Restaurant Review: PositiviTea (Verona, NJ)

A quirky little vegan cafe!

Gluten Free / Dairy Free Big WAC wrap

Warning: this review is mostly for my dairy free / vegan followers. PositiviTea does offer a number of gluten free options as well but they are a small tea shop with shared prep space and a shared panini press. They do offer to clean both, but caution that there still may be cross contamination.

I've eaten at PositiviTea (550 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044) twice already and since it is right around the corner from me, I hope to eat here quite a bit more as well. They offer a full menu of assorted teas (most of the herbals they mix themselves), smoothies (all gloriously dairy free), burgers, wraps, and waffles.  The wraps can be made gluten free, the waffles are gluten free, and I've had them make a burger on a wrap instead as well (sometimes they have portabello mushrooms as buns for the burgers).

Gluten Free Waffles with Dairy Free Ice Cream

The first time I went I had the Big WAC as a wrap. This is their take of a McDonalds Big Mac and the taste is pretty spot-on. Two vegan patties, special sauce (vegan of course), vegan mayo, vegan cheese, lettuce, pickles and onions. All with a side of gluten free chips. For those of you who recall how much I raved about the vegan burger I got from the Green Radish (review) this certainly gives it a run for the money!

The second time I had the Apple Pie Waffles - three apple cinnamon gluten free waffles (I suspect Van's) with raw agave nectar, vegan soft serve ice cream and a side of bananas and apples.

If you go, say hi to Abe and do be sure to take a look at the ceiling!

Other vegan / vegetarian restaurants you might be interested in:

Nectar Cafe (Glen Rock, NJ)

Loving Hut (Ledgewood, NJ)

And my full list of Restaurants with Gluten Free menus is flagged with vegan/vegetarian options as well.

Restaurant Review: The Fine Grind: A Coffee Bar (Little Falls, NJ)

I've been attending the monthly Celiac Support Group called the GF Club at the Fine Grind: A Coffee Bar (101 Newark Pompton Tpk [Rt23S], Little Falls, NJ 07424) for a couple of years now. In that time, they've expanded their Gluten Free offerings from a couple of Get Fresh Bakehouse [contain dairy] individually wrapped brownies to a full gluten free menu. A good number of these items are already dairy free or can be made dairy free. Since owners Rhonda and Jon are dairy free as well, the Fine Grind even has vegan butter on hand.

Gluten Free Bagel and Gluten Free Oatmeal
at the Fine Grind in Little Falls, NJ

I stopped in for breakfast recently and had a toasted gluten free bagel with peanut butter and a bowl of gluten free oatmeal [made dairy free with almond milk]. The staff is well versed in avoiding cc [they have a dedicated prep area] and knew which items were dairy free or how best to modify them. This is one of the few places I can get a truly gluten free / dairy free breakfast but I've also been for lunch (turkey on GF/DF roll with GF chips) as well.

As mentioned above, The Fine Grind hosts a Gluten Free Support group called the GF Club [currently the second Tuesday of each month]. It is a great way to connect with others in the area who are living gluten free, share the latest gf finds, and keep up with what is coming next at the Fine Grind (we've gotten to sample most of their GF items before they've been added to the gf menu!). [This month we tried their Thanksgiving special – turkey on GF bread (or gf/df roll) with cranberry sauce and GF/DF stuffing!] There is a $10 admission but this includes a beverage and a wide array of GF snacks/treats.

Hopefully you'll check out the Fine Grind either for the food, the GF club, or both!  If you can't make their meetings, click here for more advice on finding a Gluten Free Support Group.

Restaurant Review: From Seed to Sprout

Finally, a brunch where I can eat almost anything I want!

Gluten Free Vegan French Toast at From Seed to Sprout

Recently, I met one of my Celiac Support Groups at From Seed to Sprout (410 Main Street, Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ 07717) for brunch. They're closed Monday, open for breakfast/lunch during the week, and brunch on the weekends (although they do some dinner nights by reservation only). The brunch menu is a bit different from the weekday menu so some of the items we had may not be available during the week.

The restaurant is entirely vegan and has quite a few gluten free options as well (although not all of them are marked on the menu so you'll have to ask). [Only the pancakes couldn't be done gluten free, their only other gluten items were sandwich bread, rolls and english muffins, but they have a delicious gluten free millet and flax seed bread that can be substituted in (and our non-gf waitress stated the gf bread tasted better anyway)!] The juices / smoothies were all vegan (so no worries about cc with milk) although they did offer wheat grass (which if grown/harvested correctly is gluten free).

Grilled Avocado Sandwich on Gluten Free Bread

We ordered a variety of gluten free / vegan meals as well as some freshly prepared juices / smoothies. The gluten free / vegan french toast was amazing (since I can't handle a lot of egg, I haven't had real french toast in years)! Those who ordered it, raved about the grill avocado sandwich. And everyone was enamored with the coconut bacon!

From Seed to Sprout also has two dessert cases, one is for gluten containing baked goods and the other is for their raw vegan desserts which are all gluten free! Since our entire group was gluten free we decided to order one (or two) of every dessert and sample them all. The desserts were all great but the real standout for me was the lemon goji macaroon!

Our Line of Raw, Vegan,
Gluten Free Desserts

This is definitely somewhere I plan on returning to (especially to try that grilled avocado sandwich!)

If you're looking for some other shore area restaurants try:

Via Roma

Good Karma Cafe

Papa Ganache

Or check my full NJ GF Restaurant List!

Are Burger King's New Satisfries Gluten Free?

So what if they're lower fat, are they gluten free?

No gluten ingredient Burger King Fries and Satisfries

Burger King announced today new lower fat french fries or Satisfries. According to the press release the new fries have 40% less fat and 30% fewer calories than the leading (McDonald's) french fries. [Note: this is based on weight, not menu size - small, medium, large, King, etc.] [A little back-of-the-envelope math from the BK nutrition page leads me to believe the Satisfries contain 20% less fat and 20% less calories than BK's regular fries.]

But lets face reality, we're much less concerned about fat and much more concerned about gluten. For that, it mostly comes down to cross contamination. Just like Burger King's regular fries the new Satisfries contain no gluten ingredients. If your local restaurant has a separate fryer and safe handling procedures then the fries should be gluten free. Here are the ingredients from the BK website:

SATISFRIES™: Potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following oils: canola, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, corn), tapioca starch-modifies, contains 2% or less of corn starch-modified, paprika extract (color), rice flour, salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate (to maintain natural color), turmeric extract (color), xantham gum.

