Did a Google search of gluten free restaurants near me while in Manhattan and this restaurant popped up, 8 minutes away from where I was. A non vegan, gluten free option? I was on it like white on rice.
Walked across, hopped in and I was not disappointed. The staff was warm and friendly and the aroma from the food was very appealing. While I read the menu options my stomach was practically screaming at me to hurry and order, but everything looked so good, I couldn't decide.
I ordered the plancha chicken, black beans and corn, seasoned basmati rice, maple carrots and avocado... No regrets! It was delicious, it was filling. When I'm back in the US, I'll definitely make my way back for more.
This may our new favorite restaurant in the NYC!! In a city that is increasingly vegan-friendly but that won’t stop assaulting us with deep-fried mushrooms and buffalo cauliflower, Spring Cafe Aspen sets themselves apart by serving up vegetable-forward dishes that are healthy, delicious, and generously portioned.
First, the health-conscious aspect. We came across them on a (very short) list of seed oil-free restaurants. Their website says they are free of “inflammatory oils.” Very little of their food is fried or highly processed. They use whole/sprouted grains in their wraps/bread, as well as having gluten-free options. It’s next to impossible to find restaurants in NYC or anywhere that accommodate a whole foods/plant-based diet, and even harder to find staff knowledgeable about the ingredients of their food. At Spring Cafe Aspen, the staff actually knows the ingredients of each dish and are very accommodating of questions and preferences, such as my wish to avoid coconut oil. If they don’t know the answer to a question, they have access to the ingredient lists for everything.
Next, the flavor of the food. Despite being low in oil and free of overly processed ingredients, their food is delicious! Our favorite item so far has been the cauliflower risotto (warm, comforting, creamy and rich; packed with vegetables and flavor). Our other favorite is the lentil meatballs and spaghetti (incredible meatballs, excellent sauce full of basil, and pasta you would have no idea is made with brown rice). We also enjoyed the superhero tofu burrito and the blueberry pancakes. The menu is full of great tidbits such as the epic cashew mac and cheese and the tempeh that is raw and locally sourced (Barry’s).
The portions - while other vegan/vegetarian restaurants in New York are serving up portions that get smaller every year, Spring Cafe Aspen actually provides generous portions that will nourish you without going overboard. (You won’t go home hungry after eating the cauliflower risotto!)
It’s also worth mentioning that the vibe of Spring Cafe Aspen is a little different from the typical hippie or hipster flair of many other vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the city. The vibe hovers somewhere between hot yoga studio and business school seminar. Also slightly confusing is the setup - they have all the makings of a sit-down restaurant right down to cloth napkins, but they do not truly have table service. You wait in line to order and then bring a number to your table. Makes it harder to enjoy a cup of coffee or spontaneous turmeric latte after lunch, but definitely not a dealbreaker. Lastly, we initially wondered why they didn’t take the plunge and turn fully vegan, but when we saw the gusto with which workout couples were demolishing egg white omelettes, we understood. Overall not a real issue for us since they make the food with such care that we aren’t really worried about any stray goat cheese getting into our food by mistake. And the attention to detail in their homemade condiments like vegan sour cream and even homemade nut milk rivals that of any vegan restaurant.
In conclusion, this is an epic brunch spot whipping up healthy food that manages to be both comforting and innovative; they have already become one of our regular spots.
I would not recommend this place for allergies, especially for people with celiacs. Unfortunately, places like this are the most dangerous for people with food allergies. The menu is marked and seems inclusive, but the staff I interacted with was not aware and did not care or take note when I asked about gluten free options and said that I have a gluten allergy.
The person working didn’t know what I was talking about when I asked if the fries are fried in a shared fryer and was annoyed when I asked if she could check. She left and didn’t come back with a clear answer so, I played it as safe as possible and my food still came out carelessly on bread. I brought it to the counter and they brought it right back out without the bread. No communication. At that point I started noticed the lipstick on marks on my water cup and the jars of shared condiments where anyone can dip whatever utensils they want into it (including contaminated knives spreading on bread and back). I was grossed out. I have celiacs. These details matter. I know how to navigate menus and how to respectfully advocate for the bare minimum. It’s not clean and it’s not safe.
