this place is a hidden gem, have no idea why it's not more popular. very affordable, great food (vegan and gluten free options too), and excellent service.
My friend with celiac was absolutely giddy over the wide range of options for her and the care taken to ensure she did not accidentally ingest any gluten. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Everything was delish. It'll be our go-to when she's in town.
I had not been here in about 8 years but my brain remembered that the food was amazing. I'm now gluten free and I was impressed by the options. The food was phenomenal just like I remembered. The prices weren't as high as I remembered which was a nice treat!
This little place has food that is really flavourful. This place is way better than the Ethiopian places recommended in DC. My wife and I found it difficult to decide which dish was the best. Even the gluten free injera was so good and we thought it might be better than the normal injera. We are definitely coming back.
Only had takeout from here so far, but it was noteworthy.
The gluten free pizza is some of the best we've had.
The glutenous is of course amazing as well.
The burger and chicken sandwich are expensive but also exemplary. (They are huge!)
In our opinion you can share a small pizza with two people and a sandwich with two people.
MexicanKid FriendlyOpen Late NightLunchTake AwayAllergen FriendlyBeerBreakfastDinnerBrunchTacosDeliveryPet FriendlyOutdoor SeatingBarRestaurant
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Jena Van
The tacos were delicious and the service was good. The menu had clear gluten free options and a lot of them too. The tacos are more expensive than average, around $5 each, but worth it because of how tasty they are. I would recommend this place.
I've been going here for several years now, and the food never disappoints. This locally-owned restaurant serves healthy, delicious and carefully prepared food -- from delicious gluten-free crêpes to fresh fish. For those looking to binge eat and complain about the portion size, this is not the place to go. For those interested in a healthy, fresh, and delicious French meal however, this place is highly-recommended. It is without doubt one of the best restaurants in Old Town Alexandria.
I love this little cupcake shop so much! My wife and I often get a craving for cupcakes and they always pull through. The place is adorable - a whimsical little spot situated perfectly in Old Town. The staff is always so friendly even when busy. Also, they have great gluten-free cupcakes! Though if you’re like me and get cravings late in the day, it never hurts to call and make sure they’re in stock. Only rarely have they told me they’re sold out, but it happens as with all bakeries. I appreciate that they usually have one “traditional” flavor and then one that’s more unique for GF options. That’s a rare find. Bonus: they make a nice, hearty GF cupcake. Other place’s GF cupcakes tend to be dry and crumbly. Something about their cupcakes just tastes better. I’m no baker, but you really can taste the better-quality and fresh ingredients.
Delicious Thai street food & all the classics. Also high end cocktails. Highly recommend!
Excellent gluten free options, as well as vegetarian options, and clearly marked.
I ordered a birthday cake online because they were the only bakery I could find with a dairy free and gluten free option. BEST CAKE EVER. It wasn’t just a good gluten free cake - it was a fabulous cake! I’ll order again when I am next in town undoubtedly. That no-dairy buttercream is amazing!
Several co-workers and I recently had lunch here and the consensus was that it was fine, but not something we would likely return to. I had their signature calzone and thought the flavors were good, but it was very difficult to eat with the provided plastic utensils. I chose this calzone because it included steak, but I found the steak portion to be quite light. The fact that they offer gluten free crust might be a positive for some diners. Service was okay, ambiance was nearly non-existent, and the lack of air conditioning combined with hot pizza ovens had all of us feeling uncomfortably hot and ready to leave as soon as our lunch was finished.
UNO’s has a great menu, but the service needs improvement. When we arrived, the host asked how many were in our party and then walked off to grab menus. Another guest was waiting in front of us, and when he returned, he didn’t communicate for us to follow him. Instead, he walked off, leaving us standing there confused. A simple follow me would have been sufficient. Once he reached the table, he turned and waved us over as if we should have known to follow him. We assumed the lady in front of us was suppose to follow him to the table.
After being seated, we waited 15 minutes before a waitress came over to ask if we had been served. Then a huge group of children came in which caused us to ask to be seated outside. That wasn’t a huge issue, but it did get quite loud in there.
While the initial experience was frustrating, service improved from that point on. The waitress was attentive, and the food was enjoyable. I ordered the gluten-free pizza, which was flavorful with a good crust texture, often a challenge with gluten-free options. My husband ordered a burger with sweet potato fries, which he enjoyed.
