Chef Emma created a fabulous Thanksgiving meal, served by the most pleasant and helpful staff. The service was excellent, the food was great for our gluten-free, vegan -adjacent diets!! I’d give more stars if I could!!
Love this place. Highly recommend a reservation. We couldn't get a reservation but got take-out & ate at their picnic tables! Saw many people go in and immediately leave because Sinful Kitchen was full up! Their are allergy aware & have many gluten-free & vegetarian options. Our group had the Monte Cristo, a fav, 2 different kinds of eggs Benedict- classic & crab, strawberry waffles, & corned beef hashvw eggs. I also love the BBQ jackfruit. We are not nearby but try to go at least 2x a yr.
My review is about their gluten free options. Cannot comment on their gluten filled options.
To sum it up, I am a late in life celiac sufferer. Went over 35 years enjoying gluten and all the wonders of eating it. Then suddenly, my body decides to flip the switch, and I cannot process gluten. I am asymptomatic, in that my body kind of shuts down if I ingest even the tiniest microscopic amount of gluten. That being said, I usually don’t even bother with fancy doughnut places like this because they usually don’t offer gluten free options. But I was on a day trip to Portland with the family, and my wife is always on the lookout for gluten free things for me, and this place is highly regarded. Plus, when we got to Portland, there was a huge long line around the corner. Kind of peaked my interest, especially considering I am also allergic to seafood, so I cannot even enjoy the other thing people enjoy in Portland, lobster.
So family enjoys their lobster lunch, and before we leave the area to move on to our next point of interest, I get in line to grab a few doughnuts. I mask up, given that it is a doughnut shop, and given I can be have a reaction from just even a speck of flour in the air, better to be safe than sorry. Line has shortened by this point, so the wait is not too bad, only a few minutes. I get up, order my doughnuts. A chocolate sea salt, a cinnamon sugar, a lemon, and a cherry. All gluten free. We get into our car and drive away.
Big caveat here I need to mention, given my allergy, we never have anything wheat based in the car to eat, due to my allergy. All snacking in the car is gluten free, to make sure I do not have any reactions while I am driving. When my family eats anything with gluten, they wash and sanitize their hands thoroughly afterwards, and if they get any on their clothing, they change. Yes, my reactions are that severe.
So I eat the first doughnut, no problem. We get to our next destination. Take photos so the tourist thing, blah blah. Get in the car, drive to next destination. I eat the second doughnut. Drive to next destination. Take photos, do the tourist thing, blah blah. You get the idea.
Around 4pm I eat the 3rd doughnut, the lemon gluten free. I am driving, on the highway, suddenly, I start to get that contaminated feeling. My stomach starts churning, I start getting horrible heartburn, can’t stop having gas being expelled from both ends, and my body starts to ache all over. I have to pull over to the side of the road, since there is no exit close or amenity area close by, and I have to expel everything from my stomach as fast as possible, in the hopes that I can avoid a full on gluten contamination sickness.
Thankfully I did avoid most of it, I am just suffering from body aches and mild brain fog right now.
Needless to say, contaminated gluten free food is why I am giving 1 star for the food. I would give negative stars if possible, because making customers sick is, well, never a good thing. However, service was great, employees were friendly, and everything else was fine.
Really really great pizza! We tried two gluten free pizzas, the pepperoni hot honey and the chicken bacon ranch. The crust is really good but the highlight was the chicken bacon ranch. Best I've had ever. The location offers beautiful views and the atmosphere was great.
I literally ordered 2 stacks of the blueberry gluten free pancakes and neither survived. And these were not skimpy stacks. They were the perfect treat to have on my birthday. Delicious coffee and so many other yummy pastries and gluten free options! I would go here every morning if I lived in Maine! Absolutely incredible!
Atmosphere, staff, and food were all amazing. We are a gluten free family and usually limited menu choices - Not here! There was a wide variety of gluten free items on the menu! We ordered the fish and chips, fish sandwich, braised short rib, cottage pie, and pickled onion rings. All were amazing! The batter for the fried items is always gluten free and items fried in a separate frier.
Food is excellent! Orange Bike gluten free beer is crisp and refreshing. Gabriela’s smile is refreshing and welcoming. She was kind and offered different beer selections. Very accommodating!
