Tarpon Springs is small city on the gulf coast of Florida. It boasts the highest Greek-American population in the United States making it a foodie destination! And there are some great Tarpon Springs restaurants that offer gluten-free options.
Historically, Tarpon Springs was founded on the sponge
industry and you can still watch the sponge fishermen at the docks and buy the
natural sponges in Downtown Tarpon Springs.
But today, Tarpon is better known for its Greektown Historic
District and Pinellas County Parks sandy beaches.
Keep reading for my recommendations for Tarpon Springs Restaurants–but also be sure to download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff to ensure they understand your dietary needs.
The gluten-free guide below is based on our personal experience at eateries in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Always be sure to discuss gluten-free options with your server and ensure that they are able to accommodate your personal dietary needs. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
TARPON SPRINGS RESTAURANTS WITH GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS
Eco Bean Coffee
While Eco Bean is technically a coffee shop, it deserves to be placed first on my list of Tarpon Springs restaurants!
Eco Bean is 100% gluten-free. And they have MUCH more than coffee.
Eco Bean’s menu boasts many options for light breakfast and
lunch fare, as well as a juice bar, delicious baked goods, and hand-crafted energy
balls & candies. And yes, all
gluten-free.
note: their vegan options
are EXTENSIVE.
I tried their café mocha, iced coffee with almond milk,
banana bread, and a peanut butter cup.
This is a MUST visit place in Tarpon Springs. Plus, I love supporting 100% gluten-free eateries!
Check out all the yummy goodness at Eco Bean!
Hellas Tarpon Springs
Hellas is probably one of the most popular restaurants in
Tarpon Springs. Despite not having a
separate gluten-free menu, they DO have quite a few items on their regular menu,
such as the chicken kabobs, that are naturally gluten-free.
In addition, waitstaff are trained on which items are
appropriate for those with food allergies & sensitivities and the kitchen does
guard against cross-contamination.
View Hellas Tarpon Springs menu here and contact them to discuss gluten-free options.
Spirou’s Cookhouse
This diner is not something to miss among all the restaurants in Tarpon Springs, especially if you’re gluten-free!
Not only can you eat their massive Greek salad, but they do
have many other options including gluten-free bread for their sandwiches.
I tried their Greek salad with grilled chicken and the Rueben
sandwich on gluten-free bread. Both were
delicious!
Our Greek Salad with Chicken and Rueben Sandwich on gluten-free bread
Tommy’s Produce Stand
Although Tommy’s Produce Stand is not really a Tarpon Springs restaurant, and is located a bit outside of Tarpon Springs, you’ll want to go out of your way to stop by!
You can find an array of fruits and vegetables native to
Florida. You’ll be overwhelmed by the
naturally gluten-free goodness you find!
Tommy’s Produce Stand
Just practicing diving for sponges!
If you’ve enjoyed this gluten-free guide to Tarpon Springs restaurants, don’t forget to use the social sharing buttons below to share on your social media or pin to Pinterest for reference later.
Have you gone to any of these restaurants in Tarpon Springs?
Please let me know about your experience in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you!
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Please take the time to tell us YOUR favorites in the Albany area for the best:
All-around restaurant with gluten-free entrees
Gluten-free bakery
Gluten-free pizza
Mexican/Central/South American restaurant with gluten-free entrees
Asian restaurant with gluten-free entrees
and gluten-free burger!
How to Participate
To nominate and vote for your FAVORITE Albany area eats, please be sure to do the following:
Take the survey below between 1/27/19-2/09/19 and vote for your FAVORITES from those already nominated or if not already listed, write in your favorite eateries within 1 hour of Albany, New York.
Before nominating an eatery, please verify they have good practices in place to prevent against cross contamination. Not sure what to check for? Please see this post on eating out safely gluten-free.
Follow The Helpful GF on Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter below to be sure you are notified when the results of the survey are posted!
Use the grey social buttons at the bottom of this page to share this post with your friends so they can vote too!
Have fun!
Voting is now closed. Check back soon for the results!
Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to ensure you get the survey results once posted. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Do you live outside of the Albany area but want to work with me to do something like this in YOUR hometown? Comment below or email me at sharon {at} thehelpfulgf {dot} com.
I just returned from my family’s first trip to Disney World. I was a bit nervous about finding good food options for gluten-free at Disney World. You know, delicious food—not food that leaves you feeling left out of the fun.
