Gluten. It helps foods like pasta, bread and others hold their shape, but for those that are gluten-free, it makes dining out an anxiety-filled challenge. Even as gluten-free diets have become more popular (and controversial), gluten-free menu options have remained scarce. But not to worry, we searched the city for the best gluten-free options, whether you’re looking for a romantic restaurant to take your sweetie or a brewery to hit up with your squad. Go ahead, order the pasta.
When you need a grab-and-go lunch or dinner: Fields Good Chicken serves flavorful chicken in a variety of healthy and creative preparations, many of which are gluten-free. Opt for their signature Damn Good Chicken Plate, featuring crispy-skinned, oven-roasted chicken served alongside a choice of sides, or try the gluten-free Bueno Bowl or the nourishing (and gluten-free) Christina’s Kale Salad.
For a kid-friendly meal even the adults will love: Finding a restaurant that offers gluten-free options, caters to kids and still makes you feel reasonably hip is akin to encountering a unicorn. Meet Clay. The Harlem restaurant occupies that elusive overlap between grown-up vibes and kid-friendly amenities, and they take amazing care in accommodating guests with dietary restrictions. All of their pasta dishes can be made gluten-free, and many of their others can be made be gluten-free, too, such as braised daikon (also vegetarian).
For vegan gluten-free tacos: Head to Little Beet Table in NoMad for Taco Tuesday. The menu, which includes much more than tacos, is 100 percent gluten-free. My favorite dish is the jackfruit al pastor tacos, especially on a cold NYC day when I’m dreaming of spring.
When you need a romantic spot to take your sweetie: While Faro might be known for its handmade pastas, the Bushwick restaurant can make almost all of their pasta dishes gluten-free thanks to house-made, scroll-shaped, gluten-free Casarecce, or opt for the pan-seared diver scallops, blue shrimp or Hudson Valley duck breast. Don’t forget to order a glass or bottle of wine from their always interesting wine list.
For sweets: Sometimes you just want a cupcake or a cookie. Baked by Melissa has you covered with gluten-free cupcakes and macarons, so you can have your cake and eat it, too.