Let me start by saying I have Crohn's disease which has led to me needing a gluten free diet/lifestyle.
Pizza has been a rocky road ever since going gluten free because nothing has really been worth it. However, this pizza may single-handedly be the best gluten free pizza I've ever had. We helped a friend move into their new home this weekend in Portland and ordered Portland pie co for dinner after we were all done moving. It was the best decision ever.
My boyfriend and his friends are all gluten lovers - they got a garlic crust with cheese, pepperoni, caramelized onions, pineapple, and burnt ends and they all LOVED it. Bonus points for the side of hot honey that they drizzled over the pizza.
The two gluten free friends in the group (me included) got a pizza with half feta, pepperoni, and broccoli and half feta, pepperoni, caramelized onions, and green peppers. I am so sad my boyfriend and I live in Boston, because this would be a constant place we hit up for pizza. The pizza was nothing short of perfect and may just land as the best place for gluten free pizza in my heart.
My boyfriend rates the gluten pizza as a 9.5/10
I would rate the gluten free pizza as a 10/10 easily.
We can't wait to return to Portland for more pizza!
SeafoodBurgersDinnerOpen Late NightLunchBread ItemsFriesSandwichesDeliveryTake AwayOutdoor SeatingKid FriendlyBarRestaurantPet Friendly
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Benjamin Senecal
The Butcher Burger did a great job cooking the burger. The toppings went together well and produced an overall good experience. They offer gluten free buns that are a good size and taste good. The table seating is only outside with all the indoor seating being either at the bar or facing out the window. The inside does smell a bit smoky with all the cooking happening in the building, so you may want to eat outside if that bothers you.
Wow this place was really awesome! There was a ton of hype online about them so I was a bit skeptical…but wow did they deliver! What I appreciated was how good the gluten free and vegetarian options there were - it’s a small menu so I’m glad we had some choices. I got the mapo tofu and my girlfriend got a lamb ramen that they made gluten free. The non alcoholic drinks were really fun and whimsical as well! Would recommend!
Lovely stop for a hearty breakfast, bring your appetite. The staff are super helpful and friendly. So many delicious choices on the menu. I’m gluten intolerant and they easily answer my questions. It’s always nice as a gf person to have multiple options to choose from. I had the shrimp and grits which was delicious. Heavy on the oils though and to be fair I prefer a red sauce on mine. My husband had the special which was lighter on the oils but a big meal. He loved the fried artichokes. We sat at the bar right away and by the time we left there was a lot of people waiting for tables outside. Coffee was great, fresh & I liked that she asked if we preferred a single or double shot. Over all we’d go again in a heartbeat to this small intimate restaurant
I really wanted to love this place! I've heard great things. Unfortunately, it wasn't a memorable experience. Most of the dishes tasted very similar, including everything from the baba ganoush to the tuna and the beef. We ordered the tasting menu hoping for a variety, but ended up receiving two of the same dish from different servers.
Service also felt a bit disorganized. When we ordered, the server asked about dietary preferences, but the person who introduced himself at the start of the meal left halfway through, and we didn’t have a consistent point of contact after that. We asked for gluten-sensitive options but no one followed up during the meal. It was confusing, especially when pita was brought out and the server seemed unsure why I was asking about gluten-free items. I can't say this seems to be a safe option for folks with celiac.
It was also uncomfortably hot inside. The air conditioning either wasn’t working or couldn’t keep up with the July heat, which made the experience less enjoyable.
I’d be open to giving this place another try - maybe it was just an off night - but unfortunately, this visit didn’t quite live up to the hype, especially given the price.
My sister has a gluten allergy and the staff was incredibly rude when we inquired. They advertise a whole GLUTEN FREE fry options but the fryer isn’t a separate fryer. So why advertise it as GF and then get rude when asked about it?
68 Commercial St Building C - Floor 2, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Accommodating Gluten-Free
LunchDinnerSeafoodDeliveryKid FriendlyRestaurant
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Peter Viscarola
Very impressive place. The service we received was exceptional (thank you Sandra)… knowledgeable, helpful, and attentive without being the least bit overbearing. The food was AWESOME. After a week here in Portland, I had filled up on local haddock and cod and lobster… so I had the swordfish which was *excellent*. Servers on a bed of cassoulet beans, just lovely and tasty.