~~To have the best experience possible, I used Jessica Tullino from http://www.imagineeredvacations.com. She is a Disney Concierge and she planned everything for us (fast passes, meal reservations, tips, and more!) plus found us some excellent deals at no extra cost to us! I highly recommend her—click through to her website for a quote and tell her I, Sharon from The Helpful GF, recommended you.~~
To say I was floored by the dietary accommodations they provided is an understatement. We were wined, dined, and treated so well!
Keep reading to learn more about how Disney World accommodates gluten-free and other allergies.
The tips below are based on my personal experience and research. Always be sure to discuss gluten-free options with your server and ensure that your personal dietary needs are accommodated. Also, this post contains affiliate links. If you order something through one of these links I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Eating at Disney World
For the Disney newbies—there are 3 levels of food options when it comes to eating both at Disney World parks and resorts:
Disney World Restaurants (table service),
Quick Service (counter service),
and Snacks.
Keep reading for my experience in navigating gluten-free and allergy accommodations with all three levels for you.
Keep reading for my full eating gluten-free at Disney World review–but also be sure to download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff to ensure they understand your dietary needs.
Eating Gluten-Free at Disney World Restaurants
Each Disney World Restaurant operates a little bit
differently in how they treat gluten-free and allergies. Some will have an official “Disney World
Allergy Menu” they will give you, others will bring out a chef or someone
trained in special diets to go over your options.
gluten-free breakfast at Be Our Guest
For example, when we ate at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, we ordered our food with a cashier instead of at the kiosk so the cashier could discuss our options and tag specific meals as needing gluten-free accommodation. They always serve pastries at breakfast, and we were surprised that in addition to the gluten-free breakfast platter, they brought up a couple different slices of gluten-free tea breads such as banana bread.
By contrast, at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort, they did have a Disney World Allergy Menu detailing which options were gluten-free. Furthermore, the servers working the buffet gave us further guidance on which options were acceptable. They even prepared a special dessert not on the buffet of a delicious brownie with berry sorbet and served it to our table.
gluten-free dessert at 1900 Park Fare
Whether or not the Disney World Restaurant had a specific
Disney World Allergy Menu, at each restaurant, the table servers always had a
receipt detailing who in our party had the allergy and which allergy it
was.
Throughout the parks and resorts there are lots of quick
service options!
Each quick service counter we visited either brought out a
manager or special cashier to discuss options or pull up options and flag them
as “gluten allergy” on the computer.
For example, at the quick service counter at the Art of
Animation Resort, someone specifically trained in allergies would come forward
to the counter and prepare our meals.
While all the quick service counters we went to had
gluten-free options, some may not.
However, we had a great experience with gluten-free quick service at
Disney World.
Plus—did you know that you can bring a reusable water bottle into the parks and the quick service restaurants will fill it up for you with ice water? We brought in our insulated reusable water bottles and Arbonne fizz sticks to stay hydrated and energized!
Snacks at Disney World
There are a number of gluten-free snack options throughout
Disney! In general, the same rules apply
to getting a gluten-free or allergy friendly snack as ordering quick service.
For example, at the ice cream shop we visited at Magic
Kingdom, a manager came out to the cashier to specifically ensure that what I
was ordering was gluten-free.
Furthermore, the manager scooped the ice cream with a clean scoop from a
brand-new ice cream tub to further protect against cross contamination. The manager then personally served our ice
cream to us from a different section.
At kiosks, the server will be able to look up the gluten-free
options available at their specific stand.
Many of the Disney favorites are gluten-free such as Mickey
Ice Cream Bars and Dole Whip. Plus, if
you’re looking for a trusted gluten-free treat, step into a Starbucks and look
for easy grab and go treat labeled gluten-free (like Marshmallow Dream Bars or
Kind Bars).
If you’re planning a trip to Disney, start getting excited about the gluten-free and allergy friendly options available to you! There are so many, and you will be treated like a princess. And don’t forget to contact Jessica and tell her I referred you. She made our whole trip totally easy.
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Did you love these tips? Be sure to use the social buttons below to share this post with your friends or pin it to Pinterest for quick reference later.