I stopped at a Burger King on the way home tonight and purchased a small regular fries and a small Satisfries (pictured above). [The satisfries were $.30 more by the way.]  Personally, I thought the new Satisfries tasted better and were fluffier on the inside.

In the end it really comes down to the cross contamination in the fryer and after they are fried (the BK I stopped at didn't but most share a warming bin for the onion rings and fries with just a metal divider between them). With so many other dining options now, I don't often risk a stop at Burger King.


For more thoughts on gluten free french fries, including a list of which restaurants and chains offer them click here: Gluten Free Fries!

And click here for more Gluten Free Fast Food / Chain Restaurants!

Bakery Review: Pink Frosting Bakery (Verona, NJ)

Last year a vegan cupcake shop opened up next to the barber I go to.  They had decorated their front window long before opening and announced that not only would they be totally vegan but that they would cater to gluten free customers as well.  I have had cupcakes from Pink Frosting (534 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044) a number of times since then and have been quite pleased (even though it has taken me way too long to finally review them).

Vegan / Gluten Free Cupcakes (Vanilla Spice / Banana Split)
from Pink Frosting Bakery in Verona, NJ

Their shop is a store front on Bloomfield Avenue directly across from Verona Park.  [There is no street parking directly in front of their shop but a large municipal lot down Park Place around the corner.] They have display cases of pre-made vegan cupcakes including two to four gluten free varieties (flavors vary). They are not just a cupcake shop however, they offer to make any of their cupcake flavors as cakes with advanced notice and they do special orders on flavors of cupcakes as well.  Their menu lists a dozen different cupcake flavors and states that nine of them can be gluten free!

Over the past year, I've noticed that both the number of daily gluten free offerings and the variety of flavors has increased quite a bit.  Their frosting is surprisingly light and airy / fluffy.  Truth be told, I'm not really sure how to describe it other than to say it is the best dairy free frosting I've had.

The entire shop is vegan and although they charge slightly more for vegan/gluten free cupcakes it is still a reasonable price compared to other gf bakeries.


Other bakeries you may want to try:

Papa Ganache Vegan Bakery

Or any of the others on my New Jersey Gluten Free Bakery List.

Food Truck Review: The Green Radish (vegan with gluten free options)

A vegan burger so good, I'd consider giving up meat!

The weekend before last, I attended the annual summer Montclair Jazz Festival in Nishuane Park.  I had found out about the Festival from a press release announcing a new vegan food truck: The Green Radish. Being dairy free and mostly egg free, vegan food can often be quite safe (unless there is a lot of wheat gluten used as a meat replacer).  

Vegan Black Bean Burger on Gluten Free bread
from The Green Radish

When I arrived at the truck, I was a little concerned that the menu doesn't mention gluten free at all.  A quick inquiry revealed that not only were a number of their menu items already naturally gluten free, they offered gluten free bread for all of their sandwiches as well!

[Just a quick note, since I'm not vegan and my issue with eggs is minor, I only confirmed the bread was gluten and dairy free, I did not confirm it was egg free as well.]

For lunch, I had the Black Bean Burger.  This was by far the best burger (beef or vegan) I have had in years (and possibly ever)!  The bread held together nicely and the vegan chipotle mayo was incredible (I can't handle mayo made from egg so this was a nice change).  I was actually too full afterwards to immediately go back for dessert.

Being both dairy and gluten free means I almost never get dessert.  There are two gluten free / vegan desserts at The Green Radish: Grilled Seasonal Fruit in a Vanilla Sauce and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunchy Quinoa Cup (which I did get to try later in the day). It is a vegan chocolate candy about the size of a large marshmallow with a hard outer chocolate shell studded with quinoa and a soft peanut butter and mint center [no not mint flavor, actual fresh mint leaves].  Their other two desserts currently contain gluten but they have trialed them using gluten free flours and hope to change over at some point in the future.

Diners lining up for some amazing
vegan fare from The Green Radish!

And now for the downside - the Green Radish is a brand new food truck and they are still working out the details of where and when you can catch up with them.  From their facebook page it appears they've been out and about for a couple of weeks now.  Hopefully their website/facebook/twitter will be filled with appearances soon!  

I'm already stalking them here: The Green Radish on Facebook and here The Green Radish on Twitter and hope to eat from them again soon!



If you're looking for some other great take-away vegan / vegetarian food in NJ try the Nectar Cafe (review) in Glen Rock. For sit down dining I've flagged the vegan friendly options on my list of NJ Restaurants with Gluten Free Menus as well.

Mango, Cucumber, Jicama, and Avocado Salad Recipe (vegan / gluten free)

I've made this salad a couple of times this summer for various cookouts and barbecues and it has been a hit at each. Jicama might be a little harder to find but a number of local supermarkets have had it for me.

Jicama, Mango, Cucumber, and Avocado Salad

Ingredients:

1 mango
1 medium cucumber
1 jicama
1 avocado

Dressing:

1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2" piece of ginger, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste

How to prepare Mango, Cucumber, and Jicama Salad:

Peel, pit and dice the mango.  (Keep dice size the same for all four fruits/veggies - somewhere between 1/4" and 1/2" should be fine.)

Peel and dice the cucumber.

Peel and dice the jicama.(sometimes jicama skin is too tough for my potato peeler if so, use a knife instead)

Pit, remove from skin and dice the avocado.

Combine mango, cucumber, jicama, avocado in a large bowl.

In a smaller bowl combine grated ginger, minced garlic, chopped cilanto, olive oil, juice of one lemon, salt and pepper.  Mix until combined being careful not to over mix.  [As a time saver I like to add my dressing ingredients to my magic bullet to both chop the herbs/spices and combine.  If you do this, don't add the lemon juice until after or it will emulsify and you'll have a mayonnaise more than a dressing!]

Pour over salad and toss.

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Makes 4-6 side dish servings

Enjoy!



If you're looking for another great cookout recipe, you may want to try my Black Bean Quinoa Salad!

And don't forget to check my full list of Recipes (Gluten Free / Dairy Free / Allergens listed).

Restaurant Review: Nectar Cafe (Glen Rock, NJ)

Best Cinnabun I've ever had!

