What Chains Are Offering Gluten-Free Meals Nowadays?

[Clark Bent as Stupor-Man]

I've been gluten free for about 4 years now and have been successfully eating out in restaurants for the past 2 fairly frequently but just recently realized there are probably a number of options I don't know about. I've incidentally stumbled upon places like Johnny Carino's and Boston's Pizza (a sports bar with gluten free pizza!) through friends and from checking this forum briefly, just saw that Olive Garden also has a gluten free menu.

So the chains I know of are outback, pf changs, carabbas, bonefish grille, cheesecake factory, red robin, charlie browns, johnny carino's, boston's pizza, olive garden. What else is out there and seems to have at least an inkling of a clue as to what they're doing (I don't think I'm that sensitive to a little cc).

[kareng]

Did you see Godfathers? Not all have gluten free so check first. Also, where I live, we have some local restuarants that have 5 or 6 in the area. They have been very helpful when I emailed. One of them has fryers dedicated to only potatoes. Good luck.

[Coleslawcat]

I've been gluten free for about 4 years now and have been successfully eating out in restaurants for the past 2 fairly frequently but just recently realized there are probably a number of options I don't know about. I've incidentally stumbled upon places like Johnny Carino's and Boston's Pizza (a sports bar with gluten free pizza!) through friends and from checking this forum briefly, just saw that Olive Garden also has a gluten free menu.

So the chains I know of are outback, pf changs, carabbas, bonefish grille, cheesecake factory, red robin, charlie browns, johnny carino's, boston's pizza, olive garden. What else is out there and seems to have at least an inkling of a clue as to what they're doing (I don't think I'm that sensitive to a little cc).

Macaroni Grill, Chili's, Maggiano's, On The Border, and Chevy's. Locally in Phoenix there is Barro's Pizza, Picazzo Pizza, and Sourdough Pizza. I'm pretty new to this and I've been pleasently surprised by all of the gluten free dining options.

[kareng]

Why does everyone say Chevy's has gluten free? I emailed them a couple of days ago & this is what I got:

"Thank you for writing to us with your question. Unfortunately, we do not have a list of gluten free items for our menus at this time. Although, whenever visiting one of our restaurants, please feel free to request assistance from the restaurant Manager in identifying items on our menu that may meet your dietary needs. We make every effort to try to accommodate our guest's special requests, although it may be difficult for us to identify, with all certainty, items that are free from a particular ingredient."

Maybe your local one is more is willing to help.

[Veronica2]

Why does everyone say Chevy's has gluten free? I emailed them a couple of days ago & this is what I got:

"Thank you for writing to us with your question. Unfortunately, we do not have a list of gluten free items for our menus at this time. Although, whenever visiting one of our restaurants, please feel free to request assistance from the restaurant Manager in identifying items on our menu that may meet your dietary needs. We make every effort to try to accommodate our guest's special requests, although it may be difficult for us to identify, with all certainty, items that are free from a particular ingredient."

Maybe your local one is more is willing to help.

I also have never gotten a gluten-free menu at Cheesecake Factory. They thought I was asking for a "free menu" :-/

Maggiano's gave us a Gluten-free menu but unfortunately we were glutened afterward (we were only one of two couples in the entire restaurant (right after they opened for the day), so not sure how that happened! We don't gluten 'easily' either.

Noodles & Company has always worked out well for us (their Thai rice-noodle offerings on the menu).

[Coleslawcat]

Why does everyone say Chevy's has gluten free? I emailed them a couple of days ago & this is what I got:

"Thank you for writing to us with your question. Unfortunately, we do not have a list of gluten free items for our menus at this time. Although, whenever visiting one of our restaurants, please feel free to request assistance from the restaurant Manager in identifying items on our menu that may meet your dietary needs. We make every effort to try to accommodate our guest's special requests, although it may be difficult for us to identify, with all certainty, items that are free from a particular ingredient."

Maybe your local one is more is willing to help.

Here is their gluten free menu. It's online.

Open Original Shared Link

We went there Friday night and the kitchen manager came out to our table and talked to me. We called ahead and he brought out gluten free chips for us made in fresh oil. They also had a nutritional information book that had all of their gluten free options listed in the back of it. They were super helpful and understanding. I felt confident eating there and didn't get glutened.