Spot on - we went there for a holiday lunch and tried both a Latke egg special and the chicken shawarma. The flavors were well balanced and the staff was very knowledgeable with my girlfriend’s food allergies. They have good gluten free options for appetizers, entrees and desserts. The fresh mint tea was very refreshing and paired well with the flavorful dishes.
One of the best vegan meals we’ve ever had. Lots of gluten free options too!! We had the chicken Kabob, which was outstanding! Definitely want to go back for all the others.
Last night, I was ate at Caravan of Dreams. It had been my third time at the restaurant and yet AGAIN, it is still my favorite.
I was introduced to the restaurant by Scott Burnhard and it has become one of my most priced vegan eateries ever since.
On this special Sunday, my roommate Azali and I were fortunate enough to meet the owners. An older couple, Mercedes & Angel, DEDICATED to health and clean eating!
When asking questions about the creation of the menu, Angel is the orchestrator behind it all! He gives the chefs and cooks the concepts, and they create the genius masterpieces.
And by gawd, that menu IS GENIUS! Completely creative and exceptionally innovative.
If you LOVE plant based food, this is a PLANT BASED HEAVEN!
I quoted Angel on something that he said, that truly touched me. “[We] make food for the sick & the healthy,” he mentioned. “This food makes sick people healthy, and it keeps the healthy people healthy.”
I LOVE that concept. It’s truly commitment to sustenance and healing.
His wife, Mercedes, was amazing as well, when talking about the best, most optimal way to receive food, she wisely told us, “I used to think we are what we eat, now I understand we are what we absorb.”
Preparation on how to receive the BEST nutrients from food is even more important than the food itself!
But let’s get into the DETAILS!
There is LIVE Music Daily at 7:30pm, so please come to dinner and catch a vibe.
Our waiter, Christian, was AMAZING!!
He first served us the Seitan Nachos, which were savory, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. Easily one of my favorite appetizers.
The owner, Angel also insisted that we try the Warm Hummus & Pesto Zattar. TO DIE FOR!
We were offered the Peanut Sesame Noodles which are, Gluten Free, Organic Noodles made from Quinoa! I thought that was so cool! There is of course peanut butter, made in-house and topped with sesame seeds. I’d describe this dish as very subtle! So, not my favorite, since I prefer food packed with flavor. It is a light peanut sauce, served warm and has a very very slight sweetness.
There is a complimentary side Salad that comes with EVERY Entrée. And my roommate ordered the RAW Pizzetta, while I ordered the Huitlacoche and Chorizo Quesadilla.
Azali said the Pizzetta was BOMB! She described the dough as a happy medium between chewy and crunchy. She described the taste of the pizza sauce as creamy with a bit of a tangy flavor.
The Huitlacoche and Chorizo Quesadilla was INCREDIBLE! It was super spicy, which was a shock to me, and it’s served with a vinaigrette micro green salad, fresh diced mango, and a dipping sauce. The flavors were literally a perfect balance and the dish was BIG and incredibly filling. SO GOOD OMG!
For drinks, I ordered the Hibiscus Iced Tea, of which I added a lot of agave — it comes unsweetened. And Azali ordered the Organic Piña Colada. She said it was delicious.
For dessert, we chose to share the Warm Brownie Sundae which came with coconut cream based icecream & coconut whipped cream atop baked, rich dark chocolate brownies and fresh, sliced, strawberries.
Angel also offered us Pancakes. Which are the most tasty Gluten Free, Sugar Free, and Dairy Free treats you will ever taste. They came with blueberries inside. And he requested a scoop of both house made strawberry & chocolate icecream, with two small mounds of coconut whipped cream. Literally so good! And that STAWBERRY ICE CREAM?! I don’t even like strawberry flavors like that… delicious.
