8 minute read
Flavorful Gluten-Free Food in NOLA
GLUTEN-FREE IN NEW ORLEANS OPTIONS
Full of Flavor
By Sabrina Stone
Nowadays, being gluten-free isn’t an impediment to eating deliciously, especially in the Crescent City. There are so many naturally gluten free foods here, as well as restaurants that are happy to make accommodations and substitutions.
In fact, there is such an array of tantalizing options that I’ve had to leave some out, brush past a few quickly, and group the others into “bite-sized” categories.
It is worth noting that while every place mentioned has scrumptious gluten-free dishes for people with gluten sensitivities, those plates are not necessarily prepared in gluten-free kitchens, and if your allergy is severe, please call the establishments directly for details.
PIZZA
Yes, gluten-free pizza is finally something you can enjoy when you’re out at dinner with friends, and it’s nearly as satisfying as the real thing.
Theo's Neighborhood Pizza – With four locations throughout the city, Theo’s has amazing salads (Caesar, Caprese, Rebo’s Super Soaked with artichoke hearts, Greek, and Sweet Spinach) in addition to its buildyour-own pizzas and vegetarian and vegan specialty pizzas, all available with glutenfree crust.
Slice Pizzeria – Slice, on Saint Charles Avenue, has a seemingly endless list of cauliflower crust pizza options and entirely crustless pizza bowls. Choose from Cheese, White, D-Luxe, Meat Lover, Veggie, BBQ Chicken, Margherita, Flying Hawaiian, and Wicked Garden, just to name a few.
G’s Tasty Pizza – G’s has an incredible selection of gourmet pizzas with gluten-free crust options for everyone. The Bienville Supreme, Cajun Shrimp, Greek Gyro, Meathead, Green Roots, Pesto, Rainbow, Big Cheesy, Narcissist—it’s hard to decide which one to order.
CAJUN/CREOLE
While New Orleanians are known for our decadence when it comes to cuisine, we actually offer quite a few gluten-free options at some of our most beloved Cajun and Creole restaurants.
Mother’s – Established way back in 1938, Mother’s has developed with the times. Realizing that gluten wasn’t necessary in many of their staple dishes, they now have an entirely gluten-free designated menu, which includes major favorites like calamari, fried catfish, corned beef, dirty rice, French fries, jambalaya, potato salad, and grilled oysters.
Don’s Seafood – All of the gluten free items on Don’s menu are clearly marked, and there’s an abundance of them: broiled gulf shrimp with bacon, jalapeños and pepper jack cheese, blackened alligator, charbroiled oysters with garlic butter and Romano cheese, several salads, boiled shrimp, grilled salmon, blackened redfish, marinated chicken, and even a hearty 12 oz. aged ribeye with a salad and stuffed potato.
Etouffée – On their website, right at the top, Etoufée has the most glorious phrase: “Any [menu] item can be fried with Gluten Free Fish Fry.” There was a time when a statement like that would have been unheard of, but nowadays a world of possibilities has opened up to people with gluten intolerance. You can order to your heart’s content. Fried soft-shell crab, golden fried shrimp, thin fried catfish, hushpuppies, fried bacon wrapped shrimp, fried stuffed shrimp. The world is your gluten free fried oyster.
ASIAN
There are so many gluten-free items in Asian cuisine that it’s hard to go wrong going that route. Between pho, bun, sushi, spring rolls, flat rice noodles, and poke, I always know I'll have options at a Japanese, Vietnamese, or Thai restaurant. There are far too many wonderful places in the city to include, but here are a few of my favorites. Sake Cafe – At this sushi restaurant on Magazine Street, the edamame, chicken spring rolls, seaweed salad, and sushi without snow crab or soy sauce are all gluten free.
LemonShark Poke – This chain, where you build your bowls one ingredient at a time, can easily accommodate most dietary restrictions. Everything except the wontons, soba noodles, surimi salad, and the sauces are gluten free.
Pho Noi Viet – This family run place is delicious. The majority of their menu is diet appropriate. Select from their pho, bun, pad thai, or rice dish sections, all with a plethora of toppings.
Secret Thai – It’s worth the drive out to Chalmette for Secret Thai’s Drunken Noodles and Pad See Ew alone. Their food is consistently yummy and their portions are enormous.
SEAFOOD
Deanie’s Seafood Kitchen – With multiple locations and catering options throughout the city, Deanie’s has a comprehensive, designated gluten-free menu that includes broiled crawfish tails and crab claws, boiled crawfish, crabs, and shrimp, raw oysters on the half shell, shrimp and crab remoulade, several salads, and other lunch and dinner entrees.
Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar – Superior has a full-length gluten-free menu that includes flourless chocolate cake and creme brûlée to top off your happy hour oysters. With blackened, grilled, and pan seared fish, chicken, steak and bacon wrapped shrimp, risotto, salads, and ceviche, no one in your party will go hungry.
Casamento’s – When Casamento’s opened in 1919, it’s unlikely that they served glutenfree beer in mason jars, but they do now, and all of their seafood is proudly fried in cornmeal. This is a menu where you truly don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health.
BRUNCH
Red Gravy – Breakfast Spaghetti might not be a regular brunch staple but when the gluten free noodles are handmade and smothered in sausage, ricotta, and sunny side-up eggs, it should be. In addition to that, Red Gravy’s Tuscan style shrimp and polenta, as well as the shrimp and grits with sausage, peas, cream, meatball omelet, and ricotta, makes this menu richly irresistible.
HiVolt – HiVolt is a Lower Garden Gem. Their deliciously strong coffee drinks are best paired with their Cobb, Curry Chicken, or Mean Greens salads, as well as their polenta squares, roasted warm vegetable garden mix, Ozzy Eggs Benedict, and quinoa breakfast bowl.
Bearcat Cafe – With their “Good Cat” and “Bad Cat” menus, Bearcat’s Freret and CBD locations have a creative take on gluten-free dishes. House made yogurt and chia puddings, crisp potatoes with gluten free mornay sauce, paleo pancakes, tofu scrambles, and corn tortilla burritos are some plates to look forward to.
AUTHENTIC NEW YORK PIZZA 504-766-7914 | 206 W harrison Ave. Suite C thecrazyitalianpizzeria.com WhereYat.com | March 2022 45
NAMED BEST PIZZA IN NEW ORLEANS BY Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New OrleansEat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans
Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans
Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans
Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New OrleansEat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New OrleansEat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans
Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans
Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans Eat pray love at Melba's Before meals New Orleans