Our server was knowledgeable about the food and made dealing with my wife’s gluten and dairy allergies no big deal, just like it was a routine request. She had the scallops which were gorgeously seared and tasty.
Oh… if you love bread (like I do) have the anadama bread. OMG, a light drizzle of molasses and sweet butter. Crazy good.
Deserts were also excellent: I had the Indian pudding (awesome)… my wife the GF/DF sorbet. And they have real espresso that’s truly legit.
Solid five stars. Fine dining, where you feel comfortable in jeans and a T shirt, but are guaranteed to get a first rate meal.
Yup… highly recommended.
As always, Fore Street does not disappoint. The food, atmosphere and service were spectacular. Our server made navigating my gluten sensitivity seamless by going through each menu item with me at the start. Not to miss when visiting Portland!
One of the best meals I’ve ever had. I’m gluten free and there were several options! Exceptional quality that is evident from the presentation to taste. The restaurants in Portland are fantastic but I’d vote that this is among the best. Tapas style but the portions were larger than I expected!
If I had the means to hand out Michelin stars, Twelve would get 3. My entire experience was nothing short of absolutely phenomenal. Our waiter, Andrew, was extremely and entirely knowledgeable. He was also insanely helpful with guiding me towards the gluten free options of the menu. Always had a smile and was very welcoming and attentive to us as well. The food was like nothing I have ever tasted before. Each course was full of flavor and came out beautifully with a brief description of what was in front of you. The mussels were to die for, along with the steak. I can confidently say that this was the best meal I have ever had in my life and although I live 4.5 hours away, I would drive the 9 hour round trip to eat at Twelve any given day. Thank you to the wonderful staff and the chefs for making this not one of, but THE best dining experience of my life.
Came in several hours before our reservation and the Leeward team was happy to accommodate us at the bar. Ended up loving the bar team so much we stayed and enjoyed our entire meal there. Good food, great cocktails, even better service. Excellent gluten free options as well. Hope to be back soon!
Great atmosphere! Made a reservation via Opentable for a late lunch. Wide range of food option for the size of menu. Lots of gluten free options available such as pizza dough, buns, and they use a separate fryer for fries. All good pictured we got GF. Staff was very helping in finding out information on our food allergies to ensure our meal was safe!
GF potato pizza was delicious. The crust was very herb’y.
GF bun was actually soft! We enjoyed the BBQ chicken sandwich but did ask for more sauce as it was a bit dry overall. Fries were delicious.
House chips and onion dip were great! Savory and GF.
Great little place to enjoy some super tasty food. Has a vegan and gluten free menu. Items are also marked with how to make them vegan, gluten free, and pescatarian. Good sized portions, friendly staff, and nice quiet atmosphere. If I am in the area again, would definitely return.
The food at this place is amazing. I had a gluten free pizza and it was one of the best pizzas I have ever had. It did not even taste or look like a gluten free one. So much flavor. Great service as well. Highly recommend, will definitely go back.
This place was good but at about 3 pm they were out of stock of a lot of their menu (almost all the sausage variations, some hot dogs, and some sides). They do have gluten free buns typically but they were out when I went so I just had to have the hot dog without a bun.
The best tasting espresso I've had in Portland - don't sleep on this! Homemade corn tortillas and knowledge of Celiac. Cocktails are unique, staff are chill, and tacos are delicious. Thank you for the quality experience!
I was in Portland on a work trip and had a lunch date with one of my colleagues, we were on a mission to find a lobster roll (when in Maine, right). I have celiac, so at times it can make my food selection a bit harder but Boone's didn't disappoint.
We started with scallops, unfortunately we were too busy eating them before I realized I hadn't snapped a picture, they were cooked to perfection, they had just the right amount of sauce and I only wished there were four of them so we didn't have to share the last one.
The lobster rolls were great, they accommodated me with a GF roll (no one can make GF bread taste good, this isn't a them issue...convo for another day) and homemade chips had just the right amount of salt. Great choice for lunch!
