Gluten Free Indy - Restaurant Menus

Even in restaurants that offer a Gluten-Free menu, it is best to talk to the manager when you arrive to make sure they know you are ordering a GF meal. This is an important step to help avoid cross-contamination. Most of the time you will find that the wait staff is not well-informed about the Gluten-Free menu. It is unfortunately quite common for people to feel that they are having a gluten reaction after a restaurant meal. These links are offered as a service for those who want (or need) to eat out...but home cooking is usually the safest.

Holiday World and Splashin' Safari Allergen-free menu
Not all of their restaurants have the GF items. It's a good idea to print and take this information with you. Here is an article that appeared in the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness newsletter about Holiday World.

Adobo Grill
Note: There is apparently an error in their online menu. The following is information from one of our members (10/07):

I wanted to let you know I spoke with Adobo about the discrepancy between their online and in-restaurant menus. I asked why one menu lists tortilla chips as gf and the other does not. The manager said they had a 2nd dedicated fryer for a while but that now they only have one and do not deem the chips gluten-free due to cross-contamination. He was surprised the website still had the incorrect info. I don't know if that means the chips are made from cornand CC is the main issue, but either way, they are OUT.

Arby's

Bonefish Grill
Scroll down their webpage for the link to the GF menu

Boston Market
See their allergen information, which lists gluten

Carrabba's Italian Grill
Scroll down their webpage for the GF menu

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Chick-Fil-A

Chili's

Chipotle
They list gluten as part of their allergen information. Also, please read their statement about gluten, which is the sixth question on the faq. Be sure to tell the manager that you are ordering a GF meal, and request that your preparer change gloves before handling your food to help prevent cross-contamination.

Greek Islands
Lunch Menu
Dinner Menu
This is a locally-owned restaurant in downtown Indianapolis

Kona Grill

Longhorn Steakhouse

Mitchell's Fish Market
Click the menu link then scroll down their webpage for the GF menu

Old Spaghetti Factory

Outback Steakhouse
The link to the GF Menu is on the left side of their webpage

PF Changs
Ask for the special GF soy sauce listed on the GF menu: make sure the server does not think you mean the "lite" soy sauce which is not GF.

Qdoba
Their customer service said that there is a high potential for cross-contamination in their restaurants, especially during busy times. Qdoba's customer service number is 1-888-497-3622.

Steak 'n Shake

Subway
Scroll down to the fourth question in bold print, and click on "Ingredient Information for People with Food Allergies"

Ted's Montana Grill

Uno's Chicago Grill
See the gluten-free information link on the right side of their webpage

Weber Grill
Weber Grill is currently re-evaluating their menu, so the one posted online here is not currently reliable. They are having their menu "certified". If you call the restaurant, they may have some suggestions. One of our members wrote the following:

"I work downtown and eat at Weber Grill quite often. It has been at
least 3 months or so since they have had the GF menu. They still
confirm that the meat, barbeque sauce, coleslaw, and baked beans are
GF. I have never had a problem with these--although I frequently have
a problem with them leaving the piece of bread under the pulled pork".

Wendy's

Olive Garden

Panera Bread
You can request the most current list by emailing Panera. Also, you can search for specific items on their Menu and Nutrition page to read the ingredient lists.

Puck's

Red Robin
This links to their faq. You can email them to get their GF menu.

Restaurants participating in the Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program
Gluten Intolerance Group has a nationwide database of restaurants that participate in their "Gluten-Free Restaurant Awareness Program". You can search for a local restaurant on the program website. GFRAP educates restaurants about the diet, helps them develop gluten-free menus, and gives them this national advertising. If you know of a restaurant that might want to participate, ask them to contact the GFRAP.

Wikicities Gluten-Free Restaurants page
A good resource for traveling, the Wikicities website lists restaurants across the U.S. and in other countries that are recommended by others on the GF diet. It is similar to Wikipedia in that anyone can add information and edit pages.

Although they do not have a GF menu, the following are restaurants that have been recommended by our local members as being particularly accomodating to the GF diet. Comments are from one of our board members, Suzanne. These recommendations are updated periodically, but please check with the restaurant for the most current information:

A-2-Z Cafe
4705 E 96th St Suite 35, Indianapolis, 317.569.9349
A family-run restaurant, serving eclectic breakfasts and lunches. Many dishes, especially breakfast dishes, are very suitable for gluten-free preparation. The owner is very welcoming and accommodating. Also excellent coffee!

BD's Mongolian BBQ
Two locations:
Keystone/Clearwater: 3838 E. 82nd St.
Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 585-0700
Carmel/Westfield: 2430 E. 146th Street
Carmel, IN 46033
(317) 846-8700
BD's is a great place to be safe, because you are in control. You select ONLY items you want (from a sort of smorgasbord of small bins) to put into your stir fry -- and then make a SPECIAL request to have them cook it in the back, in a special cooking pan they keep completely clean, to use for people with shellfish, gluten and other food allergies. Do NOT allow them to cook it on the main wok, which would be contaminated with all kinds of things you can't eat. Since everything is freshly cut (also nflavored/unseasoned) vegetables, fruit or meat/poultry/fish, the only thing to watch out for is anything that might be next to the cooked pasta bin. Sometimes they have "krab" (that is, crab-flavored/textured processed white fish) -- this has wheat starch in it, so steer clear -- but other regular "real" fish should be OK. They have a host of sauces that are not suitable for people with celiac disease (virtually all have soy
sauce), so don't touch any of them. It is also unknown if any of their spices are gluten-free -- so each person has to decide if it's worth the risk according to your sensitivities. However, you can spice up your dish with Worcestershire sauce (they carry Lea & Perrins brand) and Tabasco (brand), and they will even let you bring your own soy sauce or spices, and use that in your own dish. Even though the servers are often young and the turnover is quite high, they "get" the contamination thing (as corporate seems to have
trained them on this point), and are usually extremely friendly and accommodating.