Overall, the food was good, but the lack of communication from the host and the delay in service at the start left a negative first impression. A little more attention to detail in customer service would make the dining experience much smoother.
Very good pizza with plenty of vegan options to enjoy. The fountain drinks are good as well. The garlic butter just so happens to be dairy free which is nice. I had it drizzeled on after my pizza cooked. They also offer a gluten free crust as well. They will clean the surface when you request gluten free crust. They have many options to finish your pizza with such as hot honey, arugula, Parmesean, red pepper flakes etc.
ItalianBrunchDinnerKid FriendlyOpen Late NightLunchTake AwayVegetarian OptionsVegan OptionsDessertsPastaPizzaBreakfastDeliveryPet FriendlyOutdoor Seating
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Arianna J. Rosario Jovet
I was really anxious about eating here but I have to say the servers were VERY attentive and they made me feel so safe. Everything was perfect and safe for celiacs!!!
Their ice cream is amazing! The best part as well is they have access to allergy friendly choices with gluten and lactose. If you're gluten-allergic please check this place out.
AmericanBrunchBreakfastDairy Free OptionsDinnerOpen Late NightLunchOutdoor SeatingDeliveryTake AwayPet FriendlyKid Friendly
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Courtney Cox
I really can’t enough good things about this restaurant!
The staff was unbelievable, and addressed my options with me as soon as I mentioned I had celiac disease. Our server Gara was great!!! Once our order was in, the manager Diego came over to introduce himself, and he reassured me the kitchen was taking care with my order!
The scallops and risotto were incredible, and melted in your mouth! I’m so happy having a place I can count on for dining out!!!!
I really like this place. I am gluten intolerant so this place really hits home with all of the gluten free options.
I have had various gluten free (GF) pizzas here, the GF fries mozzarella, their GF cheesesteak is really good too!
Additionally the people that work in the restaurant, as well as the folks who drink and dine here are very nice and open to conversation.
This place feels like (and is) a neighborhood bar and restaurant which is becoming rarer in this area.
Check it out!
The baked cod was very good -- light, flaky, moist, and delicious. The sides of roasted potatoes and green beans were quite good as well. As a gluten-free option, the shrimp and grits were very, very good.
Great local place with good beer rotating beer selections. Personal pizzas including gluten free with many speciality options. Main sandwich options seem to now not come with sides but servings are generous.
We ate here several times during a weeklong stay in Old Town - so delicious! A lot of gluten-free options, which was awesome. We had the Shakshuka, flatbread, chocolate mousse cake, cheesecake. Everything we had was super yummy. Highly recommend.
SeafoodCocktailsAmericanBrunchOpen Late NightBreakfastLunchDinnerDeliveryTake AwayOutdoor SeatingKid FriendlyRestaurantPet Friendly
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Serena W.
The food here is absolutely amazing! I'm both gluten and dairy free and they are very cognizant of allergens and dietary restrictions. We went on Valentine's Day and the manager made sure that every woman received a rose. I had the Mahi Mahi Tacos and blueberry lemonade! The service was great, wonderful atmosphere and it was a perfect evening! We'll be back!!!
Recently diagnosed with Celiacs Disease. This wonderful restaurant offers many GF options. I absolutely loved the Nopales tacos! Well done Chef's. I'll be back soon.
LunchDinnerBrunchAmericanDeliveryTake AwayPet FriendlyOutdoor SeatingKid FriendlyBarOpen Late
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Alexandria Heller
So many people recommend this place because of its extensive gluten-free menu. But upon arrival, I was told by our server that nothing fried would be gluten-free, ok, I understand that. But the majority of the vegetables were also not gluten-free for one reason or another, which was baffling! Not a single appetizer was gluten free, the waitress suggested the steak or a fish. Unfortunately, I'm vegan as well. So we had to leave. I'm not sure who went to this place and found it to be gluten-free, friendly, but it is absolutely NOT a place to go if you have celiac disease! Exceptionally disappointing as we drive and hunted for parking for quite a while all to turn around and leave.
Had a fabulous time here for date night. Great vegetarian and gluten free options. Loved the cocktail menu as well. The service was pretty great too! Could have turned up the music a bit more to cover close conversation, but overall great experience!