Vegan Watermelon Cucumber Gazpacho from Nectar Cafe

I usually bring my own lunch to work.  It is a rare day the cafeteria hasn't added wheat or dairy to at least part of the two lunch options and the GF/DF options around the office can be a bit of a drive.  20 minutes is at the far end of what I'll drive for lunch, but it turns out that the Nectar Cafe (175 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 [behind the CVS in the far back of their parking lot]) is well worth it!  [My GPS took me to their address which is on Rock Road, I parked across the street and walked.  However, they are a good block off of Rock Road at the far end of the parking lot.]

I want to start by pointing out that Nectar Cafe is in the middle of an expansion so I'll have to re-review them once their addition is finished.  They are expanding into the store front next to them so the location will remain the same, only be bigger, with an expanded menu and even some seating.  Not sure if their hours will change but for now they are 8am-6pm weekdays and 7:30am-1pm on the weekends.

Vegan / Gluten Free Crabcakes at Nectar Cafe

Right now, it is a small juice / smoothie bar with some pre-prepared items and made to order wraps.  Sadly, the wraps are all wheat based but they are hoping to add a gluten free wrap once the expansion is complete.  Other than the wraps, the only other wheat I saw was wheat grass for the juices (which if grown and harvested correctly can be gluten free although I didn't confirm).  All of the desserts were both gluten and dairy free including surprisingly enough the one that contained oats (I asked and it turns out they used gluten free oats)!  They listed rice, cashew and almond milk for the smoothies but some also contained yogurt.

The only other dairy item I saw was goat cheese on their pizza but they are looking to offer a vegan pizza as well.  However, what they offer in their display case changes from day-to-day so double check.

Vegan Raw Gluten Free YUMM CinnaBUN! from Nectar Cafe

I ended up having the watermelon and cucumber gazpacho and vegan crabcakes (gluten free as well).  The soup was outstanding and the 'crab' cakes were quite good as well.  The tartar sauce for the crab cakes was the highlight of the dish.

Finally, I was going to have the vegan 'snickers' cup but then I asked about the oats and found out they were gluten free.  So I switched to the YUMM CinnaBUN! and am glad I did.  It was delicious and easily better (both tastier and obviously healthier) than the fat, gluten, and calorie laden mess one can get in the mall!  [The label doesn't specify gf oats so double check when you go.]

I'm already looking forward to going back and trying their other offerings (ok, ok, mostly their other desserts)!

If you're looking for other gluten free / vegan restaurants try:

Good Karma Café (Red Bank, NJ)

Papa Ganache (Matawan, NJ)

Loving Hut (Ledgewood, NJ)

Restaurant Review: Lo Fatt Chow (Lebanon, NJ)

A couple of weeks ago, I had lunch with a gluten free friend at Lo Fatt Chow (56 Payne Road, Lebanon, NJ 08833). Lo Fatt bills themselves as healthy Chinese cuisine and they have added gluten free sauces to their kitchen so that they can accommodate everyone. [They strive to be low fat and low sodium as well but I’m way too concerned about being dairy free and gluten free to worry about salt and fat!] The restaurant is a takeout store front with a decent about of seating if you choose to stay in.

Black Bean Prawns from Lo Fatt Chow in Lebabon, NJ

Their menu is quite extensive with over 200 items. The menu flags items that are vegetarian, items that are hot and spicy and items that contain nuts/peanuts. The bottom of the menu notes that they have gluten free sauces available but it was trial and error to find the dishes that could be gluten free. We each picked out a couple of options and then had to run them past the woman at the counter until we found dishes that we both wanted and she was confident could be made gluten free. (As with most Chinese restaurants, dairy free was quite simple here.)

I ended up having a rice noodle dish I had never tried before, Chicken Chow Feng (it was good but just not my thing). My friend had a much more interesting Black Beans and Prawns that was quite good (and much more photogenic!).  Both items were listed as gluten free on the receipt.

While I would prefer a pre-made list of what can be gluten free the food was quite good and reasonably priced. There aren't a lot of other gluten free options out in that area and the next time I am out that way, I could definitely see myself heading back to Lo Fatt Chow!



If you're looking for some other Asian restaurants to try, there's:

A Taste of Asia II in Chatham, NJ

Pei Wei in Paramus, Cherry Hill and Moorsetown, NJ

And as always, check out the full list for dining gluten free in New Jersey!

Gluten Free Bakery List Updates

I've been quite behind on updating the gluten free bakery list but here are the latest 11 additions.  Click here for the full list of Gluten Free Bakeries, the updates are listed below:


Bashful Banana Bakery and Cafe (946 Boardwalk on Ocean Colony Walk (between 9th & 10th), Ocean City, NJ 08226) They’ve got quite a few vegan options and will substitute gluten free bread (other allergens unknown) for $.75 more. They also have gluten free/vegan muffins. I’ve never been.

CakeOver (79 N Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034)(Lake Hiawatha may appear as Parsippany on your GPS) – dedicated gluten free bakery. A number of GF items are / can be made dairy free as well. Entire facility is peanut free. I’ve gotten some desserts from here and they are quite good.

Just D’sserts in Elmwood Park has closed.

My Little Kupcake (685 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108) – this regular bakery offers GF and Vegan cupcakes as well as GF and Vegan special orders.

Vegan / Gluten Free Cupcakes
from Pink Frosting in Verona, NJ

Pink Cake Box [Specialty Bake Shop] – this specialty bake shop will do unique gluten free specialty cakes / cupcakes as well for events/weddings. (The owner is gluten free.) This is not a retail location; items are available by special order only. (18 East Main Street #101, Denville, NJ 07834)

Pink Frosting Bakery (534 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044) – a dedicated vegan cupcakery with 2-4 gluten free options as well. I’ve gotten cupcakes from here a number of times and highly recommend them. (Review coming soon.)

Posh Pop Bakery (86 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701) – I just ate here recently. This dedicated gluten free cake pop shop has a limited number of dairy free items. They will make dairy free / gluten free soft pretzels on special order in a choice of salted or with cinnamon and sugar.

SugarFlake Bakery has added a third location in Wyckoff, NJ. (397 Franklin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481)

Sweet Note Bagels – is a food service provider of gluten free bagels (also dairy free). You can't buy directly from them, but they are available at eight NJ locations so far: http://www.sweetnotebakery.com/locations.html and many other locations in and around Philadelphia, PA. I got to try them at the Appetite for Awareness last year in Philly and they are the closest to a real NY style bagel I’ve ever had gluten free!

Wildflour Bakery / Cafe (2691 Main Street, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648) – new dedicated gluten free bakery and cafe. They have limited dairy free options but these include vegan crepes, coconut macarons and some other cafe items (soup, salad, smoothie). Only open for breakfast and lunch (brunch on weekends). Closed Mondays. I haven't been yet.


