EAT: Bloom's Deli, New York, NY

When in New York City, one must stop by one of the many Deli's for an authentic New York Deli Sandwich. But what is one to do when he/she is gluten intolerant? No worries, head over to Bloom's Deli on Lexington Ave., where they have a gluten free menu. You will find pancakes, rubens, fries, salads, and even desserts! Bloom's Deli was the only deli in NYC I found that has a gluten free menu and can make a gluten free ruben on bread!

After taking our order, our server brought us a large bowl of pickles. They were delicious and a great accompaniment to lunch!

I ordered my Ruben sandwich with pastrami. Each sandwich comes with sauerkraut. I checked with the manager and found out that the gluten free bread carried at Bloom's Deli is not corn free, so I had to pass on the bread (it is brought in from an outside source, not made in house). That did not matter, as it was still the largest sandwich I have ever seen! There was so much meat on the plate, I am definitely glad NYC requires so much walking to burn off that delicious lunch.

My lunch companion ordered the Ruben with Corned Beef. He also ordered sans bread so I could try it as well. Again, the amount of meat on the plate was outrageous, but super tasty and definitely something not to miss while in NYC. 

As if the Rubens were not enough, I asked the manager about the fryer and if the fries were fried in a dedicated fryer. She said that they have a dedicated fryer just for the fries, so we had to order them. They were great! I did miss enjoying them with ketchup, due to Heinz having corn syrup as an ingredient. 

I am really glad we found Bloom's Deli. With its convenient location in NYC and its gluten free menu, it was great to enjoy an authentic Ruben sandwich while visiting New York City. Be sure to check it out on your next trip!

350 Lexington Ave. 

New York, NY 10016

212.922.3663

www.bloomsnewyorkdeli.com

EAT: Angus Barn, Raleigh, NC

Looking for a great steak in the Raleigh area? And you are gluten free too?! Head over to the infamous Angus Barn. They have an extensive gluten free and dairy free menu. The binder is a different color than the regular menus. 

Many of Angus Barn's favorites are gluten free. A great selection of steaks and seafood. I promise, you won't feel deprived eating at The Barn!

I ordered the Spinach Salad with no egg to start and the Ribeye with Asparagus. The Barn does not have gluten free bread, so nothing to spread the yummy cheese on (spoon, please?). Don't worry, there are plenty of other safe options to fill your belly.

The Angus Barn

9401 Glenwood Ave. 

Raleigh, NC

919.781.2444

www.angusbarn.com

EAT: Sharky's On The Pier, Venice, FL

I have to say, Venice, FL (west coast of Florida between Sarasota and Fort Myers) is not the mecca for gluten free options, but I was pleasantly surprised to find Sharky's On The Pier to be allergy friendly. A lot of the menu items at Sharky's are fried or have bread, but they also have an extensive two page Gluten Free Menu. Salads, Fresh Catches, Steaks, and even Pasta give gluten intolerance diners many options.

I decided on the BLT Salad topped with Grilled Shrimp. I opted to switch out the dressing to the Homemade Dill Ranch. The salad was really tasty and filling, plenty for dinner.

In addition to being known for great seafood, the sunset views over the Gulf of Mexico are spectacular. Located right at the pier, Sharky's has great outdoor seating and all tables have views of the ocean. Be sure to check out Sharky's On The Pier on your next trip to Venice, FL.

Sharky's On The Pier
1600 Harbor Dr.
Venice, FL 34285
941.488.1456
www.sharkysonthepier.com

EAT: Spencer's, Palm Springs, CA

 

 I love downtown Palm Springs, CA! When in Palm Springs, I am always on the lookout for great restaurants and highly recommend the weekly Thursday night VillageFest in downtown. Spencer's Restaurant caught my eye during this year's trip. It has all gluten free menu items listed right on the menu. The dinner menu has a nice selection of gluten free options.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere at Spencer's. If you dined inside, there are quaint tables surrounding a piano. The pianist plays during your meal offering nice musical accompaniment. Dining outside on the patio also has a nice atmosphere with lighted globes hanging from the trees and misters overhead to keep the heat at bay. The patio also offers a nice view of the base of the San Jacinto Mountains.

I decided to try the Sauteed Nantucket Sea Scallops with Potato Leek Confit and Noilly Prat Cream. Even though it is listed as an appetizer, the four large scallops were definitely enough for light eaters and those who do not want a heavy meal. After a long, hot day on the golf course, the scallops were plenty. The potato confit was a nice balance to the scallops. They even had Udi's gluten free bread upon request.