Jillian was attentive and friendly. The service was great. The drink menu seemed limited. There's a huge wine list, not much for craft beer drinkers while being located in a craft beer city and there was a "shmedium" cocktail list. Come here for the raw bar. Legit one of the best oyster spots in Portland. The calamari was good, but nothing to go crazy about - it definitely scratches that itch when you're craving a light battered basket of sunshine. The lobster grilled cheese sounded glutenous but was so worth it - absolutely order this. It was LOADED with lobster. The fries that come with it are delicious and I don't go crazy over fries. My fiancee got the salmon BLT and when I asked what he thought about it... He responded, "it was good". 😆 There's a reason why he doesn't do the reviews LOL. Anyways, he did love it though. Would we come again? Yes. Is this a good date night spot? Yes. We'll be back.
Outstanding food, great atmosphere, very clean. Large selection of vegan and gluten free options. Absolutely would recommend to anyone that likes Mediterranean food.
We love Regards - it's always a pleasure to have dinner there. The food is unbelievable; it's always creative, inspired, and consistently delicious. My partner is vegetarian, and I am gluten free - they address both very conscientiously (and we have more than enough options). The atmosphere is great, and the staff is welcoming and attentive. Make sure this is on your list!
It's an absolute treat to have breakfast with gluten free toast! I had the veggie omelette and it was delicious with a drizzle of their local hot sauce. My husband had the eggs Benedict Florinte and the eggs were perfectly prepared. It was a full house but the staff kept the hot coffee flowing. The kitchen was also fantastic turning out the breakfast dishes quickly. When we left, there was a line of people waiting which is always a sign that the food is worth the wait.
It has been a while since I have been to this classic Old Port diner and man it’s nice to be back.
Marcy herself is gone (which some might feel is a good thing…), Mandy was friendly and wonderful to chat with between serving up orders. Not a place I was expecting to find a gluten-free option, but she was very pleased to make me a hot GF cinnamon roll (from BamBam Bakery!) with cream cheese frosting made fresh on the spot.
Will definitely be back and I look forward to bringing my kids.
In one word - exquisite! We stopped in Portland for a night on our way to Acadia. This restaurant was one of the recommended places in the podcast we listened to when driving, so we made a reservation on the go, what a successful choice this came to be!
Got seated at the chef's counter - this is a jackpot seat as you see all the dishes come out and the chef was right there, kindly answering all our questions, as did the servers. We are spoiled in New York, but did this place give...
- bluefin tuna crudo GF - the flavors are complex, but not too loud, the fish fresh & buttery
- truffle braised leeks GF - cheesy, loved it, especially the fact that truffle was not overpowering
- fried maine grains polenta GF - this was so unexpected heavenly, we could come back to Portland for this dish alone... the marigold leaves (we had to ask the chef what the little flavor burst leaves were)... fennel.. that crust.. soft melty fluff inside... mmm....
- bone marrow toast - if you're hungry, this will fill you up. It was tasty but we were waiting for a horseradish kick that never came (our expectations are our problem though). It could be that at this point we were just already full and also spoiled by the dishes that came before.
- suckling pig GF - it looks as if it would be too fatty but it's not. It's perfect. It killed the pulled pork for me forever. I don't want to get any pork after this because nothing can beat it.
- goat ragu al forno - the flavors were dancing and merry, a bit too salty to our taste, but it might be just us, otherwise perfection, never had a better ragu!
- jasmine poached pear GF - we don't eat sweets, ordered a desert still, because evidently this is not an ordinary restaurant. For us, this was too sweet to taste any flavors. It could be we're just sensitized to sugar.
We wish we got some veggies on the menu, because they looked fantastic! We definitely will next time we're in Portland.
Lora was a class server, drinks on time, plates cleared out of the way at all times, no delays or wait times for anything, all questions answered, very pleasant manners.
Thank you for working with us on gluten free options (for one of us).
Delightful array of sandwiches, both for breakfast and lunch. These bad boys are hefty and will fill you up.
The flavor profiles are savory and the offering of gluten free bread doesn’t suck (which is hard to come by). Hands down probably the best sandwiches I’ve had! Thank you. :)
Phenomenal! Service was excellent. The gluten free pasta is TERRIFIC. I got the penne al pollo and I have nothing negative to say about the dish. The portions are large, we got a small and still had leftovers. We will definitely return.