NY:

Flourbuds (116A Main Street, Nyack, NY 10960) – dedicated gluten free bakery with dairy free / vegan options.

Wild Flours Bake Shop (11 New Street, Huntington, NY 11743) – I just ate here a couple of weeks ago and greatly enjoyed it. They are a dedicated gluten free bake shop with a very limited number of items that are not also dairy free (95% are both GF/DF).


If I'm missing any bakeries please use the contact me form at the left and send them my way!

Restaurant Review: Maud’s Tavern (Hastings-on-Hudson, New York)

On a recent trip to Nyack, NY (see By The Way Bakery review for details) we may have ‘missed’ and ended up in Westchester County. The kind staff of By The Way Bakery recommended Maud’s Tavern (149 Southside Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706) which ended up being just around the corner.

Gluten Free Lamb Chops at Maud's Tavern
in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Maud’s has had a gluten friendly menu for a very long time. I can remember seeing the on the list of restaurants I might want to try after the Colin Leslie Walk each year. It was nice to finally get to try them out.

Maud’s gf menu is quite long and while they have gluten free pasta, it is mostly gluten friendly (i.e. items that are naturally gluten free). Dairy free took some work, but our waitress was right on it and triple checked everything! I had the grilled lamb with steamed vegetables which was quite good (the potatoes either already had butter on them or were fried in a shared fryer). I hear the chili was spicy but also quite good!

If you happened to go and are not from the area, there are some great views of the Hudson from out their front window and down the end of the block by the train station.

Due to the distance I doubt I’ll be back, but if they were closer this is definitely somewhere I would go again!



Looking for other NY gluten free restaurants? Try . . .

97lake in West Harrison

or check the handful at the bottom of my Gluten Free NJ Restaurant list!

Bakery Review: By The Way Bakery (Hastings-on-Hudson, New York)

I first encountered the By The Way Bakery (574 Warburton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706) two years ago at the Colin Leslie Walk for Celiac Disease Awareness (review). They were sampling some amazing gluten free / dairy free baked goods and I took a card hoping to visit their bakery some day. That day finally arrived!

On a recent trip to Nyack, NY, I may have been too busy chatting with my passenger to miss both the sign that said: “Nyack” and it’s partner sign “Last Exit before Bridge”! For those unfamiliar with NY geography, Nyack is on the west shore of the Hudson river at the western end of the Tappan Zee Bridge. If you miss the exit, you’re heading over the bridge into Westchester county.

Assorted Gluten Free bakery items at By The Way Bakery

Since we were already in Westchester (and it seemed a waste to pay the bridge toll just to turn around and try again) we checked online to see what was nearby. 97lake (review) wasn’t too far, and neither were the Golden Wok Cafe, or the By The Way Bakery. The friend I was with is very gluten sensitive and also has a lesser issue with tapioca so we decided Golden Wok might involve a language barrier that would be more than she was willing to risk (especially with an hour drive home).

We headed to By The Way Bakery and figured we could ask them for a lunch recommendation (and if not, we could still head back to Nyack). The bakery was amazing! Everything is dedicated Gluten and Dairy free. There were two full shelved of GF/DF cupcakes – red velvet, lemon, vanilla vanilla, chocolate with vanilla icing, carrot, and a couple of others I’m forgetting. There were cookies, brownies, tarts and cakes as well.

Gluten Free Cupcakes from By The Way Bakery
in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

I ended up with two dairy free / gluten free cupcakes – a vanilla with vanilla icing and a carrot cake. They both handled the trip home (as you can see the icing on the vanilla banged around a bit, but it was still delicious)! I also found their prices to be reasonable, especially for a dedicated bakery.

Sadly, Hastings-on-Hudson is about an hour away (and across the Tappan Zee Bridge) so I don’t think I’ll be heading back here often, but if I’m in the area, I do plan on trying more gluten free cupcakes!

Oh, and the staff was able to recommend a great restaurant for us: Maud’s Tavern (review) which is about two blocks away!

Restaurant Review: Red Mango Frozen Yogurt (nationwide including 25 locations in NJ )

After my recent dinner at Opa’s in Wayne (review), one of my friends and I decided to stop by Corrado’s and check out their gluten free section. Unfortunately, they were closed already, but we noticed a Red Mango frozen yogurt shop. I had been seeing Red Mango pop up on some other gluten free restaurant lists but never investigated assuming that they wouldn’t have anything dairy free. Boy was I wrong.

It turns out Red Mango offers two sorbettos which are dairy free: raspberry and dark chocolate. These are in addition to their rotating menu of dairy containing frozen yoghurts. All of their frozen yoghurts are gluten free (even the cookies and cream flavor) but be careful as not all of their toppings are GF. Each serving station label contains the gluten free status of what is loaded there as well as other information about the flavor (kosher, added sugar, etc.).

Gluten Free / Dairy Free Sorbetto at Red Mango

The nutrition information on their website is outstanding and very easy to use. Each entry has a listing of allergens and even a specific entry for Gluten Free (flagged yes/no). It also details which probiotics are present in each item. This information is also broken out by 1oz serving, ½ their small cup, a full small cup and a full large cup. [Although their small container isn’t that small, their dairy free offerings are still only 50-80 calories for a full container!]

The toppings bar is an area of concern as it is self serve and the gluten status of items are unlabeled. However, we observed that it is refilled from containers kept under the counter. If cross contamination is a concern, you could probably ask the staff to provide you toppings from there and cut down the risk. [I say cut down because there is no telling what their procedures are when they prep the toppings so they could already be contaminated.]

Since there are already about twenty five of these in New Jersey, I suspect I’m going to have dessert all summer long!





There aren’t many other places with GF/DF desserts but you could try:

Gluten Free at Papa Ganache

Don't forget to check out my list of stores selling gluten free, my list of gluten free bakeries and even my gluten free fast food / chain list!

Restaurant Review: Opa Greek Cuisine (Wayne, NJ)

I just had dinner with a couple of gluten free friends at Opa Greek Cuisine (37 Berdan Avenue, Wayne, NJ 07470) and greatly enjoyed it.

Gluten Free Greek Beans and Gluten Free Stuffed
Grape Leaves at Opa Greek Cuisine

Opa stars the gluten friendly items on both their online and in restaurant menu. For a couple of the items there are instructions on how to make them gluten free (no pita, etc) but the majority are already gf. The starred items on the menu includes all of their salads, a soup, five out of six side dishes, nine out of ten cold appetizers, five hot appetizers, seven souvlaki options (again, without pita) and eight entrees. Dairy free was a bit more difficult to navigate but we managed (with a trip or two to the kitchen by our waitress to double check).