The last of a long night of treats & sweets, was their Creamy Macchiato. Their Macchiato is a health powerhouse. It’s Gluten Free, Coffee Free, Caffeine Free, and made with an array of ingredients including Chicory Root & Roasted Dandelion Root, which gives it the taste of coffee. It was a subtle sweetness from the Coconut Cream so if you want it more Dulce, request added agave.
I cannot express enough how MAGICAL the night was! Third time is the CHARM! And I will be back!
This place rocks! I am picky and here there is nothing to be picky about. Today, I had an oat milk latte, salmon cake sandwich on gluten free bread which came with salad.
The latte was creamy and delicious! The bread was excellent didn’t impact taste given it was gluten free. The salmon cake came with horseradish sauce. Some places use horseradish due to its strong taste and it can be overpowering however, not here. The horseradish sauce blended well to add to and bring out the flavor of the salmon cake.
What a nice salad! Nice fresh greens with beets. The dressing was made with beets and was light, tasty and not too sweet. It was an excellent side to the salmon cake.
Between the salmon cake, sauce, salad, beet dressing and latte I walked away feeling well nourished and my taste buds had a satisfying experience.
The place is very comfy with seating well placed in many areas to choose from. Out front, the bar, dining area and backyard which is enclosed and temperature controlled. I sat at the bar.
While I was sipping my latte before my food arrived I noticed the bartender was wiping down every bottle of the full bar. I was very impressed and asked her how often she did this and she said every week. Another great thing about this place is the cleanliness, the work they put into cleaning shows and as a clean freak so, appreciate this. You can tell when you walk in the place has a sparkle.
Lastly, I had a knapsack that I put on the stool next to me. The hostess was so thoughtful she placed my bag on one of the hooks under the bar. They think of everything to keep the place pleasant, friendly and welcoming.
Left wanting to come back to try other dishes. Highly recommend dining here.
Lunch menu here is fantastic! They serve gluten free pita bread and fries and many other gf dishes. The chicken skewers were delicious, as were the fries and pork gyro. Totally recommend coming here and will be ordering takeout soon for sure. Fresh ingredients, great ambiance and overall very good quality food.
Our first meal during our NYC visit. They have some gluten free items. We were told the GF pancakes were also dairy free when we called before we arrived in NYC. They are NOT dairy free according to our server. Always ask multiple people if you have allergies to be safe.
Firs time there and told our server that I was celiac and she was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and which items to avoid! I've only ate here once, but left without any reactions! The food was delicious! Would definitely come back here for the rice hashwi and chicken. Wowwww. 😍
Really great celiac-friendly restaurant. They even have the option of gluten-free pita upon request that's quite delicious. My food accidentally came with a regular pita on it and they immediately noticed their mistake and went back and prepared a fresh, new plate.
We loved everything about this place. Lots of people for a Wednesday night but definitely no wait. Waitresses was very understanding about gluten free.
BrunchDinnerMediterraneanOpen Late NightBeerCiderBreakfastLunchDeliveryTake AwayOutdoor SeatingKid Friendly
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Reina Govindarajan
A Culinary Gem with a Side of Canine Love!
From the moment we stepped into Olea, the ambience radiated warmth, complemented perfectly by their dog-friendly outdoor seating. Dining at Olea felt like a gastronomic journey, each dish a testament to the expertise and passion poured into the menu.
The highlights? Oh, where to begin! The specials were an absolute delight, but it was the lamb hash, the Olea Breakfast, and that unforgettable egg dish swimming in a rich red sauce that truly stole our hearts (and appetites). Oh! And do not miss out on the croquettes!! And just when we thought our taste buds had peaked, the gluten-free vegan chocolate cake made an appearance. Admittedly, it leaned towards the drier side, but the accompanying caramel sauce was so divine, we were tempted to ask for a glass of it!