I got the pad Thai with tofu as my gluten free and vegetarian option and my partner got the pineapple fried rice in the pineapple. Great presentation and flavor!
Phenomenal!! I am soooo mad I just found out about this place now that I no longer live in Alexandria!
First off…the food…ohhhemmgeee! Sooo good. Get the pan fried chicken basil dumplings and thank me later…they are divine. I also ordered the little pot, which is a noodle bowl from heaven filled with ground pork seasoned to perfection… and GET THIS… gluten free noodles that taste like gluten filled noodles. Delicious! I left satiated but not stuffed. So much so, I came back the next day lol don’t judge meeeeee.
Second, the service, everyone is so friendly and accommodating. The first time, I was alone and my every need was catered to. The owner even talked to me for like 15 minutes. The second time I came with my friend and her daughter. Now this place is small and honestly has swanky NYC vibes although dress is casual. I wouldn’t recommend bringing children, especially small children here. HOWEVER, the waitstaff was so accommodating, they held the stroller in their closet, made the chicken bao bun less spicy and brought out some potatoes (that were also divine) for us to enjoy for a kid friendly feast. We were the only ones with a small child and they made us feel so welcome.
Third, the vibe is elegant, and chic. Nice natural wood, very clean. I felt like I was transported out of VA to a foreign place. The music is sexy, the vibe is sexy. Great chill date night or business lunch.
I am very perplexed why this restaurant isn’t 4.8 stars or better. The food is magnificent and consistent, the service is unmatched, and the vibe is chic…what more do you want or need?!
Thank you Yunnan! I will be backkkk
I love shrimp and grits. Since moving to the DC area from the Gulf of Mexico coast 15+ years ago, I've had it many times. However, it's only been good twice. Jula's/Cafe 44 is the second time in 15 years I've had good shrimp and grits in this area.
Great service, great views, great food.
Gluten-free items are marked on the menu.
My friends and I went here 2 weeks ago for restaurant week. We decided on Rustico because one of my friends has celiacs disease and is gluten free, but Rusticos menu had an incredibly wide selection of gluten free options so it sounded very promising. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we all chose the restaurant week menu and ordered our meals. My friend mentioned with her dessert order that she had a gluten allergy and thus just wanted the brownie sunday without the brownie. The waitress refused to give her the entire sunday without the brownie and insisted she just get plain vanilla ice cream, which is disappointing, but by far not the worst part of dinner. After ordering, the waitress came back and told us that although most of the menu was labeled gluten free, it was actually mostly not gluten free as everything is cooked in the same oil with gluten. Very scary that this place would label everything gluten free when that is not the case. We were lucky we mentioned the fact that my friend had an actual allergy, otherwise we would have never known. This fact then eliminated most of the menu. We asked what other options my friend had for an appetizer and a side for her steak (she ordered steak frites and the fries were not gluten free) and we were told she could have salad. When we asked if there were any other sides as the steak frites already came with salad, we were told she could have Caesar salad….so my friend’s meal consisted of salad as an appetizer, a small steak with a side of salad, and plain vanilla ice cream for dessert, which was very disappointing as the menu looked so promising before we got there. On top of this, the service was incredibly slow. It felt like it took years for the waitress to bring the bill and then run our card. Additionally, we were still charged the restaurant week price for my friends meal which consisted of mostly salad. Definitely not worth it. They should not make false gluten free claims on their menu as it is very misleading and dangerous for people with allergies. Overall, very disappointing experience.
Food was fabulous! Great ambience and our service was very friendly and knowledgeable. Just a couple minor hiccups - I ordered the shrimp tacos but unfortunately they were half corn half flour - I was hoping there would be more gluten free options. Also my mother ordered the strawberry salad which was apparently amazing, but she added a chicken breast which had some sort of curry seasoning on it - she said was a weird flavor on the salad. Final qualm is that we were told it would be a 50 min wait for the patio. After 60 mins we checked on our spot in line and they told us they gave our table away because they attempted to call us but didn’t get an answer - we did not get any phone calls. We had to wait an Additional 15 mins which was a bummer. At least the food came quickly. We’ll likely try this place out again.
