a gluten-free version. I don't know how they keep everything seperate, but I had no reaction. I orderd a pizza, but I can't remember what I had on it. It was small and not cheap at $18, but it was nice to order pizza while dining out. They have 4 gluten-free beers. I had only had Redbridge before, so I got a "New Grist" and a "Greene's Amber Ale". The Greene's is from Belgium and very good. Purely for research purposes I also had a New Grist, which I like better than Redbridge. Since then, I have found Greene's at stores in Boston and NY. I have seen it sold from $6-8 per bottle. Not cheap but very good. I brought back a couple bottles from Boston during my last trip.

Another night tried a place on 20th and 3rd called Barfly. It is a small pub that supposedly has the best burgers in town. You can sit outside and watch people and cars. I had my son with me that trip and we each had a burger (mine without bun) and brown rice. The rice had pine nuts in it and was very good. A bargain at $8 and it was very good.

Next up was S'mac on 11th and 2nd. I took a Cajun style to go, and then forgot and left it at my next stop, so I can't comment. I'll try again at some point.

I then tried Sambuca on West 72nd. My waiter recommended the ravioli stuffed with ricotta. I had a New Grist with it, and it was absolutetely fantastic. I think it was the best marinara I have had. The dinner roll was very stale, but I washed it down with the beer. Tab without tip was $30.

Two weeks ago I met my Columbia grad-school niece in Hell's Kitchen at a place called "The Eatery". I asked the waitress about some peanut-crusted salmon, and after checking with the chef told me that it has flour on it. However, she told me that they are very aware of gluten-free diets, and the chef made me a plate of Yellow-fin Tuna tartare with some kind of sald with edamame in it. It was very good. I washed that down with a Belvedere martini. Be warned, martini's are VERY expensive in NYC. I had a fruit salad for desert. Dinner, drink and dessert for us was $103 including tip.

The next night was another place in Hell's Kitchen at 9th and 45th called Basilica. I ordered Eggplant parm with veggies and potato instead of the pasta that usually comes with it. A bargain at $14. It was wonderful. I highly recommend this place. Make reservations because it is very tiny and gets busy with theatre-goers.

I also popped down to Babycakes bakery. It's just east of Chinatown at Broome and Orchard. I bought a VERY tiny chocolate cupcake for $4, and a generous piece of blueberry crumb pie for $4. The cucpcake was good, but not any better than what I make at home. I saved the blueberry pie for breakfast the next day and it was very good.

I've looked for gluten-free beer at a number of watering holes, but no luck. There's a place on 51st between 8th and 9th that advertises having over 80 beers, but none of them gluten-free. However, many places have cider available, and I found a place on 31st that on some days has bottles of cider for $2 during happy hour. As I recall it is around 5th Ave. It is called something like "31-12". I know there is a 12 in the name. Heading west it is on the left, and there is a hotel above it. There's a palce on the corner of Amsterdam and 76th that has cider on tap and a nice menu. I have not eaten there yet.

So far it has been much easier staying gluten-free in the city than I thought it would be. Hope this info helps somebody!

Walt

Walt.....I have always found it extremely easy to find a safe meal in the Northeast, in any big city. Lots of educated people here and most are not afraid to speak up and make their needs known. My one and only complaint is always the price of a good gluten-free meal but, living close to Boston myself, you kind of get used to the higher prices. I know NY prices are even higher than Boston!

The New Grist gluten-free beer is a favorite of my husband's and he thought it better than Redbridge. Around here, it's about $11.00-12.00 per six pack so that's better than the price on the Belgian beer.

Thanks for posting as I plan on making a NYC trip soon....especially since I know I can eat gluten-free ravioli!

[GFqueen17]

I have eaten at several of those restaurants...I thought Sambuca's and Baby Cakes were amazing! I had the raviolli at Sambuca's as well and they even gave us gluten-free rolls that were delicious.

[elonwy]

Next time you're at Risotteria, try the Risotto. Its incredible. I am a huge fan of risotto, but find it often either over or undercooked in American restaurants. They get it right here. There is a kitchen downstairs too, and they have separate areas where they cook and prep stuff.

[IMWalt]

, living close to Boston myself, you kind of get used to the higher prices. I know NY prices are even higher than Boston!

We have an office in Westborough where I spend a lot of time. Any recommendations for a place in metrowest area for a nice gluten-free meal?

Walt