[kareng]

That's great. That person who owns those franchises in Missouri is willing to do that. When I emailed Chevy's main office(?), I got the above reply that they don't specify gluten free. When we go to Columbia for a game, its good to know I can eat.

[Coleslawcat]

That's great. That person who owns those franchises in Missouri is willing to do that. When I emailed Chevy's main office(?), I got the above reply that they don't specify gluten free. When we go to Columbia for a game, its good to know I can eat.

I didn't even notice that menu was only for those franchises. Interestingly, I don't live there, I went to a Chevy's in Mesa, AZ. They did have a gluten free list of foods in the restaunrant, it was in the same little book their nutritional information was in that they keep at the hostess station. The hostess didn't even know it was there, but she pulled the book out to check just in case and there it was. As far as I can remember it seems to match up with the online one posted from the Missouri franchises, but obviously don't trust my memory.

[c12]

Lonestar has a really long gluten-free menu.

Joe's Crab Shack is a good option.

A lot of the soups and salads at Panera are safe.

[CelestialNav]

Carraba's Italian Restaurant has a Gluten-Free Menu. Their Gluten-Free Chicken Marsala with Garlic Mashed Potatoes is very yums.

[StephanieSD]

Uno's Chicago Grill (what I grew up knowing as Pizzeria Uno's) has a gluten-free menu. Mary's Pizza Shack and Pizza Fusion also have gluten-free menus, but I'm not sure where their locations are outside of California.

I didn't really love Uno's gluten-free pizza, but I appreciated that their gluten-free menu extracted parts from the "regular" menu that were gluten-free, like chicken and fish dishes, not just a list of the gluten-free pizza toppings. And when the waiter saw me ordering off the gluten-free menu, he knew not to bring my salad with croutons. (I was testing him and didn't ask about them when ordering!)

Stephanie

[luvs2eat]

Chilis now has a gluten free menu... it's mostly stuff they already offer, minus the bun, etc. We've eaten there several times and ALWAYS make friends w/ our server and explain my issues carefully. I've never had a problem.

Open Original Shared Link

The gluten free/allergy menu is on the left at the bottom.

[katinagj]

Thank you thank you thank you! Sorry I don't have any restaurants to add because I am new to the gluten free diet(2 weeks). But I LOVE olive garden and it has always been the place for my husband to surprise me going out to eat. I thought I was never going to get to eat there again and I had NO idea they had a gluten free menu!! So excited now, we are going out to eat this week Again thanks. And thanks to everyone elses suggestions! I am happy to have a list of places I can eat at without having to worry so much!

[mofo]

Longhorn Steakhouse also has a gluten-free menu.

Ninety-Nine has a nice sized menu and they now carry gluten-free rolls.

HORRIBLE experience at Famous Daves, they have a gluten-free menu(kind of) online, but I didn't print it out, and when I

called they said they had it at the restaurant, when I got there it was an ingredient list with what had gluten in it. It was

totally unhelpful.

[nowheatpete]

There's a new gluten free menu at PF Changs that just got released, things are slowly getting better for allergy/intolerance sufferers, our numbers are increasing Open Original Shared Link

[Noura]

We went to the Chili's in Flint and they were very attentive, concerned and kind however I still was glutened. They even threw away the first dish because of a mistake. I think they just were not aware of gluten being in other items. I don't know but I felt bad for 5 days. However, Cottage Inn Pizza was amazing! Not all of them have the gluten free pizza but the one that I tried was amazing! Best gluten free pizza so far! I even ate it for breakfast the next day! Yummmm!!! You'll have to call to see if yours has the gluten free pizza!

[nowheatpete]

Does anyone know of any similar gluten free restaurant (chains) in Europe? I can't find a good resource on the net for that.

[Lombardi25]

The 99 gluten-free buns are amazing, sorry just had to chime in, I had one with my burger and I've tried alot of crap gluten-free bread products, this was like the real deal, didn't crumble, wasn't too big or small, just tasted like I was eating a regular burger with a bun at the 99. Just a FYI for anyone that didn't know about this, I was shocked when my waitress told me a few weeks ago when I went to order :-)

Longhorn Steakhouse also has a gluten-free menu.

Ninety-Nine has a nice sized menu and they now carry gluten-free rolls.