The gluten-free review below on the 110 Grill Menu is based on our personal experience at 110 Grill in Albany, NY. Always be sure to discuss gluten-free options with your server and ensure that they are able to accommodate your personal dietary needs. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
It isn’t often that you enter a restaurant and there are as many choices on the gluten-free menu as the regular dining menu—but the 110 Grill menu IS THAT MENU! **cue the cheers!**
I’ve seen other gluten-free bloggers posting Instagram pics of their food and I knew that when one opened in Albany I HAD to try it! And let me tell you—not only did 110 Grill not disappoint, but it honestly exceeded my expectations.
Keep reading to learn more about the 110 Grill Menu and see pics of what we personally ate.
Keep reading for my full 110 Grill review–but also be sure to download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff to ensure they understand your dietary needs.
Gluten and Allergen Care
In my experience, 110 Grill sets the standard of allergen protocol in a shared kitchen. When seated, the first thing the wait staff asked was: “Does anyone in your party have any allergies to note?” The allergens were recorded and it was explained that all allergen-friendly food would be carried out by senior staff so it would not be mixed up.
Managers at 100 Grill receive Food Safety and Allergen Awareness certifications and staff receive extensive allergen training.
Another cool aspect of 110 Grill’s allergen commitment (which also makes their food WAY better than competitors) is that the kitchen is a from scratch kitchen, so it makes it simple for them to prepare food in a way that’s tailored to your individual needs.
PLUS—when delivered to the table, the allergen-friendly food is also marked with a little allergen marker. Keep on reading to see what we ate!
The 110 Grill Menu
As mentioned, the 110 Grill menu for gluten-free dining is extensive. According to the company, 100% of their regular menu can be adapted to be gluten-free!
At the time we dined, there were 10 appetizers, choices of flatbreads, salads, and soups, plus more than 25 entrees. Plus, there are a number of vegetarian and vegan options as well!
When you’re not used to this many choices—indecision is REAL!
Here’s what we ate for appetizers:
chorizo totchos (nachos made with tater tots as a base)
crispy fried pickle chips (with the most amazing honey mustard and sriracha aioli dipping sauces)
firecracker shrimp with sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Chorizo Totchos
Crispy Fried Pickle Chips
Firecracker Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce
The fried pickles and firecracker shrimp were both gluten and dairy free. We devoured the appetizers. They were so amazing!
The main courses:
steak & cheese sandwich on a gluten-free bun with regular French fries
Cuban sandwich with regular French fries (this was gluten and dairy free—plus, note the fried pickles ON the sandwich! genius.)
grilled cheese with creamy tomato soup (the grilled cheese had both American and goat cheese plus garlic aioli).
Steak & Cheese Sandwich
Cuban Sandwich
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Each of these sandwiches were great—but I don’t know if I can accurately explain just how delicious this combo of cheeses was on the grilled cheese. It makes me want to keep goat cheese in the fridge JUST for grilled cheese.
THE 110 GRILL MENU—FOR KIDS!
I’m pulling out the children’s menu into it’s own section because I was honestly floored when I saw all the choices on the kids menu—which just like the adult menu—can be 100% modified to be gluten-free!
There are so many options when building the kids meal. The price is also amazing for what you get. Maybe next time I should order a children’s meal?
Children’s meals come with a choice of 6 different main meal options, 3 sides (regular & sweet potato fries and rice), 3 different veggie options, and 3 dessert options—plus a drink!
Here’s pictures of my daughter’s children’s meal. She ordered the gluten-free pasta with red sauce, regular French fries, carrots & celery with ranch dip, and a bowl of berries for dessert. She is a good eater but could not finish it because it was so much food! But she sure loved every bite!
Pasta with Red Sauce, Fries, & Veggies
Berries for Dessert
Final Thoughts
The gluten-free offerings on the 110 Grill menu definitely set the standard for gluten-free dining. Not only is there a wide variety, but the food itself is really delicious! Next time you’re in New York, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire, be sure to see if there is a 110 Grill nearby!
If you enjoyed this 110 Grill Review, share it on social media and pin it to Pinterest using the share buttons below!
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
This post contains affiliate links. If you order through one of these links I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
5 TIPS FOR EATING OUT GLUTEN-FREE AT RESTAURANTS
Going out to eat when you’re gluten-free or have other dietary restriction is difficult. However, eating out gluten-free IS possible, it just takes more intentional planning and asking key questions. Here are my 5 top tips for eating out gluten-free at restaurants.