I'm giving this spot solid 4* for the staff; the food was good, just outsized portions imo. I was really struggling this trip and failed to research the GF options, was dragging @$$ from the worst hotel stay and slowed by the incessant, freezing cold rain, so walking any distance or wandering about was out of the question. Thanks GOOG/Yelp for GF reviews, lifesaving, really.
The lovely young lady up front found me a little table for 1 during a fairly busy lunch as sitting up high at a bar can be pretty uncomfortable for me these days. Evidently restaurants find it upsetting when guests fall out of chairs perfectly sober, thanks dysautonomia! She was very kind and accommodating.
My server Kaya was great, fun, attentive, honest and helpful. She pointed out the gluten-free options, helped me with ingredient & portion info and was super friendly to this sola traveler. My salmon dish was a bit lackluster; there was a smear of sauce painted on the plate but seemed a bit divorced from the other elements and the entire dish was under-seasoned, just this side of bland. Honestly, that 8-9 oz piece of fish was really just too much. I know, so unAmerican, but I hate wasting food and was grabbing a train so couldn't take leftovers to sit for 4-6 hours. Otherwise, the fish and asparagus were perfectly cooked while the potatoes could've benefited from a bit more time on heat. Takeaway: I'd eat here again for dinner as it was a quality meal and experience especially for the cost but as a lunch it was more food and money than I usually go for. This is merely personal preference. But in the end the deciding factor is: Celiac don't play & eating somewhere safe is totally worth spending a bit more. Being on a train after being poisoned with gluten, well, I'll leave that to your imagination but it's the stuff of nightmares.
Phenomenal service, amazing views and vibes, and overall great time eating here. Ate with a larger group but had a great view overlooking the Potomac for brunch. They have great gluten free and vegetarian menu so making a decision was difficult with all of the options. Can’t wait to come back. Mojitos were amazing too!
The food and the service were amazing: I got the chicken momos, gh'u chicken, and naan. There were 10 momos, which was a lot, but I ate them all myself. Also, I was there with my friend who was crying, and the staff were so sympathetic: they gave us free snacks (gluten free!), and shared positive, uplifting stories. Highly recommend!
Delicious food with many options. Whether you're looking for a quick bite, a fun chat, or something to save dinner when you've gone and burned it yourself (as we have several times!), this is the place to go! It's hard to stand out in a block with so many good places to eat, but this is a definite must! We cannot praise this establishment enough! Gluten free friendly as well!
The many dining rooms add to the already cozy, colonial atmosphere. Service is always very good, sometimes exceptional. A wide variety of foods, plus Gluten Friendly, is great. Overall, a very nice little getaway from everything.
GrillAmericanBrunchDairy Free OptionsDeliveryDinnerKid FriendlyOpen Late NightLunchOutdoor SeatingTake AwayCiderBreakfastPet FriendlyRestaurant
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Krista Radford
Great experience! I went for lunch and had the fish tacos, which were delicious. Unlike other restaurants, they had a good-sized filet of cod instead of just a few small pieces. My daughter had the steak salad and loved it. The staff was knowledgeable about gluten issues, which was a plus. Overall, a very good meal.
Took my gluten allergy very seriously! This is very appreciated especially when it comes to a chain. They made sure not to cross contaminate anything they were using including a separate mayo. Thank you Jersey Mikes!
Old Blue BBQ was such an easy decision for our wedding catering! My older sister had used them for her wedding and we were just so impressed with their food, efficiency, organization and generosity, that my family knew we had to use them again! They had never worked at our venue before, however they were proactive and visited/met with the owners of our venue to scope out the space and make sure they were all on the same page. We were so impressed by this and knew we were in such great hands! We completely trusted Old Blue with our wedding, which relieved us from so much stress through the wedding planning process. We worked closely with both Kelly and Kari and they were both so sweet, patient, friendly, creative, fun and accommodating with our many questions and adjustments we made along the way. They were terrific from start to finish. The highlight of Old Blue is their bride share that’s included! They have so much variety of cute decor that fits any style. We received many compliments from guests on how they loved their meals. They were also very accommodating with my groom’s gluten-free needs and one of our guest’s vegan need. We just love Old Blue and plan on picking up their food for regular dinners from now on. Thank you Old Blue BBQ!!
(Photo Credit: Mel Kay Photography)
Accommodating Gluten-Free
Celiac friendly