Gluten Free Weekend in New York City

This past weekend I attended my best friend’s bachelorette party in NYC. I can’t believe my bestie is getting married in a few short weeks. I had such a fun weekend celebrating the her with a great group of girls. In this blog I am going to share some of the restaurants we dined at. All of them had great gluten-free options and I am happy to report no tummy aches! If you are looking for my wedding blogs click HERE and follow me on my own wedding planning journey 🙂

The Frying Pan

The Frying Pan is a super cool spot in the city at Pier 66. It’s actually a boat docked in the Hudson River on the Pier. If you’re living in or visiting the city this summer you should definitely make it a point to stop here. It is really such a great place to enjoy the summer weather. We got a delicious pitcher of mango-blueberry sangria and a light dinner. The menu has “V” and “G” icons to identify vegetarian and gluten-free options. I was pleasantly surprised that the bartender/waitress was actually very knowledgeable of gluten-allergies and assured me that the choices labeled “G” were safe options. I had the fish tacos and a few fries. Yes, FRIES! They are fried separately, so they’re totally gluten-free.

Pardon My French

For brunch we went to Pardon My French which was the perfect spot for a bachelorette. It would also be a good option for a small bridal or baby shower. I loved the rustic, French decor. We sat upfront at the white subway tiled peninsula. They offer a classic or bottomless brunch options. Although no items are marked gluten-free the waiter was understanding of my allergy and said it would not be a problem. Their kitchen does their best to prevent contamination. I had the spinach and tomato omelet with roasted potatoes. The potatoes were actually roasted; not fried and the iced coffee was possible the best I’ve had. I enjoyed my breakfast and can happily report no tummy ahces.

El Toro Blanco

On our second night we went to El Toro Blanco; a Mexican restaurant in Downtown. The guacamole was phenomenal! All of their guacamole is made fresh at the guac bar.  Gluten-free foodies beware – the chips are NOT gluten-free. Instead, make sure you ask for a side of raw veggies. The menu is marked with * which indicate which options contain gluten. I had the roasted chicken tacos for dinner which I enjoyed, but wasn’t blown away by. Also keep in mind the servings are small and the margaritas are very strong!

Sans Bakery

We stopped at Think Coffee for a quick pick me up and I was happy to find these Sans Bakery gluten-free doughnuts and muffins. Unlike most gluten-free desserts, this doughnut was not bland and dry. It’s nice to now where you can stop to get a coffee and a treat! I believe the Think Coffee shops are located throughout the city too.

Gluten Free at MSG!

Fear not, sports fans! The revamped Madison Square Garden is gluten free friendly. Their gluten free stand is called, “Healthy at The Garden.” The menu includes hot dogs, nachos,  fries, chicken fingers, pizza, multiple beers and more! They also offer pre-made sandwiches by The Bare Naked Bakery on Long Island. I bought the sandwich, but the bread was VERY dry. Although the sandwich wasn’t my favorite, I have to say the gluten free menu at The Garden blows away those of  the other arenas/stadiums I’ve been the.
 
FYI – Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and The Barclay’s Center have gluten free stands as well!

Bistango NYC!

A few weeks my boyfriend and I went to dinner at Bistango. After months of drooling over their website menu I was beyond excited for this special date night! Bistango is certified gluten free and is absolutely fabulous. As soon as the sever comes to the table he/she asks if anyone has a food allergy. The menu clearly identifies the gluten free options although the entire menu can be gluten free. They even serve gluten free Italian bread. It had been over a year since I had Italian bread at a restaurant (at Yamanja in Aruba) and it was AMAZING! Light, fluffy and delicious. I believe they order their bread from Everybody Eats in Brooklyn. For dinner I had the gluten free spinach ravioli in a pink sauce. My boyfriend ordered the pork chop (gluten style) and we shared coffee gelato for dessert. This was the best dinner I’ve had at a restaurant in a long time and I can’t wait to go back. I highly recommend Bistango. You won’t be disappointed!