Tip #1: Do Your Research!
The internet is your friend—at first! Do a google search for restaurants offering gluten-free menus or use the findmeglutenfree app/website. Look through the options available and use it as a starting point when you want to eat out gluten-free. Never completely rely on the restaurant’s website or someone’s review of a restaurant to see if it’s safe for your dietary needs.
Note: You all know I LOVE to review restaurants! You can even look through my reviews here. I write those to be a first step for you—not as a means to skip these next 4 tips!
Tip #2: Contact the Restaurant Ahead of Time
As I mention above, when eating out gluten-free never simply rely on an online menu. Always call the restaurant ahead of time to ask questions and ensure they are capable of accommodating your individual dietary needs. I personally find open-ended questions (ones not resulting in a yes/no answer) to be the most helpful here. Some questions I like to as are:
What kinds of accommodations are you able to make for individuals with food allergies?
How do you prevent against cross contamination?
Do you have any dedicated prep stations/fryers/ovens for gluten-free dishes? (While this is not an open-ended question, this can help you see how much they really are able to protect against cross-contamination)
Based on these questions you can often tell if it’s worth eating out gluten-free at this specific restaurant. I’ve often called a restaurant and it became clear within a couple seconds of the phone conversation whether they could truly accommodate allergies/intolerances, or just food “preferences.”
Bonus tip: Be considerate of restaurant staff. Try to call during a typical restaurant lull—like 2:30-4pm—so you aren’t rushed off the phone. And if they are busy, ask when a good time would be to call back.
Tip # 3: Be Clear, but Kind, to Waitstaff
When eating out gluten-free, ensure the waitstaff are well aware of your dietary needs. Use clear language to be sure that they understand what kinds of accommodations they will need to make. When eating out gluten-free, we often use the language “gluten allergy” even though we have Celiac disease. More people seem to understand the severity of “allergy.”
It may also be helpful to carry an allergy alert card to use at restaurants when eating out gluten-free (such as the one I’ve created and you can download for free below). Give it to the waitstaff—but be kind, not condescending.
Keep reading for more tips on eating out gluten-free, but also be sure to download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff to ensure they understand your dietary needs.
For example, you could say something to the effect of, “I have a serious gluten-allergy. Yesterday I talked to someone on the phone who assured me that the kitchen could accommodate my needs so I could eat safely here. This allergy card states what I can and cannot eat, plus some suggestions for the kitchen that could keep me healthy. I know that this is some extra work for you and the kitchen, so I’m happy to wait a bit longer for food.”
Tip #4: Always Double-Check
Once your food is delivered to your table, always double-check that the entrée in front of you is gluten-free! When eating out gluten-free, sometimes a separate person or a manager will bring out the gluten-free entrée so it’s always important to double-check! In cases when the incorrect food is delivered, ask for a correction/replacement meal. Better yet, ask the manager for one.
Tip #5: Don’t Give In to Peer Pressure!
Some restaurants can and will accommodate your food needs making eating out gluten-free easy. But some will not. You are under no obligation to eat if you are not sure that your needs are actually being considered. Do not compromise your health for the sake of ‘fitting in.’
If it becomes clear when ordering that your needs cannot be accommodated safely, leave.
If it is a social gathering, just order a gluten-free drink and enjoy the company. Also, if you know ahead of the social gathering that your needs may not be accommodated well, eat ahead of time and bring a snack to curb the hunger. Gluten-free bars like Kind or RX Bars are great for this.
Some places may even let you bring your own meal if they are unable to accommodate. For example, my family once attended a party at a Bowling Alley where they served pizza as part of the party. The bowling alley was happy to let us bring in our own gluten-free pizza since they could not accommodate gluten-free dietary needs.
Do you have any other tips for eating out gluten-free? Share them in the comments.
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
The review below is based on our personal experience at Zaftigs Delicatessen. Always be sure to discuss gluten-free options with your server and ensure that they are able to accommodate your personal dietary needs. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Zaftigs Delicatessen: A Gluten-Free Restaurant Review
Although Upstate New York is our home base, we travel to Boston, Massachusetts frequently to see my husband’s Celiac specialists. Whenever we drive down, we always make it a point to take full advantage of the amazing gluten-free restaurants in Boston! On our most recent trip, we ate at Zaftigs Delicatessen and tried out their gluten-free menu. Zaftigs Delicatessen currently has two locations—we ate at the Brookline location and had a great experience!