Every single plate was delicious! So much flavor. The salmon, pineapple fried rice, grilled chicken, papaya salad, and the sauces! Many gluten free options.
A great spot with lots of room and choices for beer. It's a great place if you're looking to meet up with a larger group of friends, or if you just feel like blending in with a larger crowd. It is also one of the few bars in Portland that has a selection of gluten free beers.
I have read a lot of back and forth reviews, but I do recommend Duckfat. I am excited to bring my family here when we come back from Maine. It was definitely a small, crowded environment, so coming as a solo person I got seated immediately at the bar. If you're in a group you're looking at 45min to an hour wait.
I tried the tomato soup at the recommendation of a guest sitting next to me. It was very delicious. Reminded me of a gluten-free pizza which the bartender laughed at, but I felt like it was accurate. I also tried their version of the lobster roll. I understand how it's not a traditional lobster roll, but I very much enjoyed the sandwich. I also tried the cherry soda. I like that it gives you a soda vibe, but it's not sticky sweet, and then I finished it off with the salted caramel milkshake. I got more of a vanilla vibe with some caramel to it. It was very sweet. I think I may have enjoyed the mocha a little bit more, but I enjoyed it to-go and sipped it all the way to my car. Hope this helps - cheers!
Review
Amazing experience!!! From beginning to end everything was on point. Started with drinks, a cosmo and a cucumber tequila with elderflower and lime (refresh) - perfect summertime libation. Next came our appetizers. A crab cake with arugula and the lobster tostada. The lobster tostada was an unexpected flavor explosion, nothing like it! For dinner we had the seared halibut and blackened bluefish. Both were delicious. The halibut was soft with a pearly translucence served on a bed of mashed rhubarb and asparagus Bluefish was succulent and zesty (not spicy) with a tomato bisque base on top of corn and zucchini bits. We paired both of the dishes with a white Bordeaux. We finished the evening with the gluten free caramel drizzled triple chocolate decadence. It was heaven. Staff was engaging, service was outstanding. We will return again!
Very busy! And for a reason, Great food! Got to watch the staff in action while waiting for the food to arrive. Staff very attentive. If you don't know how to shell & clean a lobster, staff will assist you.
I couldn't have the chowder as it contained gluten, but REALLY enjoyed the lobster. Food gets delivered by boat to the back of the building and hauled straight into the kitchens. It's fresh and fabulous.
Hidden gem in a very cool part of town. The servers are knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. The vibe is spot on and the food is out of this world good. I drive 2 hours to eat here!! Gluten free options are available and there are fun non-alcoholic drinks. If you’re intimidated by the language on the menu ask questions - the servers are happy to guide you through this stunning culinary journey!!
I have been a few times now. The first day with the new owners I had a waitress who seemed clueless, and when I went back, she was gone. The waitstaff since then has been wonderful! I am celiac and can't have dairy, but I have gotten the burger with a side salad. It is simple and delicious! I have gone with different folks each time and we have eaten our way through much of the menu...nothing has been mediocre yet!
Adorable, fun, aesthetically pleasing little spot! Also, one of the best cappuccinos I had in a long time. I wanted to buy everything! It makes you happy just being in there. However, we weren’t overly impressed with the food- the grilled cheese was bitter and the servicing of burrata was on the small side. The ambience made up for it though and I will be returning. Fabulous selection of gifts, food and wine - an absolute delight. Gluten free bread options available for $2.
Iron Clad was love at first bite. The incredible tacos were enough to make Iron Clad a weekly routine (okay…sometimes more than weekly). I’ve eaten my way through the entire menu and have tried numerous specials, and I’ve had nothing but exceptional food every time. Seriously! There’s never been an “off” day, just consistently great tacos. Most of the menu is gluten free.
As an added bonus, the people are what makes the experience special. The dedication of Dan, Joey, and co. is reflected through their food, and I’m always served laughs and good vibes along with whatever I order. This business is generous, gives back to the community, and uses their platform to advocate, which is important to me. Do yourself a favor and go get a taco from iron clad! …or six.
Celiac friendly