Spencer's Restaurant is a quaint, quiet spot just a couple blocks off Hwy 111/Palm Canyon Dr. It is nestled right up to the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. Spencer's also has an extensive wine and cocktail list.

Spencer's Restaurant

701 W. Baristo Rd.

Palm Springs, CA 92262

http://www.spencersrestaurant.com

 

EAT: 411 West Italian Cafe, Chapel Hill, NC

411 West was my favorite restaurant in downtown Chapel Hill when I was at UNC-Chapel Hill! The atmosphere and the food were hard to beat. Pre-gluten free, I loved their pizzas and pasta. Now, I and other gluten free diners can still enjoy pizza and pasta. 411 West has an extensive gluten free menu, along with gluten free pasta and pizza crusts. Depending on your sensitivity, the pizzas are placed in the same oven as the gluten pizzas, so beware.

Stopping in for lunch one day, I decided on the Wood Grilled Pear Salad with Salmon. It included walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese. It was very tasty and perfectly cooked. I thought about trying the gluten free Pesto Pizza (my favorite from pre-gluten days), but was apprehensive due to my sensitivity to gluten. I checked on the gluten free pasta and was told it was corn pasta, a no-go for me. I was really impressed by the large selection of menu choices on the gluten free menu, as most restaurants give us only a couple of options. There are even a couple of dessert options of Vanilla Creme Brulee, Gelato, and Sorbet.

Definitely check out 411 West for an Italian experience (and ask to be seated in the atrium). They are very accommodating for food allergies and offer a nice variety of options for any taste buds.

411 West Italian Cafe
411 W. Franklin St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
919.967.2782
www.411west.com

EAT: Grille 401, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Maybe it was Spring Break or maybe it was just a regular Friday night? Either way, Grille 401 was hopping and definitely the place to be in downtown Ft. Lauderdale! A DJ playing jammin' tunes and a gluten free menu?? Where else would I be dining?!?

We started the meal with the gluten free Coconut Shrimp Roll. The steamed shrimp, toasted coconut, jalapeno, and avocado gave the roll a nice spicy kick. The gluten free menu and our server confirmed that they had gluten free soy sauce. I am always apprehensive about gluten free soy sauce at a restaurant and always ask for the whole bottle to confirm its status and ensure I get the gluten free sauce. Our server informed us that it is in a big bottle and he could not bring it out. No worries, I had a couple of San-J travel Gluten Free Tamari packs in my purse! The Roll was very tasty and a great start to our meal.

I ordered the gluten free Asian Sea Bass with sticky rice and fresh spinach. In order to be gluten free, I had to omit the sherry soy broth. I decided the broth was not needed, as the Chilean sea bass was very tasty and not dry.

My gluten free dinner companion ordered the gluten free Prime Rib. In order to make it gluten free, he omitted the au gus and substituted the gluten free peanut and ginger slaw for the baked potato. The plate brought out to him had au jus on the side in a bowl and the meat had been dipped in the au jus. Not gluten free! After speaking with our server, he quickly brought a fresh plate sans au jus. The prime rib was cooked to a nice medium and the slaw was delicious, crunchy, with a hint of ginger and topped with chopped peanuts.

Grille 401 was definitely the place to see and be seen in Ft. Lauderdale. It had a nice vibe, and with two stories of seating, accommodated a large crowd. The addition of the DJ gave it a fun club feel, and people were even dancing. Grille 401 had two bars, both of which were crowded. The food was good and with the gluten free menu, it was easy to find options. My only caveat is to make sure to double check your order with the server. Ours was not the most knowledgeable about gluten free as other restaurants I have dined in, but he was quick to fix the au jus mistake.

Grille 401
401 Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954.767.0222
www.grille401.com

EAT: Gallagher's Steakhouse, New York-New York Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Gallagher's Steakhouse, located in New York New York Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, is a busy steakhouse where the steaks are dry aged in house. It has a nice atmosphere with cozy small tables. 

Gallagher's Steakhouse has an extensive gluten free menu with an variety of steaks. Normally, their steaks have a Demi-glaze on them when they arrive at the table, but the Demi-glaze is not gluten free and is omitted on a gluten free meal. Beware that if a steak is considered too rare by the customer and sent back to be cooked up, there is a chance that the Demi-glaze is on the grill. Our server, Todd, informed us of this during our order which allowed me to ask for my Filet to be cooked in a pan. 

I ordered the gluten free Center Cut Filet Mignon cooked in a pan with a loaded Colossal Baked Potato. The Filet was cooked to a nice medium.

