Top 50 Gluten-Free Cocktail Bars to Experience in Illinois

Sylvia Smith

Excellent gluten free options, including blueberry pancakes!

We R

The Best

Giselle Ballesteros

Dedicated Gluten Free kitchen, and the food was delicious! Raspberry mojito was amazing. Alligator dip was so good with amazing baquette toast, hard to beleive it was gluten free, the texture of the baguette was amazing. The gumbo had perfect amount of spice. The chicken wings were the best. The fettucine had such great texture for a gluten free pasta, totally nailed it. Loved chatting with Chesa! The atmosphere, decor, music, waitstaff, food were all wonderful.

Lise

Absolutely the BEST GLUTEN FREE meal! From meatballs & onion rings to pasta and then topped off with the gooey chocolate chip cookie for dessert!

C. Lor

I am so happy we stopped here for dinner. The staff were knowledgeable and so kind to me when I told them of my gluten and dairy allergies. Service was amazing and the food was sublime. I missed eating Italian for fear of cross contamination but they reassured me pasta were cooked separately. What a lovely place! I will be revisiting when I'm back in town. Edit: Forgot to add, my husband got an Amaretto sour and he said it was the BEST one he's had.

Derek Dirks

Absolutely love this place! The gluten free pizza crust is amazing. Highly recommended!

Caitlin McAllister

Best gluten free dining experience I ever had

Hailey Weeg

Food was amazing! Great gluten free options

Katie McKee

Amazing food - I dream about the meal I’ve had here. The servers are always well informed and I’ve never felt weird about asking for celiac safe food!

Jennell Lemmons

Service was wonderful. I have celiac and when I asked our server Ryan to explain what menu option I couldn't have, he wrote right on the menu for us so I didn't have to memorize everything he explained. Every dish we had was simply wonderful flavors!

Michael Scanlon

First issue was the lack of understanding of celiac. I get that my fiancée having a disease is our limitation but this restaurant was supposed to be good about it. We explained about how even cross contamination makes her sick and the 2nd thing we ordered was brought out and when we asked if it was fried (Brussel Sprouts) they said yes and we asked if it was a shared fryer and they said yes. So she couldn’t eat it. (When we already explained that she would get sick from cross contamination, this was a major oversight by the waiter). They also had very small portions of the pasta dishes and the prices were way higher than they should be given the quality of food being just okay. Really disappointed overall.

MERVE NAJA

Fantastic food and service! We ordered through door dash, everything was great. The bad apple burger is fantastic, I had it on gluten free bun which was great, it was holding well and not crumbly. The fries were also fantastic, which is rare because fries don’t travel very well, I am sure they are even more amazing when eaten at the restaurant. We also had the fried cheese curds and the chocolate mousse, both of them were perfectly executed. I requested my gluten free burger to be marked on the notes and someone from staff called me on the phone to make sure that they understood my request correctly, I am grateful for the sensitivity. Hats off to the chefs back in the kitchen and thanks! Hopefully we can go and dine in too.

emily motta

So amazing! The chefs and server were so catering to my Celiac disease. Amazing food :)

Rose H

Happy to have visited the Chicago location after going to Seattle's earlier this year. What a great spot.. A so happy to realize that most is gluten free! Vegans and non vegans alike should check this place out.

Meg P

I do NOT recommend for gluten allergies. They have an amazing menu. However, transitioning from no gluten allergy to allergy dining here post diagnosis they have super limited options and their Andros seasoning contains gluten! Why?! It’s not necessary.

KevinandBrittany Olson

Glad they had a gluten free menu

Emily Theis

Uvae is a gem. Love the happy hour oysters and bubbly. Some favorite dishes are the charcuterie board (the lavender honey!), brussel sprouts, cauliflower, scallops, shrimp + grits, chicken thigh... honestly we've liked everything! Cocktails are balanced and creative. Emma is a wonderful, personable server with top-notch wine recommendations, and was very accommodating to a gluten-free family member. I really appreciate that they have a few mocktails on the menu too. Chef Whitney is thoughtful, talented, and doing super cool things: last night we had a beet hummus plate with veggies and sesame tapioca crisps. It looked like an art piece and tasted like heaven; we were scraping our plates. The vibe is cozy and unpretentious. Go spend your money here!

Leon Rishniw

The miso soup was great and started the meal off on a high. Sadly the sushi course was disappointing. The fish was mediocre at best (saba and medai), uni was bland, avocado in my roll was not ripe. Too much rice on the nigiri and overcooked. Tea was tasty and refilled regularly. They had gluten-free soy and were communicative about gluten in dishes. Service was great. Sadly it was overpriced for the quality of the food being served. Won’t be going back.