Keep reading for my full review–but also be sure to download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff to ensure they understand your dietary needs.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Zaftigs Delicatessen was fun, and a bit quirky—which matches their menu. They have both a “take out” counter (with pastry case) and general seating.
Menu
Zaftigs Delicatessen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Many of their menu items can be made gluten-free by substituting either gluten-free bread or a gluten-free bagel. There is a wide variety of options including some super fun sandwich creations! Unfortunately, they have a shared fryer, so beware of cross contamination there—shared fryers are not safe for Celiacs. However, they have other options for sides including cole slaw and potato salad that are gluten-free. This was a welcome change from the typical “oh, you’re gluten-free? here’s a salad” that we get at so many restaurants!
Here’s what we ate:
For an appetizer we shared the Stuffed Cabbages. These were really yummy—sweeter than I anticipated due to the cranberries in the sauce. It was a nice flavor combo!
For our main courses we ordered The Reuben: corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on gluten-free bread with a side of potato salad and The Patty Melt: an 8 0z Sirloin Burger, caramelized onions, swiss and Russian Dressing on gluten-free bread with a side of coleslaw.
Each of these main courses were so delicious. The gluten-free bread actually held together while eating instead of disintegrating like so many do.
Not only was the food we ordered really yummy, but the waitstaff was knowledgeable about gluten-free accommodations! They asked if the gluten-free request was due to a preference or a sensitivity/allergy and made note of the serious nature of our dietary requirements. I will note that directly upon being seated someone tried to give us a plate of bagel chips and spreads—we declined them stating that we are gluten-free. Our waitress then tried to give us some the first time she came over (before we were able to tell her that we are gluten-free). But when we told her we were eating gluten-free and she confirmed that it was not a preference, she quickly took it back off the table. Then, without us even asking, she quickly removed the small “bread plates” that were near the bagel chips as well and brought us new ones with our appetizer.
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed our food at Zaftigs Delicatessen. We’ve said that if we go back we want to try some of the entrees (outside of the sandwiches) but knowing us—we might just get the same things again. We’re creatures of habit. Have you eaten at Zaftigs Delicatessen? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website at no extra cost to you. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Wahlburgers is a restaurant made famous by the A&E reality show Wahlburgers. In this show, the Wahlberg brothers, Mark and Donnie, help their brother Paul open his dream restaurant. While the first Wahlburgers location opened in Hingham, Massachusetts, Wahlburgers restaurants are located throughout the United States and Canada. And new locations continue to pop up. They feature both a bar and diverse menu—which include a great variety of gluten-free options! Seriously, if you’re gluten-free and have the chance to go—GO! And keep on reading to learn all about the food we enjoyed.
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Download a FREE allergy alert restaurant card designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Atmosphere
I visited the Wahlburgers location in Boston, and the atmosphere is fun. It has a quick to-go counter in the front (so you can get in and out) with a bar and indoor/ outdoor seating in the back. However, this aspect may vary by location.
In addition, Wahlburgers is plastered with memorabilia. Not just from the reality show, but movie posters from the Wahlberg brothers and more! It’s a fun environment.
Menu
Now for the reason why you’re reading this—the menu! The menu at Wahlburgers is impressive in terms of gluten-free offerings. Most of their main entrees can be made gluten-free. They offer gluten-free buns, bread, and croutons for substitution. Their fries and tater tots (both regular and sweet potato) are also GLUTEN-FREE! Ya’ll, they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer! **rejoice** Plus, they even have “Wahlbowls” which are basically a burger salad.
Here’s what I tried:
The Super Melt: a 1/2lb burger with “government cheese”, bacon, caramelized onions, pickles, and mustard sauce grilled on gluten-free bread)
Jenn’s Chicken Sandwich: chicken breast with caramelized onions, lettuce, and honey-garlic mayo on a gluten-free bun. Note: the sandwich comes with crispy onions, but the waiter knew to leave them off because they are not gluten-free
tater tots
and sweet potato tots
The verdict? DELISH! Honestly, the waiter was super knowledgeable about the needs of Celiac and assured us that they take things very seriously. Without us asking additional questions, he voluntarily shared with us how they protect against cross contamination. Also, he knew what needed to be substituted to meet gluten-free needs. In addition to that, the food is REALLY good. I wish there was one closer—I’d be hitting that to-go counter! Although… maybe it’s good for my waistline that there’s not.
