As of this month, I’ve been living in NYC for over a year. I no longer feel like a lost tourist trying to work their way to the Empire State Building, but rather I can work my way around a subway, hail a cab, and order take-out like a pro.
Over the last year I’ve tried different restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner across Queens and Manhattan. Some I didn’t care for and others I make a point to eat at whenever I can. Even in a big city like NYC, gluten-free options can be limited at times. But if you save these 5 restaurants on your phone it doesn’t have to be.
Whatever cuisine I’m in the mood for, I know one of these restaurants has it and does a phenomenal job at making their food delicious and gluten-free.
El Centro – I’m a huge Mexican food fan and there are tons of great options in the city(and also plenty of Chipotles I’ve been to, too). El Centro is my favorite of them all for something delicious and a little sophisticated. The whole menu isn’t gluten-free but you won’t be left without options. I’m a big fan of their chilaquiles!
Risotteria – So few places do gluten-free Italian food as well as risotteria. For starters, you get gluten-free breadsticks at every table. Their menu is a good mix of risottos(duh), pizza, paninis, and more. Best of all, they sell their own desserts and gluten-free flour mixes so if you loved anything you can get the ingredients to make it at home.
Pie By The Pound – While Risotteria has great Italian food, for pizza I’d always go to Pie By The Pound. It’s definitely on the pricey side but everything’s made fresh to order and the gluten-free dough is as light and crispy as their regular. They also have an endless list of delicious toppings. It’s not on their menu but if you just can’t decide you can ask them to do half & half toppings. There’s even a 10% gluten-free discount card for regulars.
Lilli and Loo/Lili57 – Asian cuisine is tough to find when you’re on a gluten-free diet. It’s even tougher to find a place that makes it as good as their regular menu. Lilli and Loo is great at that. They have a good mix of Thai, Japanese, and Chinese items. Their express location, Lili57, has mostly the same menu and is great if you’re in the heart of town and want something quick or takeout.
Tu-lu’s Gluten-free Bakery – If, after all of these meals, you want a good old-fashioned bakery where you can buy a chewy chocolate chip cookie the size of your face or a rich chocolate cake with buttercream, I’d recommend stopping at Tu-lu’s bakery. They do a great job of creating classic bakery desserts for a gluten-free appetite and always have a good selection available.
So great seeing your picks for Top 5! So many places in NYC, so little time to try them all.
Sometimes too many to try! Tempted to put Pure Food & Wine on the list, too, but I figured I need to go more than once to make up my mind 🙂
You definitely need to experience the dinner and dessert menus at Pure. I look forward to a review on that 😀
I would love to get my claws on that pizza.