Jay Shipinski

The visit was a mixed bag. It is nice they have a gluten free dedicated fryer for my wife's dietary needs. The help was friendly and inviting, and the food was tasty. Unfortunately, there were some issues with the order. We found the crispy cheddar curds had more vegetables than cheese curds and the portions were not consistent as our party of 4 had considerably less food than the party of 2 had next to us (served at the same time at the bar). We saw another order about 20 minutes later, and it was the same amount as our neighbors (a mound heaping over the bowl at the bar as well). We all ordered burgers, and my daughter's and my burgers were mixed up (fortunately we caught it before eating) and neither of us had the pickles as stated on the menu. Additionally, my burger was over cooked (previous reviews we saw heralded how cooking temperature was spot on). They did take it back, remade it, and it was fantastic. The menu is very limited (8 entrees) so one wouldn't expect the various mix ups. Is it worth a shot coming here again. Yes. The staff and food is good, so I will consider giving it another shot.

Aerin Kwant

Avli brunch never misses, my boyfriend and I have become regulars. Wait staff is amazing, Dimitri and Alekos always take great care of us. Recommend the dip trio and breakfast sandwich! Also has gluten free pita

Kareena

Great spot — highly recommend! Beautiful decor and ambiance with solid drinks and food to match. What we ordered: Whipped feta with truffle honey — delicious Feta pistachio pesto Gluten-free spiced beluga lentils Drinks were great too. If you’re into something on the sweeter side, try the Lavender Knees Bees. All around, 10/10

Rtomera

We had a party of 13 people 3 of them children age ranging 2 years to only a few months. Our server Shannon was a rock star. Very friendly, very helpful when it came to a couple friend’s dietary needs, and all around great service. The food was also excellent. My wife has Celiacs diease and their gluten free crust combined with the kitchen staffs attention to not cross contaminating was a big plus for us. We will definitely be returning!

Megan Benjamin

A lot of gluten free options! Quite delicious, though some dishes are a bit small compared to others. The soup is easily 3 portions.

Tamiko N.

This spot is amazing—had on my Google list for a while!!! They do no processed foods and have a separate menu for vegan/vegetarian/gluten free-win! The meals ordered were super flavorful, filling and just the right portions! I loved the Vegan Fungi With Cauliflower hash—the addition of the cranberries and sweet potatoes was an added savory bonus! My friend also loved the maple Turkey sausage and the pancakes- that were thin instead of fluffy! They loved it! We left pleasantly full and at peace! Last but not least, we both loved our waiter who was super attentive and patient too! Will definitely come back and bring more people!

Faydra Shantel Dopek

Went for lunch the other day. Amazing gluten free menu and staff so friendly. We arrived last hour they were open and I didn't feel rushed at all. Prices great and food was delicious!

Amie Krueger

Gluten Free Goodness after a show at the RIV! Sorry I was so hungry I forgot to take pics. They altered the brussels sprouts to make them gluten-free and they were amazing! I got three tacos: a chicken, steak, and duck. I ate the duck first because not everyone does duck very well and I didn’t want to end with it, however, I should have because the duck was the best of the three. The chicken was my second favorite, and I could have done without the steak… It was too well done and not much flavor. However, my friend did get a steak and that looked fabulous. The service was great, and the ambience was dark and charming.

Andrea Deptula

Sara gina was a great server. Thanks for all the gluten free food!

Michael Baron

GF pita, saganaki, and more!

Kassie

Celiac friendly! 99% gluten free. Separate fryers!

Steph

Update- I got glutened. Not safe for celiacs. Painfully mid. The food was disappointing for the price point ans there were gnats.

G2B

Great corner restaurant with outdoor seating. Casual atmosphere. Great place to grab a bite to eat and relax. Lots of options for people with gluten issues. Highly recommend

Qasem

Offers a great variety of options, with plenty to choose from across the menu. The quality of the fish was above average, and I especially enjoyed the Thriller Roll, definitely the highlight of the meal. The atmosphere was a bit loud for most of the time, but overall, it was a solid experience. Have a full gluten free menu. I plan to come back and try more dishes next time.

Katie Smith

High quality, fully made from scratch, great presentation menu. Amazing cocktails and amazing service! This place thinks of all the little things to provide platinum service such as transferring your martini into a new, cold martini glass to keep it fresh and chiller. Restaurant also has a separate Gluten Free Menu that is 100% guaranteed by the Celiac Disease Foundation. The desert is to die for. White Chocolate Bread Pudding… YUM!