Gluten Free Roast Chicken and Potatoes
at Opa Greek Cuisine

We had stuffed grape leaves and greek beans as appetizers. I had the half roasted chicken with lemon potatoes while my friends each had souvlaki (one chicken, one beef). I even got to try some of the Greek fries which are fried in a dedicated fryer! [For those who haven’t been to Opa’s yet, their Greek fries are essentially perfectly cooked steak fries seasoned with herbs and lemon juice.]

Sadly, they don’t offer any gluten free desserts, but there is a Red Mango three blocks down the road!

This is definitely somewhere I’ll be back to eat!



Other restaurants you may want to try:

Gluten Free at La Riviera Trattoria (Clifton, NJ)

Gluten Free at Janice A Bistro (Hohokus, NJ)


And don’t forget to check out my full list of NJ Gluten Free Restaurants.

Restaurant Review: Kei Kabob (Montclair, NJ)

So nice to have a menu full of interesting and flavorful options!

Gluten Free Falafel with Dairy Free
Tahini Sauce at Kei Kabob

A friend of mine (who is strictly gluten free and mostly dairy free) has been raving about Kei Kabob (401 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042) for a couple of weeks now.  When she first mentioned having eaten there I checked out their website but didn't see any mention of gluten free.  In talking with her again, it turns out the owner's nephew is gluten free and while the fresh baked flat bread they serve with most meals is decidedly not gluten free, most of the rest of the menu naturally is.  (Quite a bit of the menu is dairy free as well since Persian food doesn't call for a lot of dairy.) [And the owner's daughter is lactose free so he is up on this as well!]

Yesterday, I worked from home and met her for lunch.  Kei Kebob is a small store front restaurant with Persian decorations and Persian music lightly playing in the background. 

I had the Classic Barg Kebob (grilled filet mignon) and we split an order of the Falafel (fried in its own fryer).  I was a little concerned that perhaps the sauce on the Falafel was yogurt based but it turns out to be a tahini sauce (ground sesame seed).  Everything was amazing!

Gluten Free Barg Kabob (grilled filet mignon)

Often when eating out what we are left with are some very bland items (grilled chicken, sandwiches without bread, baked potatoes) but at Kei Kabob there are plenty of interesting and tasty choices!

For dessert the owner convinced us to try the Sholeh Zard (which means Yellow Flame).  It is a Persian rice pudding, that is both gluten and dairy free.  It is a rare treat to be able to eat dessert out and even rarer for something so wonderfully flavorful (it is seasoned with saffron, cinnamon and rose water).

Gluten Free Dairy Free Sholeh Zard (Rice Pudding)

I did ask the owner why he didn't advertise or note how much of their menu was gluten free.  His response is quite common for a restaurant owner: they bake their own bread in house and he can't guarantee there is zero cross contamination.  He does take a number of steps to avoid cc (changing out all utensils / cookware that may have touched gluten when a GF order comes in) and we felt quite safe (while I don't react to small amounts of gluten my friend does and she's eaten here multiple times already).  As is true with most restaurants you'll have to double check when you go but I do highly recommend that you give them a try!

In writing this review I took another peek at their full menu and will definitely be returning for dinner as a number of the entrees sound terrific!



Other Montclair, NJ restaurant reviews:

Plum on Park

Elevation Burger

For even more restaurants with gluten free options check out my GF NJ Restaurant List!

Gluten Free Fast Food / Chain Updates

I’m working my way down the list of parts of this site I need to update. I’ve finished the Gluten Free Store update, the Gluten free Restaurant update, and even an update to the Gluten Free Fries list! So today I finished off the updates to my Gluten Free Fast Food / Chain / Quick Serve list.  There are thirteen new chains (eight with locations in NJ), four fast food / quick serve additions (three with NJ locations), and a couple of updates.

Here are the latest updates:

Chains:

Bensi (10 NJ locations and one in VA) – has a short gluten friendly menu of grilled items with grill vegetables and salad.

Bristol Seafood Grill (KS, MO) –Each location has a gluten friendly menu with shared kitchen warning. (Sister chain of Chequers and Devon Seafood Grills.)

Chart House (AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MA, MD, NV, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA and two in NJ: Weehawken, NJ and Atlantic City, NJ) – has large gluten friendly menu.

Chequers Seafood Grill (GA) – Each location has a gluten friendly menu with shared kitchen warning. (Sister chain of Devon and Bristol Seafood Grills.)

Chickie's and Pete's  (183 US Highway 130, Bordentown NJ 08505 and 6055 Blackhorse Pike, Egg Harbor Twp NJ 08234, and multiple locations in PA) – Has a gluten friendly menu (burgers without buns, seafood entrees, etc) but although they advertise gluten free fries, their disclaimer states they use a shared fryer (although there are rumors of this changing soon).

Devon Seafood Grill (FL, IL, PA, WI) – Each location has a gluten friendly menu with shared kitchen warning. (Sister chain of Chequers and Bristol Seafood Grills.)

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que  (CT, NY and Newark, NJ) – has allergen information for their full menu (buried on their ‘Contact Us’ page, year old). Shows gluten, dairy, nuts, tomato, garlic and shellfish. I grabbed take out there once and would want to try dining in before passing judgment.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (AL, AZ, DE, NC, NE, OH, PA, TN, VA but none in NJ as of yet) – has a sizable gluten friendly menu.

Ground Round (IA, ME, MI, MN, MO, ND, NY, OH, PA, SD, WI and 2 locations in New Jersey)- offers a gluten friendly menu (salad no croutons, burger no bun). I haven’t been since I was a kid.

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Restaurants (AZ, CT, FL, HI, IL, LA, MS, NV, OH, SC, TN and coming soon to Atlantic City, NJ) – offers gluten free buns, gf entrees, a gf brownie and a dedicated fryer for gluten free fries! No word on other allergens in the buns or brownie.

Miller’s Ale House's new location is now open in Paramus: 270 route 4 east, Paramus, NJ 07652.

Rodizio Grill (Voorhees, NJ as well as locations in CO, CT, FL, MA, MN, OH, PA, TN, TX, UT, WI). They list their GF items on their online menu. Dairy should be easy to avoid here. See full review by Michael at Gluten Free Philly (warning he isn't dairy free).