HORRIBLE experience at Famous Daves, they have a gluten-free menu(kind of) online, but I didn't print it out, and when I

called they said they had it at the restaurant, when I got there it was an ingredient list with what had gluten in it. It was

totally unhelpful.

[MindytheOrganist]

I don't know where you live, but there is a chain called Biaggi's that has a super fantastic gluten-free menu. Pizza, pasta, even gluten-free bread to dip in their olive oil, cheese, and pepper dip.

Their gluten-free menu is three pages long. The servers are very knowledegeable (sp?) and the cooks have been thoroughtly trained.

[buffettbride]

It's not a chain, but a franchise in Colorado in Arizona, but Ling and Louie's has an AMAZING gluten free menu. The service is crappy and slow, but the food is amazing (imagine breaded/fried sweet and sour chicken, YUM). Hubby and daughter have both eaten there several times and haven't gotten sick. I also order off the gluten-free menu because it is so yummy and then I can kiss my man after lunch!

[Heidi S.]

The chain lists are growing longer, since I moved to Chicagoland I have to add some great restaurants. Wildfire (my favorite), the Yardhouse, Kona Grill, Fleming's and Ruth Chris Steak House, Chipotle, Boston Market, Chik-fil-a (in the south not Chicago), Ted Montana's Grill, Mitchell's fish house, Five Guys, Marcello's (gluten-free AWESOME PIZZA) and Hardee's (now doing burger's like Red Robin).

A local Chicagoland list:

Restaurants with multiple locations

* Adobo Grill www.adobogrill.com gluten-free Menu

* Aurelio's Pizza www.aureliospizza.com gluten-free Pizza

* Biaggi's www.biaggis.com gluten-free Menu

* Bonefish Grill www.bonefishgrill.com gluten-free Menu

* Cheeseburger In Paradise www.cheeseburgerinparadise.com gluten-free Menu

* Chipotle www.chipotle.com gluten-free Burrito Bowl

* Claim Jumper www.claimjumper.com gluten-free Menu

* Cooper's Hawk Winery www.coopershawkwinery.com gluten-free Menu

* Ditka's www.ditkasrestaurants.com Knowledgeable staff

* Five Guys www.fiveguys.com Everything except buns are gluten-free

* Flat Top Grill www.flattopgrill.com knowledgeable staff

* Fleming's Steakhouse www.flemingssteakhouse.com gluten-free Menu

* Francesca's Restaurants www.miafrancesca.com gluten-free Pasta, Arlington Heights location has gluten-free Menu

* Maggiano's Little Italy www.maggianos.com gluten-free Pasta

* Marcello's A Father and Son Restaurant www.marcellos.com gluten-free Pizza

* McCormick and Schmick's www.mccormickandschmicks.com Knowledgeable staff

* Mon Ami Gabi www.monamigabi.com Knowledgeable staff

* Outback Steakhouse www.outback.com gluten-free Menu

* PF Chang's China Bistro www.pfchangs.com gluten-free Menu

* Pizzeria Uno www.unos.com gluten-free Pizza

* Stir Crazy www.stircrazy.com gluten-free Sauces (need non-marinated protein)

* Topolobompo/Frontera Grill www.fronterakitchens.com Knowledgeable staff

* Walker Brothers Pancake House (www.walkerbros.net) gluten-free Pancakes

* Weber Grill www.webergrill.com gluten-free Menu

* Wildfire www.wildfire.com gluten-free Menu

Restaurants in Chicago

* Ben Pao Chinese Restaurant www.benpao.com gluten-free Menu

* Balanced Kitchen www.thebalancedkitchen.com gluten-free Menu

* Cafe Ba Ba Reeba www.cafebabareeba.com Knowledgeable staff

* Italian Village www.italianvillage-chicago.com Knowledgeable staff

* RL (Ralph Lauren) www.rlrestaurant.com Knowledgeable staff

* Swirlz Cupcakes www.swirlzcupcakes.com gluten-free Cupcakes

* Vinci www.vincichicago.com gluten-free Menu

Restaurants in West Suburbs

* Barone's (Glen Ellyn) www.bpizza.com gluten-free Pizza

* DaLuciano's (River Grove) www.dalucianos.com gluten-free Menu

* Emilio's Tapas (Hillside) www.emiliostapas.com Knowledgeable staff

* Gaetano's (Forest Park) www.gaetanoscafe.com Knowledgeable staff

* Glen Prairie (Glen Ellyn) www.glenprairie.com gluten-free Menu

* Greco's (Willow Springs) www.grecos.ws gluten-free Pasta

* Lucca's (LaGrange) www.luccaspizzeria.com gluten-free Pasta and gluten-free Pizza