Our server was the epitome of professionalism and warmth, ensuring our dining experience was smooth from start to finish. The only minor hiccup was the bathroom situation - its proximity to the kitchen meant navigating the space required some finesse, a fact I learned after a mild scolding from a busy server. But, let's be honest, a small price to pay for the overall exceptional experience.
Olea, with its delightful dishes and charming setting, is a must-visit in Fort Greene. We're already plotting our next visit. See you soon, Olea! 🍽️💖🐶
Came for brunch. Interesting dishes and all flavors were on point. Easily adapted my dish to make it gluten free. Ate inside and appreciated the acoustics made for a relatively quiet meal - no shouting required.
This was my 4th time this lovely Israeli place in Brooklyn / Greenpoint. I usually get the shawarma plate which I really like there, however since now I’m Vegan in addition to being gluten free I really struggled finding anything to eat. I wanted the falafel but they said it had gluten, then I selected the sabich without the eggs (so it’s vegan) and I couldn’t have it either since they said the eggplants were with fried with panko, which left me with the fatush salad without the bread in it. When they brought it, I was quite surprised since they left the cheese even though specified I’m vegan as well as there were barely any veggie in it except for the green leaves. I guess this is not the right place if you’re gluten free and vegan because your options are Very limited. If not, you’ll find a great Israeli food such as schnitzel, falafel, hummus and a “fusion” take on shawarma .
* the oat milk latte was great
I have celiac disease and have been here, the menu is almost completely gluten free except for the Pita and it is safe for celiacs.
Upon request, the waiters will also change their gloves for greater safety.
Excellent falafel, top notch for a take-out joint. The salad is a nice mix of lettuce, onions, pickles, would be nice with some more diverse greens or some mint but maybe make that an add-on. Lots of tahini dressing. Works for gluten free and vegan diets (they do serve meat here as well)
Love this midtown Mediterranean gem situated in the midst of midtown! Hard to find a place with good food and good service where you are not on top of the people sitting next to you all at reasonable prices. The menu is filled with so many turkish options it was hard to narrow it down.
My friend and I met for lunch and started with a shepard salad that was the perfect blend of seasonings and fresh tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. Next we truly enjoyed the babaganoush which was served with warm pita pieces. My friend has a gluten allergy so the waiter brought sliced cucumber (at no extra charge).
The red lentil soup and chicken shish kebab were both delicious!
We were both so full we did not get to try the baklava which is homemade- I will definitely come back to try this! Add this place to your list for pre-theater, pre-shopping, pre-sightseeing, or catching up with good friends. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Warm atmosphere and very welcoming waitstaff and owner. If you have a need to eat gluten free, this place has many options and the staff are knowledgeable. Highly recommend the lamb shank.
DinnerOpen Late NightLunchMediterraneanFriesBreakfastBrunchCafeDeliveryTake AwayOutdoor SeatingKid FriendlyBarRestaurant
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Johanna Porto
Went for lunch. Cute place with nice vibe, had to wait a little to get seats at a very wobbly table. Staff was nice and friendly. Part of the reason we came was because we knew they had a gluten free menu, as one of our family members has celiac. He wanted to order the schnitzel, which was listed as GF on the menu, but we double checked it, and it actually wasn't! So he got the salmon salad. He said the salmon was very dry. I ordered falafels - which were very good, and the shakshuka, which I didn't really care for. It was covered in green olives and feta, and I had to dig to find the eggs. The tomato sauce was overly spicy and I left most of it over. The chicken shawarma was too bland, and the fluffy potato chips were ok. Overall, not sure if we will be back, or maybe only to buy something from the cute shop that is in the front area that sells jewelry bags and scarves. Disappointed
Loved it! I especially enjoyed the gluten free version of the plantain sliders. The caramelized onions and mushrooms on top completed the dish.
The Tranquil Tamarind drink with lime was also a highlight; the sweet tamarind was tempered by the tartness of the lime.