My dinner companion decided on the gluten free Porterhouse after being told that Gallagher's was sold out of Prime Rib and the Catch of the Day, Chilean Sea Bass, at 8:30pm on Saturday night. He also ordered a side of sautéed spinach.

I thought Gallagher's Steakhouse was a pretty average steakhouse. I did like the selection of gluten free options on the gluten free menu, but as always in Las Vegas, the prices were high. 

Gallagher's Steakhouse

New York-New York Hotel

3790 South Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

http://www.newyorknewyork.com/restaurants/gallaghers-steakhouse.aspx

EAT: Sixth and Vine Wine Bar and Cafe, Winston-Salem, NC

Sixth and Vine Wine Bar and Cafe has been a staple in downtown Winston-Salem, NC since its revitalization several years ago. A fun wine bar with an expansive wine list and a great outdoor patio, Sixth and Vine has always been pretty aware of food allergies. Now, it has a new menu with Gluten Free items clearly labeled!

My most recent visit was on a Thursday evening. The weather was great, so my dinner companion and I ate outside on the back patio. The patio has quite a bit of seating and was packed that night. Thursday night is also DJ night, where a DJ comes in to spin tunes in the bar area and gathers quite a crowd, as well as some dancing. I was going to stick to my "usual," the Grilled Chicken Caprese, as I had inquired a while back about whether it was gluten free. It was my "safe" meal. This time, however, once I saw the "GF" clearly marked next to items (and the Grilled Chicken Caprese), I thought I would branch out and try some of the new menu items. We ordered the Antipasti Platter and Cheese Board, minus the crostinis, as an appetizer. It was a nice mix of meats and cheeses, with nuts, fruit, and olives served on a large wood board.

For my dinner, I stuck with appetizers and ordered the gluten free Caprese Skewers and the gluten free Scallops. The Caprese Skewers had tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, pesto, and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top. I love caprese salad, so it was a perfect fit and great new addition to the menu. The Scallops had a blueberry compote and crushed walnuts on top. Very different flavor combination, but I really liked it.  The nuts helped balance the blueberry and added a slight sweetness to the scallops. Another great new addition to the menu.

My dinner companion wanted to order the ribs, which were not labeled gluten free on the menu. After chatting with our server, who gladly checked with the kitchen, we found out that the sauce on the ribs is not gluten free. He was able to order the ribs sans sauce and enjoy a gluten free meal, complete with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

It is great that Sixth and Vine has taken their food allergy knowledge to another level and added gluten free to the menu. I always felt safe eating there prior to the menu addition, but now others can take advantage of their good selection of gluten free menu items.

Sixth and Vine
209 W. 6th Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
www.6thandvine.com
336.725.5577

EAT: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

Firebirds Grilled Shrimp and Strawberry Salad

Several years ago while driving to a golf tournament, I stopped for dinner at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Birmingham, AL. At the time, Firebirds did not have a gluten free menu. Luckily, the CEO and Executive Chef were at the Birmingham location that night.  Being from North Carolina and Firebirds corporate headquarters being in Charlotte, NC, I asked my server if I could chat with the CEO and Executive Chef.  After swapping NC stories for a few minutes, I mentioned that a gluten free menu would be a great addition to the restaurant, which now boasts 35 locations around the country.  We discussed the challenges and requirements of creating such a menu and they were very interested in providing their customers with more options.  Now, Firebirds has an extensive gluten free menu.

Firebirds has great dinner salads! Prior to going dairy and egg free, my favorite was the Firebirds BLT salad, tasting exactly like a BLT complete with roasted garlic ranch dressing. The BLT salad is just as tasty with the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. For those of you who are not dairy free, ask for a side of their aged Cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top (they toss the salad in the dressing, and trust me, the cheese tastes completely different if tossed in the dressing!). Now, I get the Grilled Shrimp and Strawberry Salad and replace the Balsamic Vinaigrette (has eggs) with the Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette. Still super delish!  If you have other allergies besides wheat gluten, be sure to ask your server or speak with the manager.  There is a book with all ingredients in the back that they are happy to share to make sure you have as safe a meal as possible.

Firebirds BLT Dinner Salad

The gluten free menu also has several types of beef, including prime rib and filet mignon, as well as a variety of seafood and baby back ribs.  They also have a selection of five sides to go with entrees and a gluten free kid's menu.  

My only caveat with Firebirds is the lack of a gluten free dessert (everyone needs something sweet occasionally, right?!).  I hear they have remedied this with a new gluten free flourless chocolate cake, available for a limited time. Hopefully, it will be a permanent fixture on the menu soon!

So, if you are in Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia, be sure to check out Firebirds and its gluten free menu.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
http://www.firebirdsrestaurants.com