Ruby’s (CA, HI, NV, PA, TX and Newark, NJ) [WARNING: the Newark NJ location is in the airport behind security.] – this diner chain now offers Udi’s gluten free hamburger buns.

Silver Diner (Cherry Hill + more) has expanded their GF menu. Unsure of other allergens.

Yard House  (AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, KS, MA, NC, NV, NY, OH, TX, VA, WA, coming soon to ID and OR, but none in NJ) – offers a gluten sensitive menu on their website that details how to modify their existing dishes to make them gluten friendly. They also offer gluten free beer (depending on the location). I’ve eaten here and felt quite safe.


Fast Food / Quick Serve:

Gluten Free at Boston Market

Boston Market (27 states nationwide + multiple NJ locations) – has a listing of the eight major allergens plus gluten on their website (be prepared for the local restaurant to have no idea about this). Both the chicken and turkey are gluten free and dairy free as are a number of sides and best of all, three of their sauces including the standard gravy (again double check with your local store).

Deux Aux Natural has closed.

Eat'n Park (OH, PA, WV) – they offer a gluten friendly menu and gluten free sandwich buns (most items are made gluten friendly by substituting this bun).

Muscle Maker Grill (multiple NJ locations and AR, CA, FL, IL, MO, NY, OK, PA, TX) – has a limited gluten friendly menu with some dairy friendly options. Read my review of Muscle Maker Grill.

PB and U has closed in Wayne, PA, but their NJ location is still open.

Pure Tacos has closed.

Red Mango (Nationwide including 25 locations in NJ) - this frozen yogurt chain also offers gluten free / dairy free sorbettos. (Review coming soon)


Be sure to check out the full Gluten Free Fast Food / Chain / Quick Serve list and if you are in NJ the Gluten Free New Jersey Restaurant List.

Gluten Free French Fries Latest Update

It’s time for another update to my gluten free french fry restaurant list. I’ve added eighteen new locations: some here in NJ, a couple that I’ve personally tried in NY, and then a couple of national chains. As always, be sure to double check with the restaurant before ordering. Procedures and recipes sometimes change and their fries may not still be truly gluten free!

NJ Restaurants:

6 Brothers Diner in Little Falls, NJ – they have a dedicated fryer for gluten free fries (and gluten free chicken fingers)!

Alumni Grill in Wildwood, NJ – has gluten free fries and gluten free sweet potato fries!

Biddy O'Malley's in Northvale, NJ – last I was here they were looking into installing a dedicated fryer. No word on if that is done yet.

The Cozy End in Upper Montclair, NJ – they have a dedicated gluten free fryer for lots more than just gluten free French fries! These are some of the best fries I’ve ever had.

Gluten Free Greek Fries at Opa Greek Cuisine in Wayne, NJ

Kind Burgers in Sea Bright, NJ – offers gf fries.

Little Shanty in Warren, NJ (more coming soon) – has multiple fryers and offers gluten free french fries and gluten free onion rings. Warning: their sweet potato fries are NOT gluten free.

Opa Greek Cuisine in Wayne, NJ – has a dedicated fryer for their gluten free greek fries. (review coming soon)

Your Way Cafe in Westwood, NJ – they have a dedicated fryer for gluten free French fries and gluten free chicken fingers. (review coming soon)

NY Restaurants:

97lake in West Harrison, NY – they have gluten free onion rings and gluten free fries. As a matter of fact their kitchen is mainly gluten free, they just bring in gluten containing bread for other diners! Read my review of 97lake here.

Mama’s Italian Restaurant in Oakdale, NY (Long Island) – has a dedicated fryer for gluten free fries and a multitude of other gluten free fried items. (Review coming soon.)

Market Cafe (NYC, NY) – has a dedicated fryer for their gluten free seasoned fries. (Review coming soon.)

Perfecto Mundo in Commack, NY (Long Island) – they have a dedicated fryer for all of their gluten free options (potato frites, sweet potato frites, yuca frites, chips for salsa and guacamole, etc.) (Review coming soon.)

Chain / Fast Food Restaurants:

Burger21 (mostly in FL, but expanding) - they offer gluten free french fries and gluten free sweet potato fries!

Glory Days (no NJ locations) – has a dedicated fryer. (review coming soon)

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Restaurants – offers a dedicated fryer for gluten free fries!

Joe's Crab Shack - I'm removing this one from the master list. They used to list french fries on their gluten free menu but have removed them. I've eaten here and the boiled potatoes that come with their steam pots are gluten free but we all know potatoes were meant to be fried not boiled!

Mon Ami Gabi (no NJ locations) – they have gluten free French fries at this French Bistro.

Red Robin – some locations now have a dedicated fryer.

Ted’s Montana Grill (no NJ locations) – has gluten free fresh cut fries! (review coming soon)

White Chocolate Grill (no NJ locations) - they have gluten free shoestring fries. I ate at their AZ location years ago and enjoyed it quite a bit.


These were just the updates, see the full list here: Gluten Free Fries.

Gluten Free Meatballs (dairy free too)

When I first put together my Tomato Free Sauce (recipe), I would make a batch of that and three pounds of gf meatballs. I’d make the first pound as Gluten Free Swedish Meatballs (recipe) and the other two would get added to the sauce.

I recently realized I never shared the standard gluten free meatball recipe, so here it is. You can bake them, fry them or simply simmer them in your sauce. Baking and frying will keep them held together better when you add them to the sauce and reduce the amount of time they need to simmer in the sauce. I prefer to bake them first as this cuts out the mess of frying.

Gluten Free Meatballs with Homemade Nomato Sauce
over Gluten Free Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 clove garlic, chopped fine
½ onion, chopped fine
Olive oil
¼ cup basil (1 tbsp dried)
¼ cup parsley (1 tbsp dried)
¼ gluten free bread crumbs (recipe)
Salt and pepper to taste

Optional:

1/4 vegan parmesan (or dairy)




How to prepare gluten free meatballs:

Preheat the oven to 350 if you are going to bake instead of fry.

Saute chopped onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent and just starting to brown (about 3 minutes).

In the mean time, finely chop the parsley and basil. (Quick note: the ¼ cup measurement assumes loosely packed prior to chopping. You’ll have much less afterwards.)

Add the bread crumbs, herbs, ground beef, salt, pepper, and onions and garlic (as soon as they are done) to a large mixing bowl (add vegan parmesan if using here as well). Mix thoroughly.