* Mykha's (Glen Ellyn) www.mykhas.com Knowledgeable staff

* The Bank (Wheaton) www.thebankwheaton.com gluten-free Menu

* Pizza Fusion (Naperville) www.Lame Advertisement gluten-free Pizza

* White Chocolate Grill (Naperville) www.whitechocolategrill.com gluten-free Menu

Restaurants in Northwest Suburbs

* Graziano's (Niles) www.grazianos.net gluten-free Menu

* Sunrise Grill (Des Plaines) 847.298.1600 Knowledgeable staff

Restaurants in North Suburbs

* City Park Grill (Highland Park) www.thecityparkgrill.com gluten-free Menu

* Mitchell's Fish Market (Glenview) www.mitchellsfishmarket.com gluten-free Menu

* Smokin T's BBQ (Long Grove) www.smokintsbbq.com Knowledgeable staff

* Rose's Wheat Free Bakery and Cafe (Evanston) www.rosesbakery.com All Items gluten-free

Restaurants in South Suburbs

* Guardi's Pizza (Tinley Park) www.guardispizza.com gluten-free Pizza

[c12]

My list....

FAST FOOD:

-Baja Fresh

-Chick-Fil-A

-Chipotle

-Panera (sounds crazy, but some of their soups and salads are safe)

-Pei Wei

-Qdoba

-Samurai Sam's

RESTAURANTS:

-Au Bon Pain

-Bonefish Grill

-Buca di Beppo

-Buffalo Wild Wings

-Bugaboo

-The Capital Grill

-Carrabbas

-Chili's

-Claim Jumper

-Don Pablos

-Elephant Bar

-First Watch

-Flemings

-Gordon Biersch

-Hard Rock Cafe

-Joe's Crab Shack

-Kona Grill

-Lonestar

-Longhorn Steakhouse

-Macayo's Mexican

-O'Charley's

-Olive Garden

-On The Border

-Outback

-PF Changs

-Planet Hollywood

-Red Lobster

-Red Robin

-Ruth's Chris

-Ted's Montana Grill

-Texas Roadhouse

-Tony Romas

-Uno Chicago Grill

-Yard House

[kareng]

My list....

FAST FOOD:

-Baja Fresh

-Chick-Fil-A

-Chipotle

-Panera (sounds crazy, but some of their soups and salads are safe)

-Pei Wei

-Qdoba

-Samurai Sam's

RESTAURANTS:

-Au Bon Pain

-Bonefish Grill

-Buca di Beppo

-Buffalo Wild Wings

-Bugaboo

-The Capital Grill

-Carrabbas

-Chili's

-Claim Jumper

-Don Pablos

-Elephant Bar

-First Watch

-Flemings

-Gordon Biersch

-Hard Rock Cafe

-Joe's Crab Shack

-Kona Grill

-Lonestar

-Longhorn Steakhouse

-Macayo's Mexican

-O'Charley's

-Olive Garden

-On The Border

-Outback

-PF Changs

-Planet Hollywood

-Red Lobster

-Red Robin

-Ruth's Chris

-Ted's Montana Grill

-Texas Roadhouse

-Tony Romas

-Uno Chicago Grill

-Yard House

Got this from Elephant Bar:

Thank you for taking the time to fill out a customer comment. At this

point, we don't feel comfortable to recommend any food items on our menu

with the mentioned criteria of gluten free. We are currently working on

a gluten free menu but that has not been finalized yet. I am very sorry

for the inconvenience. I will definitely keep you posted on any further

developments. Please let me know if you have any questions!

[ATCProf]

No matter what the chain has for gluten-free menus, it is also a good idea to see if the server is familiar with the gluten-free diet. I have been gluten-free for over 17 years, and the number of people who are familiar with the needs of our diet has grown tremendously. About half the servers I get in restaurants these days are familiar with the diet, and will be vigilant about helping you to be safe. Naturally, they get well tipped! When the wait staff are not well informed, let the manager know that you would appreciate it if they could provide training on special diets to their employees.