self explanatory
This will be an ongoing mini- list of the best of best restaurants, holes-in-the-wall, and eateries for foodies with food issues (fishue’s, anyone?). For full articles on the best allergy-friendly restaurants in and out of Baltimore, check Restaurant Reviews – Hopeful Foodie Style, under the categories tab. In the meantime, suggest your faves in the comments section below so I can keep on eating (and writing about it)!
Yum yum,
Cellina
1. Frank’s Pizza and Pasta, Overlea- God bless those immigrant Italians! They really do understand the ups and downs of life. Armando Buontempo and his American wife Joanne really know how to make a dough-mourning girl and her husband feel good: can’t have the pasta? Bring in your own gluten-free noodles and they’ll cook them to order! Don’t have them with you? Bring in a pint of rice from the Chinese joint down the road and they’ll top it with your favorite sauce! Really, really want a cheesesteak but can’t do the bread? Welcome to the best steak salad in the free world! And they’ll do it all for no extra cost (as long as you can handle being flirted with by the guys behind the counter, that is)!
2. Chameleon Cafe, Lauraville – If you want a meal that’s a step up from most, you need to check out the Chameleon. They’re only open for dinner, but the ever-changing menu is more than worth it, and so is the wine list (!). They’re also very good about accommodating those with food allergies either by adding and omitting ingredients or simply and honestly telling you it cannot be done in order to save the dish.
3. Hazelwood Inn, Rosedale: This is a place to find families who have come every Friday for the last 11 yrs sitting in booths, eating the same thing they order every week, and it’s a good thing. The atmosphere is so comfortable that you can stroll through the door in flip-flops and jeans and get the same great meal you’d have to wear a tie for anywhere else. You can ask any question about the dishes on the menu and they never look at you like you have two heads. The only downside is that the Cook (who I refer to as ‘that damn Greek!’) has a habit of cooking everything in butter, and I mean everything. A good yell in the kitchen from a saucy middle-aged server seems to do the trick, though.
4. Mount Everest, Fullerton: Ah, Indian food. What a relief it is to have the cute little bronze-skinned waitress reply to you by saying, “We don’t do all that yeast and wheat food. We’re Indian!” Amen to that, sister. It’s the only place where me and the hunny can share a spicy baked donut and not pay for it with bloating and hives later. Since all of their breads and baked goods are made from primarly lentil and rice flour we can gorge ourselves on naan and onion culcha for about $3.25 a pop, more for a full dinner, but boy is it worth it!
Note: Mt. Everest also has its original location in Gardenville, but it’s take-out and delivery only. Warning: if you call to order, expect the guy at the other line to fool with you a bit. Don’t be alarmed if you’re told that your order costs $85 dollars, but always, ALWAYS ask for onion naan, not culcha! Saying “culcha” across phone lines will turn into a back and forth “no I didn’t say coochie” two minute charade! Just ask my poor step-mom…..
5. Edo Sushi, Timonium: Going Asian can be hard when you can’t have soy sauce. Luckily, Edo Sushi has a neat disclaimer on their menu promising to accommodate those with food allergies, which is a serious rarity when you have a mean hankering for anything ending with “ese.” This place has some of the most creative and delicious sushi I’ve ever had, including brown and black rice rolls (seriously yummy). Plus, you can’t beat those hot hand towels before and after your meal.
6. Clementine, Hamilton: As refreshing as its title, Clementine is the palette cleanser to the over-crowded pizzeria haven known as Harford Rd. With an incredibly creative drink menu, gourmet entrees and salads that my chef friend Tony called, “good enough to be $50 a pop (but thankfully not)” this place is a neighborhood gem. The staff are very friendly and will switch out sides as needed to fit your dietary needs. It also boasts a functioning charcuterie (open for orders) and a gorgeous bar that just screams Old Fashioned Downtown Class, right here in Hamilton, hon.
7. Sweet Sin Bakery, Charles Village: On any given weekday you’re bound to find me in this cute, tiny (soon to expand into a full dining room) eatery practically making love to a raspberry ganache cupcake – a GLUTEN-FREE raspberry ganache cupcake, no less! Sweet Sin is the best thing that’s happened to Baltimore since Natty Bo’ – the cupcakes, cakes and cookies are out of this world, plus it has a full lunch and dinner menu that veers toward Indian cuisine (and really good personal pizzas). The best part is that the whole restaurant is completely gluten-free! They also offer soy and dairy free options, as well as a selection of vegan cupcakes. The sweet confections offered here are better than any “normal” dessert. Take my word for it – I don’t bat my eyelashes at just any cupcake, especially not in public.