Final Thoughts
If you have a Wahlburgers near you and haven’t tried it—go. It’s not just sensationalized; the food is honestly delicious. It’s a great option for dining with mixed parties in which some order gluten and some do not. Everyone will be satisfied. When traveling around the US and Canada and looking for a safe, gluten-free dining experience, see if there’s a Wahlburgers nearby. You will not be disappointed!
Also, download our FREE printable restaurant card for safe gluten-free dining! It is business card sized, perfect to keep your wallet and give to restaurant staff. Plus, you’ll get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
6 Tips for Eating Gluten-Free at All-Inclusive Resorts
This post contains affiliate links. These links help me to earn enough money to refill my coffee so I can keep up with life! My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
All-inclusive resorts are amazing—you can explore, eat, and drink to your little heart’s content. Relax. It’s already paid for! However, when you have a restricted diet, the thought of ‘all-inclusive dining’ is the opposite of relaxing. When Tyler and I were planning our wedding in 2012 I tried to research resorts, cruises, etc., but the information I found on gluten-free dining experiences was varied at best. I was new to the ‘gluten-free thing’ and researching the topic filled me with anxiety. We didn’t risk it.
Four years into our marriage, my parents invited us and the kids to Camp of the Woods, a retreat center in the Adirondacks. Meals would be shared in the dining hall. *cue the anxiety.* Despite my fears, the week was amazing. We went back again this summer. You guys, the people are right, all-inclusive resorts ARE amazing! So here I am. Six years later, I’m here to share with you my top 6 tips for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts.
Tip #1 for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts: Do Your Research
In 2012 when we wanted to book our honeymoon, finding an extensive menu with options that are gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts was difficult (at best). But today, many of the top resorts have prioritized allergy-friendly and gluten-free meals at all of their restaurants. Looking for a tropical resort such as Beaches or Sandals? Gluten-free options abound. Wanting a family friendly trip like Disney? It’s gluten-free heaven.
When researching what’s gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts, I start with a list of 2-3 specific resorts and dig in. I recommend beginning at the resort’s official website and finding their dining page. Search for their restaurant menus, a note on food allergies, and if you don’t see anything, look for a search bar. The best search terms to use are “gluten-free” or “food allergy.” Many websites also have a help box or customer service who can be very helpful.
Allergen statement from Sandals
For example, I went to Sandals’ website, I quickly found that they not only do accommodate Celiacs and food allergies, but they even have Culinary Concierges to assist you with finding allergy-friendly options! Chefs at each restaurant will accommodate gluten-free needs and can prepare almost any dish gluten-free. Score!
Once you think you have a top contender (or two) I recommend searching social media and Pinterest to read about others’ experiences at the same resort. You can even check out my “Gluten-Free Traveling” board where I’ve rounded up many reviews in one place!
Note: be mindful of the publishing dates of blog posts—resorts may have put new standards into practice since a negative post or review was written. That said, if you read something in a review that concerns you, it never hurts to call the resort back and ask some more questions!
If you struggle finding information on gluten-free dining on the website and customer service is not helpful, I recommend moving on to a different resort. If the resort isn’t helpful before booking your vacation, then they likely won’t be helpful once you arrive and they already have your money.
Tip #2 for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts: Call Ahead
Even if you conducted thorough research before booking your stay, call the resort about one month before your stay to ensure that you’ve done everything necessary to have a safe gluten-free experience. Before our stay in the Adirondacks, the resort wanted us to fill out a form online with our reservation number, number of people in our party, and detail any dietary restrictions. Other resorts have similar requests of their guests requiring dietary restrictions.
In addition, it’s a good idea to ask for a contact to meet with when you arrive. At Camp of the Woods we talked to the hostess at the dining hall. Food was served buffet style, so she showed us which lines to find the gluten-free options. Furthermore, we learned that they kept gluten-free bread, rolls, and desserts behind the buffet line for their gluten-free guests and that their waitstaff would get it for us. More about eating at buffets in tip #4 for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts.