Form into 1” balls (about 1 tbsp worth) and set aside.

You can then fry the meatballs (in batches) until browned on all sides or for less mess, bake them in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.  (See below if adding directly to your sauce.)

Bring your favorite pasta sauce to a boil and add the browned (either oven or frying pan) meatballs then reduce to a simmer.  Continue to cook them until cooked all the way through and no longer pink in the center (20-30 minutes).

If you are not baking or frying make sure your sauce is boiling before adding the meatballs and that they are all completely covered in the pot. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook until done (about an hour), not stirring for the first ½ hour so they don’t fall apart. I would use a meat thermometer to confirm they have reached an internal temp of 165 degrees in this case as well.

[NOTE: If using my no tomato pasta sauce, I like to add the meatballs prior to adding the pureed beets and then I don’t add the beets until the meatballs are done. Once you add the beets, if you cook them for more than 5 minutes or so they’ll begin to discolor.]

Serve with your favorite gluten free pasta!


Check out my other Gluten Free Recipes!

Restaurant Review: Organico (Ramsey, NJ)

I wasn't sure how to categorize this review at first. Organico’s (495 North Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey, NJ 07446) is part lunch counter, part juice bar and part health food store. They carry a small selection of gluten free products including some by Ancient Harvest, Bionaturae, Bob’s Redmill, Food for Life, Glutenfreeda, Go Raw, Kind, Kinnikinnick, Oskri, Pure!, Tinkyada, and Udi’s. [They are one of the few places to get Pure!’s cookies outside of NY.]

Gluten Free Tuna Lunch Box at Organico in Ramsey, NJ

They have a full juice bar offering various organic fresh made juices, plus dozens of organic smoothies (smoothies can be made dairy free with rice, hemp, almond, or soy milk).

I've been a couple times to grab a quick to-go lunch. They do have a small counter at the front window and everything is packaged for take-away. They offer a choice of two soups daily (you’ll need to double check on allergens) as well as prepared sandwiches (warning: on gluten containing bread).

Finally, (saving the best for last) they offer a daily gluten free lunch special! I've only ever had the Tuna Lunch box (tuna salad made with egg-free mayo, along with brown rice, alfalfa sprouts and avocado) but I am hoping to head back for the Forbidden Black Rice and Mango as well as Gina’s Rasta Rice (bamboo infused rice, with organic vegetables).

Overall, this is a great place to grab a healthy and delicious lunch! (And after today’s fresh apple carrot ginger juice, I thing I’ll be back all too often!)







Other great nearby places to eat gluten free:

Gluten Free at Gao Thai Kitchen

Gluten Free at Joe's American Grill


And of course, don't miss the full gluten free NJ Restaurant list.

New gluten free book for kids!

I had the pleasure of meeting local NJ author Heather Spergel at the last meeting of the gluten free support group that meets at the Fine Grind in Little Falls.  She had brought along an advanced copy of her new children's book "Free to be . . . Gluten-Free!".  It's the story of a young boy who becomes ill, deals with the 'gluten monster' and then recovers.  I won't review the book here as I'm a bit too old (it's for kids) and sadly have no children of my own. 

I will however point out some of the highlights of the book.  First, the little boy in the book has a multitude of different gluten related symptom making it much more likely that a gluten free child will find at least one to relate to.  So many other books are specific only to Celiac disease or digestive issues.  Second, there are a number of gluten free recipes in the back of the book (especially useful to those just starting out) as well as other strategies for transitioning to gluten free.  Third, Heather wrote not just about the physical and mental symptoms of gluten issues but the emotional issues of having to eat differently from everyone else.  And, finally, the author, her son and her daughter are all gluten free with a multitude of different symptoms so she's writing from a world of experience.

The book is due out in June and Heather will be making a couple of local appearances including a Mommy and Me Story time at Whole Foods in West Orange (June 19, 11:30am), a meet and great + story time at Barnes and Nobles in Livingston (June 22, 12pm) and another at the Fine Grind Coffee Bar in Little Falls (June 29, 12pm).  [A full list of future and other appearances are on her website here.]

You can get a copy of the book (once released) at the Livingston Barnes and Nobles, or your local book store can order it for you from their distributors.  If you can't find it locally (or don't have a local bookstore to order it for you) you can order it online from Amazon.com.

Latest Gluten Free NJ Restaurant List update

I've added 33 new restaurants to my Gluten Free NJ Restaurant List and updated the map at the bottom of the page.  (Don't worry, I'm still working on an update to the Gluten Free Bakery List and Gluten Free Fast Food / Chain List.)

Due to the large number of restaurants adding GF pasta to their menus I will no longer list restaurants that only offer GF pasta.  (I won't be deleting any already on here, just not adding any new ones.)  Suddenly there are enough gluten free dining options that just boiling me some pasta isn't going to cut it anymore!


And now for the additions (and sadly a couple of deletions as well) . . .

Alumni Grill (3316 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260) – has gluten free buns for burgers and other sandwiches as well as gluten free fries and gluten free sweet potato fries! I haven’t been yet.

Turkey and Avocado on a gluten free bagel
at Your Way Café in Westwood, NJ

Ariel's in Englewood has closed.

Bella Vida in Wildwood appears to have closed - but their Cape May location is still open and with a greatly expanded gluten free menu!

Boulevard Clams (2006 Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, NJ 08008) – their website states they have a gluten free menu in the restaurant. I emailed them and they let me know that their GF menu contains grill fresh fish, Manhattan clam chowder and even crab cakes!

Bud and Bowls – has closed.

Café Spezia (349 Route 9S, Manalapan, NJ, 07726) – has gluten free pasta and a list of gluten friendly entrees. I recently ate there with four other gluten free / dairy free diners and enjoyed it. Their in-restaurant gf menu is a bit shorter than their online menu.

The Cozy End (631 ½ Valley Road, Upper Montclair, NJ 07042) – open seven days for breakfast and lunch, open Tues-Sat for dinner. They have a surprisingly large gluten free menu including gluten free pancakes, gluten free bread, corn tortillas for wraps, gf pasta and a number of gluten free entrees. They use Udi’s GF hamburger buns and have a dedicated gluten free fryer! I recently had dinner here (twice) and since it is on my way home from work, I expect to stop quite a bit in the future!

Double S Diner (154 Route 23 South, Wantage NJ) – has re-opened.

Dubh Linn Square Pub (167 Route 130, Bordentown, NJ 08505 and 482 Evesham Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003) – has a small Gluten Free section on their regular menu. Dairy free may require extra care here.

