Top 50 Gluten-Free Kid-Friendly Spots to Explore in Byward Market - Parliament Hill, Ottawa

Karyn Tindall

Love this place. Gluten free pizza Sofia was outstanding

Ashley Stebbins

My friend and our two daughters dined at Play Food & Wine for the first time this past Saturday and we had an incredible dinning experience. My daughter is celiac and the server catered to her, asking several questions and offering modifications to certain dishes, and impressed all of us with his patience and understanding. We ordered the charcuterie board and they separated the meat from the cheeses and made GF crostini so my daughter was able to enjoy the charcuterie as well. The food was incredibly fresh and delicious. We started with the hot olives and sourdough bread and had a variety of the steak, smoked duck (modified to accommodate celiac), prawns, salmon and the gnocchi. Right from when we first arrived to Play and were greeted at the door to the end when we had to decline dessert because we were so satisfied, everything was was wonderful. Highly, highly recommend!

Paul Marchand

Wonderful dessert place with many dairy free and gluten free options. We tried a great piece of chocolate cake. We also had a brownie and a piece of chocolate truffle cake. Yummy!

Emma

A must-try in Ottawa! This Thai gem in ByWard Market is a bit pricey, but everything is fantastic: delicious food, lovely atmosphere, and friendly service. Plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian and vegan options, including coconut milk curries. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

Marialicia

Great options for gluten free poutine! So delicious and so fresh. The portion size was also incredibly generous! 10/10 would recommend 😊

Addy Rogers

Huge portions! The food is great. They have a nice all you can eat salsa. Good place for gluten allergies.

Amiet Chevrier Gill

Amazing chefs they do gluten-free for celiac disease. Absolutely love this place had a great great brunch. Everything on the menu looks so good. I had the shot shashukah. It was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this place. Ask for Joey great server.

sarab dormani

What a gem! As someone who eats gluten-free and dairy (due to illness( it’s rare to find a place that delivers on both! and this restaurant exceeded all expectations. The curry was absolutely amazing: rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. You can tell everything is made with care and fresh ingredients. Friendly staff and cozy atmosphere made the experience even better. Can’t wait to go back!

Shawn Henderson

Went for brunch, with a friend. Was awesome. Portions were great, food fresh, service friendly. Good selection of gluten-free options, but that could actually improve. Space is a really fun design too.

Michelle Bradshaw

Very knowledgeable staff, took care to make sure we were comfortable with the gluten free preparation and food.

sel

they did not accommodate to my celiac and wheat allergy. every time i have come before they take ingredients from the back for me because i can’t have my food be contaminated. the guy said “there was nothing in the back”and that “since there is a rush he won’t do it”. it would have taken him 4. seconds extra to take it from the back like every other employee has done for me before so rude and did not consider allergies and for that 1/5.

Hamont Reviewer

Positives: Friendly staff and convenient location: The staff at Browns Socialhouse in downtown Ottawa were friendly and welcoming. The location was easy to get to from our hotel. Delicious food: The food was very good, especially the burger (made with gluten-free ingredients!), tuna poke bowl, and fish and chips. Areas for Improvement: Flat beverages: Unfortunately, the fountain pop was flat, and they only had bottled drinks available. The server mentioned they have recurring problems with this. Similarly, the beer on tap was also flat, which was a letdown. Gluten-free communication: I called the restaurant beforehand to inquire about gluten-free options. I was informed they have dedicated fryers for gluten-free items. However, upon arrival, the menu descriptions seemed to contradict this. It would be helpful if the menu could be more accurate regarding gluten-free options to avoid any confusion for future diners with dietary restrictions. Overall: Browns Socialhouse has the potential to be a great spot with its friendly staff and delicious food. However, some improvements in beverage service and menu accuracy, particularly regarding gluten-free options, would enhance the dining experience.