The Bosphorous
935 S. East St., Indianapolis
317-974-1770
A Turkish restaurant, located near Eli Lilly downtown. They have a number of unusual dishes, many of which are naturally GF. Highly recommended are: NAVY BEAN SALAD (PIYAZ) (Navy beans, onions, tomatoes, parsley; tossed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice) and SPINACH CHICKEN (ISPANAKLI TAVUK) (Chicken breasts grilled with asparagus and served with sautéed spinach). Beware of dishes with tomato sauce, however, as they use wheat flour to thicken it.

Classic Kitchen
610 Hannibal Street
Noblesville
(317) 773-7385
A bit pricey, but great for a special occasion. Owner and chef Steve Kneipp not only helps toserve, but speaks personally to every guest and works with you to make sure dishes are suitable. If you are able to eat dairy products, Classic Kitchen's homemade ice creams are the best on the planet. Happens to be one of David Letterman's Mom's favorite places -- she celebrated her 80th birthday there.

Donatos Pizza
locations
The Donatos NoDough pizza, with soy crumbles, is GF -- as are their classic pizza ingredients (sausage, pepperoni, bacon, ham, ground beef, non-marinated veggies, shredded cheeses). However, almost all their specialty ingredients (sliced chicken, smoked chicken, white sauce, cheese sauce, etc.) are not GF. Pizzas are prepared on individual plastic dishes, and not combined with wheat crusts in any way. However, probably a good idea to ask your server to tell the kitchen to change gloves and prepare your dish where it will not be contaminated by flour, breads or crusts. Not half bad! A tip: ask to have your dish sent through twice, as the process doesn't seem to crisp up the ingredients as well as a regular pizza.

The Hamilton
933 Conner St., Noblesville (317) 770-4545
Owned and run by husband and wife team (Chef Clyde & Vonita Worley). Excellent, high-end gourmet foods at mid-range prices. Owners care a lot about their customers, and will take time to make sure a meal is prepared safely.

Jasmine Thai Restaurant
4825 E 96th St
Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 848-8950
As with most Thai restaurants, the regional cooking techniques and
ingredients are friendly for people with celiac disease. If
authentically prepared, soy sauce and wheat flour are seldom used.
The only things to steer clear of in this restaurant seem to be
anything with the soup (they use a prepared soup that contains soy
sauce) and the spring rolls, which are made with wheat-flour
wrappers. Other than that, enjoy most any dish on their very
extensive menu. I usually send a hand-written card into the kitchen
that says I cannot eat anything with soy sauce, wheat noodles, MSG or
wheat flour, and that I CAN eat rice, rice noodles and corn starch.
This seems to cover about 98% of what they serve. Lunches are a nice
bargain!

Maggiano's
They now serve GF corn pasta. TIP: this is a very busy restaurant, and you will do better if you go during less busy hours. A chef will be assigned to prepare your meal, so ask to speak to that person -- they are great about accommodating this request.

Nothing But Noodles
(2 locations)
Precedent-Funnybone Center, 3625 E 96th St., Indianapolis, 317.848.8957
Lockfield Commons, 903 Indiana Ave., Indianapolis, 317.638.0340
A CAUTION: we have learned that you must always ask to speak to the main MANAGER at this restaurant to order your food; also, while they are very accommodating for a fast-casual restaurant, your order will take special care and we recommend that you try not to go during the height of lunch or dinner traffic at this very busy restaurant.

This restaurant is a quick-serve place, but they have an extensive salads and noodles menu, and they cook everything from scratch. You can order any of the noodle dishes with Asian RICE noodles in place of egg or wheat noodles. The manager can share all recipe ingredients with you, to make sure the dish contains no gluten. Salad dressings contain unknown ingredients (e.g., "natural flavors"), so you might want to bring your own, or just get plain olive oil and vinegar. Also check out the low-carb menu, with many dishes including vegetables instead of noodles. IMPORTANT: this restaurant pre-cooks their noodles. To be sure that your RICE noodles are not contaminated, ask to have them cooked fresh, and in fresh water. This may take a few minutes to do, so be sure the rest of your party knows your meal may take a bit longer.

The Tamale Place
5242 Rockville Rd.
Indianapolis , IN 46224
317-248-9771
Open Mon-Sat 3a-6p, closed Sun.
Map
A couple of local reviews:
http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2006/01/25/the_tamale_place.html
http://www.reporter.net/opinion/local_story_019102731.html
This is a CARRY-OUT only place. When you walk in, you see big bags piled up behind the counter that contain WHOLE CORN. They cook then grind corn from scratch, and they do not grind any other products other than corn. Their tamales and tortillas, made from this corn dough, are really wonderful -- very rustic (not so finely ground). On Saturdays (and only on Saturdays), one can buy freshly made (pure) white corn tortillas. Fresh tamales, soft tacos (which are GF) and chicken wings are all available during the week. They do not make the same tamales every day, and they also typically run out by 3p-4p every day.
DO NOT ORDER: fried pinwheels (made from wheat), fried tortilla chips (fried in wheat-contaminated oil), empanadas (contain wheat flour). They are very forthcoming with what ingredients they use -- and just about everything is GF.

Thai Cafe
1041 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis, 317-722-1008
Most Thai dishes are naturally GF -- though you will need to ask that no soy sauce is used in any dishes, just to make sure. Thai Cafe is a Broad Ripple institution and local favorite.

Gluten-Free Dining