Tip #3 for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts: Voice Your Need
Even if the resort seems very accommodating, be sure to voice your need. Just like when eating out at a restaurant, do not assume that just because you order something that the menu claims is gluten-free, that it will be when it comes to your table. Always ensure you tell your waitstaff that you have a gluten sensitivity/allergy and that your meal must be gluten-free. An easy way to do this is to give the waitstaff an allergy-alert restaurant card like the FREE one in my resource library:
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
If traveling internationally, ensure you have something similar translated into the native language.
Also, if something doesn’t seem right (i.e. your tacos seem to be on flour tortillas) always double check that you received a gluten-free meal. The slight inconvenience of double checking is much better than being sick for the rest of our vacation.
Tip #4 for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts: Choose Safely at Buffets
Since buffet lines are high risk for cross contamination, speak to the buffet attendants. Ask what’s safe! Many buffets will label their items as “gluten-free,” but it may be worth a follow up to ensure against common preparation concerns (such as, “Were these French-fries fried in the same fryer as gluten-containing food?”). If they aren’t sure, ask that they please confirm with the chef.
Also, if cross-contamination seems to be a concern on the buffet line, speak up! Ask the server if you can have the item fresh from the kitchen! For example, when it was pasta night at Camp of the Woods, although they kept gluten-free noodles behind the buffet, there was fear that the sauce (labeled gluten-free) might be contaminated with gluten due to the ladle touching regular pasta. The buffet attendant happily retrieved a cup of sauce from the kitchen and brought it to us. It’s always safer to ask!
Tip #5 for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts: Pack Smart
I always get stressed out packing for vacation and fear that I didn’t bring the right things. When you’re gluten-free, always remember the following items: gluten-free snacks, essential vitamins/medicines, and gluten-free personal care items. Although the resort may be very accommodating at their dining facilities, you may have a harder time finding gluten-free snacks outside of meal times (especially if traveling internationally). Many of these resorts have room service, but at some, room service is an extra charge. Furthermore, if you are a diabetic (like Tyler), you might need a gluten-free snack at 2am. Therefore, I recommend you pack a couple trusty snacks to bring with you. I recommend some good bars like Kind or LaraBar. These are small and compact, but also filling.
In addition, if you rely on any specialty items, don’t forget to pack them! For me, these specialty items are stevia packets for my coffee and my Arbonne Fizz Sticks to mix with my water. Any time we travel I also pack a couple basic medicines (like Immodium, Tylenol, or activated charcoal) just in case.
If you’re sensitive to gluten on your skin as well as ingesting it (due to an allergy or celiac dermatitis) make sure you bring your own personal care items as well. It may be difficult to find toiletries (such as shampoo and sunscreen) that are gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts. If you have a topical sensitivity, make sure you pack the following gluten-free personal care items:
Tip #6 for eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts: Know Your Alcohol
If you’re going to be hitting the bar on your trip, be familiar with what brands of alcohol are or aren’t gluten-free. Know the specific brands and drinks that are safe. Ask questions and order appropriately. Tip: If your resort does give you a culinary concierge, make sure you discuss the gluten-free drinks available as well.
Have you had experience eating gluten-free at all-inclusive resorts? If so, share your experience in the comments below.
Are you planning a trip soon? Pin this post and check out my “Gluten-Free Traveling” Pinterest board for gluten-free friendly destination suggestions. Also, download this restaurant card I created just for you to bring along on your vacation.
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to my allergy-alert restaurant card PLUS the full online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
This is not a sponsored post. This is an honest review and all opinions are my own. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
Brown’s Brewing Company–Walloomsac Taproom: A Restaurant Review
Brown’s Brewing Company first opened in Troy back in the ‘90s and it holds the reputation in the Capital Region of New York as having excellent food and atmosphere. However, breweries can be risky places for the gluten-free. They tend to put beer. in. everything. And in all honesty, Tyler was ‘glutened’ at Brown’s early on in our marriage. He ordered a garden salad with chicken on top, no croutons—but did not tell the waiter that he needed his meal to be gluten-free. I’ll stress, this was not Brown’s fault. We did not inform them that we needed gluten-free accommodations. Furthermore, that menu item did not make gluten-free claims.
note: learn from our mistakes and ALWAYS inform wait staff that you are gluten-free for medical reasons. For simplicity, we usually we just say “wheat allergy.” When your food is delivered, double check: “Is this gluten-free?” Every. Stinking. Time. This was one of our early learning experiences on the need to advocate for yourself when dining out.This is also why I designed an “allergy alert” card to use when eating out. It makes advocating easy peasy!