Mathieu Larocque

We booked weeks in advance the "backroom" for a friends 40th. Please do not look at their current website as it is completely inaccurate, not the same menu, no gluten free options, the "backroom" looks like a dingy basement unlike the picutres. Location: This is about the only good thing going for them, they have a nice spot conveniently located right by a nice and affordable indoor parking lot. Service: Non-existant. I wish I had taken pictures of how filthy the place was when we got there. Nothing was set up although we booked well in advance... My wife and I showed up before their staff did, that was our first impression, while waiting we also kept seeing rats in their trash outside that is just there in plain sight next to the outdoor dining areas, there is sandbags and garbage in what was possibly once an operational fountain. They didn't have anything ready, floors needed to be mopped, fruit flies everywhere, sticky tables.. another GUEST had to go and grab cutlery, napkins, glassware (which was dirty, but in a clean area (lipstick and wine smell on the glasses)), etc.. When the night began they brought wings and never cleared any table, it was filthy all night long, after we order their garbage pizza, they never cleared the tables, they never offered us water, we had to get up every time we wanted a drink and that too was limited, the bartender had 2 guests fighting over the last redbull, their beer taps didn't work, their POS machine didn't work, and the music wasn't working until 3 hours in. Food: I know of a few guests that went to McDonald's on their way back home as the food was pretty bland and either burnt or under cooked. They had 1 heineken, stella and corona, you had to ask for a lime for your corona and seem to inconvience the barmaid. We ordered at 7:30 and I didn't get my pizza until 9:15.. 4 of us didn't get it until there.. the owners response was "people dont like eating past 9???" like are you serious? Your slogan under your "Backroom" sign says "Events venue" you can't even handle 20 people, what a joke. Atmosphere: Based on pics and other guests previous experience, it sounded fun and like a great place, when we got there it didn't feel like the old place it used to be, not even close. Big fat 0 for atmosphere. Take that 1 star because I'd give a 0 if I could.. AVOID AVOID AVOID AVOID unless you like eating fruit flies and garbage, and like waiting 2 hours for your sub-par pizza.

Gennesse Walker-Scace

This is an EXCELLENT place to bring friends, visitors or a date. Any day but Saturday and Sunday you can stay as long as you want. An excellent, well organized selection of board games for all interests and abilities. Their cocktails are fun and tasty. The food is not very good but they offer gluten free and vegan options. The nachos we ordered were stale and unseasonably, but ample toppings. Fries were kinda soggy and just ok. Not a great spot for food as the main attraction. If you're looking for a fun place to hang out though this should be on your list.

Camila Bousquet

Amazing service from Laura and her team. She was extremely attentive to our gluten sensitivities and went above and beyond with her customer service. Thank you Laura!

Katie A

They actually do not have a gluten free dedicated fryer for french fries. Was disappointed because reviews suggested otherwise. They do have gluten free buns though 🤷🏽‍♀️

Mayliza D

As someone that’s been to hundreds of high end restaurants around the world this place was disappointing. I would not recommend this for anyone with food allergies, especially gluten free. The food felt like 0 effort was made for the gluten free option. There are so many places in Ottawa that are around the same price range that make great efforts and do a very good job at covering gluten free food options. The sandwiches were served on stale gluten free bread with no diversity at all. The desserts felt like no real efforts were made. For the price I’m very disappointed.

Austin N

Gluten free club sandwich and a milkshake, awesome

paulomi patel

Food was amazing. It is one of few places which do gluten free gravy.

Carolyne Bjerring

I recently hosted a surprise party for my mom at this restaurant, and I can't say enough about how wonderful the experience was! The service was top-notch, and the food was absolutely delicious. The canapés were perfectly timed, and the bottle of bubbly was ready as soon as my mom arrived. A special shoutout to Maddie, our server, who went above and beyond. She spoke French fluently, which was a huge plus for our francophone guests. Maddie treated us like family, ensured that our gluten-intolerant guests had the right food, and even served my mom’s wine in a special glass she had for her 60th birthday. When my mom accidentally left the glass behind, Maddie kept it safe until she could come back for it. Everything was just perfect. A big thank you to the team for making the event so memorable!

Ariane Senécal

A no extra charge for gluten free, vegan pizza that looks hand thrown from actual dough (not a frozen cardboard perfect circle) and tastes great, even cold the next day for breakfast, like a real self-respecting pizza?! Sold! Excellent service on the phone and in person too. We'll be ordering again.