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Kimo's
9216 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693, USA
Looking for a spot that had gluten free and vegetarian options and decided to try this spot. Everyone was so nice and the food hit the spot. Will definitely come back next time I’m in the area.
Greek Xpress Hylan Boulevard is our favorite go to!! My daughter has severe celiac disease and eats worry free from their gluten free menu options due to their cross contamination safety precautions and dedicated separate fryers. We have been customers for a year now, so this has been proven time and time again, consistently having a positive experience. Portions are plentiful, well seasoned and just overall delicious! The owner and staff members are very friendly and welcoming. Grace is a superstar and knows my daughter’s order by heart! It’s a very happy day for my family when it’s Greek Xpress day!
My friend and I were recommended Loi Estiatorio for a pre theatre dinner. From the minute we walked in and were greeted by the wonderful and friendly hostess we knew we made a great choice. We were given pita triangles and corn bread to dip in a delicious, delicious (what I called) tzatziki sauce. We asked for seconds. We shared the Octopus appetizer and it was so good we could have picked the plate! We shared the Greek Lasagna for our main course and thoroughly enjoyed that too. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake….yummy!
We did share a glass of wine which was quite expensive do we would not order that again.
This restaurant uses no butter in any dish and can refine dishes to meet most dietary restrictions…. Even gluten free!
Despite the wine expense I would recommend Loi Estiatorio without hesitation.
Really happy with this place. I have Celiac and they were very careful and explained what I could have. My (gluten-eating) companions enjoyed as well. The cocktails were really special!
We had a lovely family gathering for brunch! Our server Justin was very helpful in making sure everyone had what they needed, especially one guest with a gluten allergy. Delicious food - look forward to our next visit!
Healthy, delicious food. They don’t substitute but they do have a good amount of gluten-free options! I got the vegetable curry bowl with no couscous. Will definitely come back again 😋
Friendly staff, good food, fast service. Great transparency over gluten free items, they're clearly indicated on the menus which is nice.
Top tip: for a quick, cheap meal, order fries and ask them to throw some feta on top, and get tzatziki on the side, so good!
As a gluten free girly I felt well taken care of by the staff! There were plenty of gf options to choose from and our server, David, was friendly and so attentive! And everything was DELICIOUS. For my birthday, they even gave me gf ice cream :) I can't wait to come here again!
I’ve been wanting to dine here, and finally got the chance to go for dinner. They start with complimentary pita bread and chick pea dip, which was a light way to start. We got the Greek salad to start. The stuffed grape leaves were great, the acidity balanced great with the feta cheese and olives. For dinner, we weren’t too hungry and decided to split the Octopus Salad and P.E.I Mussels. For appetizers, they were a good size and filling. The muscles and octopus were very fresh, and the sauce the muscles were cooked in was also very light and had a pleasant wine flavor. I probably wouldn’t order the octopus again since it’s more of an octopus salad. That said, the octopus was tender and cooked well overall.
I would like to come back and try more of their dishes. All the food was very light, fresh, and cooked well. My fiance is celiac and he was able to eat everything we tried but the pita bread (which is unfortunate because it was so good with the dip!)
The food in this place was WILD. First of all they were very accommodating to my gluten-free needs and there is a wealth of choices. Incredible flavor, everything I ate made me want to lick the plate in a way you should not do so in public, but I went for it. I normally find chicken kebab to be good at best and typically middling so i usually get lamb and beef— but the combo I ordered had all three and the chicken was OUTstanding— the best chicken I’ve had at a restaurant with this kind of cuisine. Such good flavor. There was also something with eggplant that was beautiful, and the pudding like dessert was a fine touch at the end. Our “server” seemed like he might be in charge of the whole place, he was so knowledgeable on everything and so kind, and really imparted upon our party the ethos of good food leading to a good and long life. It’s very clear that these are not just words at Ariana Afghan, but a way of life. I was happy to taste a little bit of it!
100% Dedicated Gluten-Free