Liv G

More than half the menu is gluten free. They use separate fryers and prep space for the gluten free items. Everything is vegan. Soy free options too. Very yummy!!

Michelle McCrackin

Oysters, steak, they were very sensitive to my gluten allergy

Matt L

Good gluten free options for my child.

William “Wil” Sipla

Called at 3 minutes to 9 and they turned down my business. Being a celiac this is highly disrespectful considering we don't have many places to eat. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. The people that work here obviously don't have food allergies, so they don't respect our needs. After this incident I'll never eat here or tell anybody to eat here.

Maria Alejandra Meneses Giorgi

This was one of my best experiences in Chicago, the food is awesome, the waiter was super kind and helpful when explaining the gluten free options and the vibes and music are amazing. Highly recommended if you are around the River North area

Joy Johnson

A gorgeous restaurant with fantastic food! Gluten free diners will rejoice at the options available. As soon as I said I was wheat allergic; the server detailed the kitchens designated prep area and all of the precautions they take to ensure a safe meal is delivered. This location has plenty of parking, is handicap accessible and can accommodate a larger party or 6-8. Any more than that I would call ahead. Highly recommend this place if you have special dietary restrictions. They were knowledgeable and the service was outstanding.

Neena O

Despite knowing the dish I wanted couldn't be made gluten free, they accommodated my request and were able to make it as gluten free as possible. The blood orange mimosas were amazing and we didn't have to wait long to get refills on our drinks. The manager came around to check on the tables which made it that much more personable.

Sarah W

Delicious tapas restaurant with plenty of GF options you just need to confirm with your server about cross contact

George W

Outstanding food, service, ambience. And the prices are extremely reasonable relative to other choices. The attentiveness of the staff rivals Michelin starred restaurants. The pasta was gluten free and fabulously delicious.

Mac Liveakos

Great vegan food and excellent gluten free options. Service was exceptional! Save room for dessert.

Olivia Palak

It’s always spooky going to restaurants and not knowing if I’ll get sick or have cross contamination. This entire place is completely gluten-free minus the mole sauce. But it’s really easy to swap that out. You run no risk of cross-contamination here. Even the tortilla chips are gluten-free Everything there is so tasty. One of the owners cannot have gluten, which is why everything is so easily eatable by gluten-free people. Staff is completely knowledgeable! Just make sure you tell them you cannot have gluten and they’ll take care of you. This is my new favorite spot. I was able to eat the tortilla chips lol I know that seems really funny though but you get it!

Sarah Farber

Great food! Gluten free options! Dennis is the best server!

Manolya Fikri

We chose Cooper’s Hawk Arlington Heights to celebrate our anniversary, and it turned out to be a wonderful decision. It was our first time at this location, and from the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed. They seated us in a cozy booth and surprised us with complimentary bubbles to toast our special day right from the start! Our server, Sean P., truly elevated our experience. His knowledge, honesty, and spot-on recommendations made our evening unforgettable. Every dish and drink we enjoyed was simply delightful. I opted for the surf & turf with drunken shrimp and churrasco grilled steak, both cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. My husband ordered the Caesar salad and filet mignon, which were equally impressive. For dessert, we indulged in the chocolate cake with hazelnut ganache that was unbelievably delicious—and Sean even informed us it was gluten-free, a pleasant surprise given its rich taste and texture. To complement the cake, he brought us a sample of dessert wine, which paired perfectly. Needless to say, we can’t wait to return and explore more of their menu!

Lauren Kieninger

Veggie staple! I love the new menu changes! I have been eating here for at least 13 years and I am thrilled to have newer options. Love all the gluten free options now too, especially that new cheesecake. So nice to see a little menu revamp while keeping the favs. Well done! - also their delivery travels/holds up a lot better than most, so that's a plus.

Chris Eyo

I'd heard mixed reviews about Cabra, but I love Lazybird/Cira so I decided to make my way. Y'all... GO. I've eaten so much Peruvian food in Chicago and Cabra is right up there. The food tastes like the actual food in Peru, the rooftop venue is stunning, and the staff is very friend (including our lovely waiter Leo. Pay him more!!!!) The bass ceviche and avocado dip were the stars for me. The yuca fries were also good, and I was very impressed by the tailored gluten-free and vegetarian menus (yes, two additional menus!). I had the Just a Chill Guy cocktail which was delicious. Happy to have completed the Hoxton trifecta-- all strong spaces for food and entertainment. I'll be returning!

Jennifer Degen

Thr absolute BEST gluten free pizza I have EVER had!

Abby Long

Fluffy gluten free waffles (not dairy free) Tasted great, had a nice texture. Ate there as someone with a gluten intolerance.