Download the allergy-alert card for FREE here, plus get instant access to my online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
Fast forward 6 years to today, and Brown’s Brewing Company makes our gluten-free hearts (and tummies) happy! They’ve opened a new location, the Walloomsac Taproom, in an old manufacturing facility about 2 miles from where we live–and it’s one of our current favorites. Keep reading to see why!
Atmosphere
I cannot say enough about the atmosphere at Brown’s Walloomsac Taproom. They’ve restored an old factory complex from the mid-1800s and actually create and distribute their craft beer from the location. We haven’t done a brewery tour, but unfortunately, none of their craft beers are gluten-free, but we can dream huh?
In addition, Brown’s Walloomsac Taproom hosts entertaining theme nights including live music and trivia. Not only does this location have eclectic and rustic indoor décor including original brick walls and antiques, but it’s located right on the Walloomsac River. If you choose to dine outdoors you’ll not only view the river, but hear the little water fall as well.
Menu
The Walloomsac Tavern does not have a dedicated gluten-free menu, but each of the times we’ve dined the waitstaff was very knowledgeable about the gluten-free options available. That’s a big plus! When eating out, it is unsettling to have a waitstaff that does not understand gluten-free accommodations—amiright? The staff at Brown’s explained their gluten-free accommodations and confirmed that each item they brought us was gluten-free. As an added bonus, many of their menu items are locally sourced. (And I mean local. I actually know some of these farmers personally!)
The menu specials change weekly, but there are some staple gluten-free substitutes including gluten-free tortilla chips (note: the gluten-free chips are not the house-fried tortilla chips. They do not have a dedicated gluten-free fryer), gluten-free buns, and gluten-free pizza crust. On our most recent trip we shared the nachos appetizer (made with gluten-free chips) and Yushak’s pizza.
The nachos came topped with onions, tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, black olives, cheese, and sour cream and served with a cup of salsa on the side. I’m a sucker for nachos, pretty much any nachos, but I’m telling you—these were excellent! The Yushak’s pizza has on a gluten-free shell and topped with chunks of pepperoni, Yushak’s sausage, and bacon. This honestly is probably one of the best gluten-free pizzas we’ve eaten. I actually asked our server a second time if it was actually a gluten-free pizza. The cheese was so melty and stretchy and the toppings were perfect. There were none of the tell-tell signs that the crust was gluten-free. The texture, consistency, and flavor were spot on for pizza crust. It seriously tasted that good. (It definitely was gluten-free! No gluten reactions!) Plus, can you go wrong with bacon on a pizza?
We’ve had a couple other menu items at past visits including the Tiashoke Farm Wood Fire Grilled Hamburger on a gluten-free bun with a side salad. This choice was also super yummy!
Final Thoughts
I am seriously so impressed with the gluten-free food we ate at Brown’s Walloomsac Taproom. While their gluten-free selection is not expansive, we’ve been a couple times and have not been deprived. Especially when there are more pizza creations to try and their specials change weekly. Have you eaten at Brown’s? If so, share your experience with us in the comments! If visiting the Capital Region of New York, I highly recommend you visit one of the Brown’s Brewing Company restaurant locations.
Also–just to make sure that you don’t make the same mistake we did the first time we ate at Brown’s, I made an Allergy-Alert Restaurant Card just for YOU! Download it now and print at your own convenience. It’s business card sized, so it fits right in your wallet to carry with you whenever you eat out. When you order, give the card to your waiter. Happy dining!
Are you ready to do gluten-free living totally STRESS-FREE? Get FREE instant access to the allergy-alert restaurant card and my WHOLE online library of free printables designed to make your gluten-free lifestyle totally easy!
In this show, the Wahlberg brothers, Mark and Donnie, help their brother Paul open his dream restaurant. While the first Wahlburgers location opened in Hingham, Massachusetts, Wahlburgers restaurants are located throughout the United States and Canada. And new locations continue to pop up. They feature both a bar and diverse menu—which include a great variety of gluten-free options! Seriously, if you’re gluten-free and have the chance to go—GO! And keep on reading to learn all about the food we enjoyed.
