Pittsburgh - Celiac Friendly

[eating4life]

Does anyone have any Celiac-friendly restaurants to recommend in the Pittsburgh/Cranberry Township area?

I'm new to this board, but have been treating with a great nutritionist in Cranberry for several years. If anyone is in need of a good nutritionist just let me know and I'll e-mail you his name & number! He's super with kids, too!

[seeking-wholeness]

I have had good luck ordering plain baked cod (in olive oil, since I am also dairy-free) with a plain baked potato and sugar snap peas (yum!) at Eat 'N' Park. I take my own bread and margarine. The only bad part is not being able to have Grilled Stickes a la Mode for dessert anymore! I hope this helps!

[YankeeDB]

Hi Eating4Life!

I've heard that Outback Steakhouse and P.F. Chang's restaurants have gluten-free menu items.

I've eaten out a few times and used a "celiac card" to have the waitperson show the chef about what I can/can't eat. Generally, the fancier the restaurant, the more accommodating they are.

In less resplendent places, baked potatoes are nearly always safe and I always ask for oil and vinegar instead of their salad dressings. A plain steak is generally a good bet (ask for no sauces whatever).

[Guest laughs8]

Hi there!

I'm a student at the University of Pittsburgh, a freshman, and I've just this past week had my first reaction to gluten since being here (a small Chinese buffet on Forbes, in Oakland...I should have known better). There are actually a lot of options around, especially in restaurants with ethnic menus. India Garden on Atwood, Thai Place Cafe (a few locations), the Polynesian Spice and Tea House on Atwood (at least I think that's the name), and Veracruz (Mexican, quick and cheap, on Forbes) are some of my favorites. Also, Aladdin's in Squirrel Hill claims to have gluten free falafel, and while I didn't react to it, I know I'm not the most sensitive person and if I accidentally eat a tiny amount of flour I won't know it. Hope this helps, feel free to e-mail me if you want more specifics (edk3@pitt.edu)

[Wish]

Hi there! I go to the University of Pittsburgh as well. I think laughs8 has done an excellent job of listing Celiac friendly restaurants...there are only two more I can think of to add. One is Bravo's restaurant in Cranberry. The Greater Pittsburgh Celiac support group had a dinner there and worked with the manager and several chefs extensively beforehand, so the restaurant is already well aware of the special needs of Celiac clients. I know there is at least one chicken dish, one pork dish, and one pasta dish that they can make gluten-free. It's best to call a day in advance, though, because the chicken (and maybe the pork...I'm not sure) have to sit in a marinade overnight, and the marinade has to be prepared differently to make the dish gluten free. Even if you're getting the pasta, it's best to make sure they have rice pasta on hand...if you're in a pinch, though, I bet they'd make the pasta dish for you if you brought your own rice noodles.

The other good restaurant is Buca di Beppo's at Station Square. This restaurant has worked with the Gluten Intolerance Group and has a number of dishes that can be tailored to fit the gluten free diet. Typically, once your server learns that you're requesting a gluten free meal, the chef will come speak to you and explain which dishes are available and what modifications must be made to ensure that they are gluten free. I personally order the chicken marsala (this is gluten free as long as you request that they not dust the chicken in flour during the preparation process), which is really tasty. The only thing you have to watch is that Buca di Beppo's is a family style restaurant, so the portions are huge (typically large enough to feed four people). In other words, bring lots of family members/friends when you go!

I hope this information is helpful!

[ashylu929]

Hi Eating4Life!

I've heard that Outback Steakhouse and P.F. Chang's restaurants have gluten-free menu items.

I've eaten out a few times and used a "celiac card" to have the waitperson show the chef about what I can/can't eat. Generally, the fancier the restaurant, the more accommodating they are.

In less resplendent places, baked potatoes are nearly always safe and I always ask for oil and vinegar instead of their salad dressings. A plain steak is generally a good bet (ask for no sauces whatever).

Outback, EatNPark. PF Chang's & Uno Grille are all gluten-friendly

[mamaw]

Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse, Pizza Fusion, Smokey Bones, Chili's,First Watch, Boston Market, Eat n Park, Burger King, Wendy's, Quaker Steak & Lube all in the Cranberry area.

Support Group: GLuten Free Cravings, 220 W North St, Butler, Pa 16002 for anyone on the gluten free lifestyle. For more info send me a pm .

blessings

mamaw