Earth Pizza (95 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701) - formerly a Pizza Fusion, the owner has severed his ties with PF in order to expand his gluten free and vegan offerings.  Menu includes gluten free pizzas, dairy free/vegan cheese, 6 gf desserts (only 1 is vegan too), 3 GF appetizers (including gluten free chicken fingers) and GF sub sandwich rolls.

Gao Thai Kitchen (63 West Main Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446) – flags gluten free items on regular menu. Has extensive options. Click here to read my review of Gao Thai Kitchen.

Green Cuisine (302 96t Street, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247) – On their menu under Sandwiches it says to ask about Gluten Free options, but doesn't detail what those may be. They also offer to 'try our best to accommodate special diets . . . - just ask!” There is a large section of fruit salads and regular salads as well. Open for lunch, Monday and Wednesday, lunch and dinner, Thursday – Sunday. Open mid-May through mid-September.

Hannah G’s (7310 Ventnor Ave, Ventnor, NJ 08406) – this breakfast/lunch spot has a short gluten free menu. I’ve never been.

Indiya  (612 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108) – This Indian restaurant flags both vegan and gluten free menu items and has many of each. I haven't been yet.

Jason's Organic Pizza Café  (1314 Richmond Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742) – has gluten free / dairy free cheese pizza. GF pizza is getting easy to find but dairy free cheese is a welcome addition. I hope to try them out this summer!

Joe's Meat Market (28 Main Street, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880) – has both gluten free pizza and gluten free bread/rolls for sandwiches (unknown other allergens). I haven’t been yet.

Landmark Americana (1 Mullica Hill Road, Glasboro, NJ 08028 and four sites around Philadelphia, PA) – has a small gluten free menu including gluten free chicken fingers and gluten free hamburger buns. I have never been.

Little Shanty (14 Mt. Bethel Rd, Warren, NJ 07059, more coming soon) – quick serve burger place with Udi’s buns and bread for sandwiches. They also have dedicated fryers for their gluten free fries and gluten free onion rings!  (The sweet potato fries are NOT gluten free.)

Main Street Euro-American Bistro and Bar (301 North Harrison Street, Princeton, NJ 08540) – flags their Gluten Friendly items on their menu. Menu changes monthly. I've never been.

Marcello's Ristorante Pizzeria (300 East Greentree Road, Marlton, NJ 08053) - has gluten free pizza and pasta (but no dairy free cheese). Offers to substitute out gluten free linguini in any of their other menu items.

Maywood Pancake House (92 West Pleasant Avenue, Maywood, NJ 07607) – open daily for breakfast and lunch only. Their online menu notes only gluten free / vegan pancakes and waffles. See my review of the food at the Rutherford Pancake House.   I hope to try their Maywood location soon!

Mesob (515 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042) this Ethiopian restaurant will prepare gluten free injera [Ethiopian flat bread] given 24 hour notice. They are vegan friendly, will substitute out butter and have many naturally gluten free dishes (but no specific menu). I haven’t tried here yet, but it’s only one town away so I hope to soon!

Norma's Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine (995 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034) - flags gluten free menu items as well as vegetarian and vegan items on their menu (and has a good selection of all three). I haven't been yet but I hear they have a dedicated fryer for their gluten free falafel.

Opa Greek Cuisine (37 Berdan Avenue, Wayne, NJ 07470) – they star gluten friendly items on their menu (and there are quite a few)! Sadly, they don’t have gluten free pitas. Since I’m not overly familiar with Greek cuisine I’m not sure how easy dairy free will be here. I hope to try them shortly.

Organic4Life has closed.

Pacific Grill (4801 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood NJ 08260) - sister restaurant to Union Park Dining Room in Cape May, NJ. States on their menu that a gluten free version of their menu is available and requests that you let them know about any allergies and dietary requirements. However, this GF menu is not available online.

Pandan Fusion Lounge (9 West Mill Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853) – a sister restaurant to the Pandan Room in Hackettstown. Both restaurants share the same menu. Click here for my review of the Pandan Room.

Pure Taco has closed (both at the shore and in Philly)

Rack's Sports Bar (286 Whitehorse Pike, Atco, NJ 08004) – flags numerous items on their menu that can be modified to be gluten free but requests that you ask for the gluten free version. I've never been.

Ragazzi (44 Route 70 East, Marlton, NJ 08053) - has gluten free wraps, ravioli and gnocci. Unknown other allergens. I haven't been.

Sapthagiri (3151 Rt 27, Franklin Park, NJ 08823) – Indian cuisine with both GF and Vegan options flagged on the menu. Restaurant is 100% vegetarian.

Sapthagiri (804 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306) – Indian cuisine with both GF and Vegan options flagged on the menu. Restaurant is 100% vegetarian.

Steve and Cookie's By the Bay (9700 Amherst Avenue, Margate City, NJ 08402) - they have no gf information on their website, but they are listed as an NFCA-GREAT kitchen.

Surfside Coffee House (1901 Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, NJ 08008) – includes an extensive sandwich/snack menu with dozens of gluten free options.

Union Park Dining Room (727 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204) - sister restaurant to Pacific Grill in Wildwood, NJ. States on their menu that a gluten free version of their menu is available and requests that you let them know about any allergies and dietary requirements. Unfortunately, this GF menu is not available online.

The Wagon Wheel Restaurant (1162 Rt. 40, Pilesgrove, NJ 08098) - has short gluten free menu including a number of non-dairy free pastas (ravioli and stuffed shells) but they also have gluten free hamburger buns and gf pasta.

Wildflour Bakery / Café (2691 Main Street, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648) – new dedicated gluten free bakery and cafe. They have limited dairy free options but these include vegan crepes, coconut macaroons and some other cafe items (soup, salad, smoothie). Only open for breakfast and lunch (brunch on weekends). Closed Mondays. I haven't been yet.

Wild Oats (279 Browertown Road, Woodland Park, NJ 07424) - has gluten free bread, pancakes and wraps. Open for Lunch and Breakfast only, M-S. I haven’t been yet.

Your Way Café (22 Jefferson Avenue, Westwood, NJ 07675) – they have gluten free bread, bagels (Udi’s), English muffins (Trader Joes), and hamburger buns for $2 more. They also have a dedicated fryer for gluten free French fries and gluten free chicken fingers. I’ve been a number of times (it’s a distance but doable for lunch from work) and each time the GF offerings increase. Review coming soon.