Mohamad Bustami

Wow wow wow!! What an amazing spot in the heart of byward market. Delicious authentic Mexican food. Some of the best tacos and quesadillas. Their different sauces are to die for. And then to top it off they have amazing delicious freshly made hibiscus tea. The staff and service are second to none as well. Oh and of course lots of gluten-free options since they have corn tortillas for both the tacos and quesadillas. Highly recommended and will be coming again for sure.

Zach Wilson

Visiting from the states and stopped in for breakfast and the food was delicious. Definitely would recommend. Gluten free friendly. Mushroom omelette was delicious

Tory Dickerson

Michelle P

We just hosted our parents 50th Anniversary in their private lounge area - it went so smoothly, the food was delicious, service was spectacular and our young children even loved the restaurant. They even had many gluten free options. We would no doubt make a return soon. Thanks again.

Ron Turley

Nice enough place. The gluten-free bun on my berger was not the best. Thick cut fries were good as was the salad. And it was a little noisy, but I would go back

Karthik Sreejith (bala_yoddah13Kj)

Kochin Kitchen is a restaurant in Ottawa that specializes in South Indian cuisine, particularly Keralan dishes. Here's a quick overview of what diners can expect: Pros: * Authentic flavors: Reviewers consistently praise the restaurant's delicious and authentic Kerala dishes. * Variety of options: The menu offers a good selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options alongside meat curries and seafood specialties. * Friendly service: Many reviewers mention the warm and welcoming service provided by the staff. Cons: * Limited seating: The restaurant may get crowded, so it's recommended to book a table in advance, especially during peak hours. * Parking availability: Parking can be challenging in the area, so consider taking public transportation or ride-sharing if possible. Overall, Kochin Kitchen is a great choice for anyone looking for a delicious and authentic South Indian dining experience in Ottawa. The wide variety of dishes, friendly service, and focus on fresh ingredients make it a popular spot. Just be sure to book a table in advance and consider your transportation options if you're driving.

Adam Kessell

Excellent food and service, the best brisket I've had since visiting texas 6 years ago. Very helpful service, good awareness of my gluten intolerance when ordering food , and a fun selection of whiskeys for "dessert" . I definitely intend on coming back!

Steph Levac

Staff are knowledgeable about celiac. Alex - my server was so thorough when going through the menu with me and so thoughtful to check in and make sure I was feel good when we were paying up and getting ready to leave. A++ service

Tammy Storey

Happened to stumble upon this place with my husband on a cold Friday evening, and had no idea what to expect. The food is excellent, and the staff are very kind, cordial, and accommodating of allergies (celiac disease and a dairy allergy). Highly recommend the mixed kebab platter, cooked in the tandoori oven! Thanks so much.

Len Bunce

The best tasting, healthy and inexpensive treat. Go PILI PILI!! Try it you WILL be back. Oh also almost all items are gluten free

Louis-Philippe Mongeau

Awesome local coffee shop. Totally worth the 10 minutes walk from the core area. Highly recommend their breakfast wrap as well as their gluten-free fudge brownie!

Maddie Burella

Staff were ok, too comfortable though, often squatting to chat at our table. Ignored our request to cancel a side order because it’s “just a lot of work to” and after we made the server aware of a Gluten allergy and requesting a lettuce wrap, he was served a fried burrito. All other food was terrible. Shrimp was cold and chicken was extremely dry. Waitress opening admitted that the steak is “really REALLY really” bad and the chimichangas were frozen. No compensation was offered and he was charged extra for the rice to replace the gluten in the replacement meal. Unfortunate situation.

Filippo Principato

Beautiful selection of steak and seafood. Offering pastas and appetizers, quite a large Raw Bar offering oysters shrimp cocktail crab legs ceviche. as well as handmade desserts. There gluten-free chocolate cake is to die for. Extensive wine list and knowledgeable bartenders. highly recommend to anyone traveling in the market or anywhere near that area Downtown.

Daniel Young

Andrea Mailhot

Beautiful atmosphere. Would love to go back and sit on the patio. The pizza (gluten free) was amazing.

Aqualyra S.

I've only been twice. The 1st time I had a wonderful pork donkatsu with brown rice which was awesome. My boyfriend enjoyed the chicken teriyaki. It looks like they have changed the menu though. So this week I tried the spicy tofu salad which is gluten free. It was lovely!

Mathieu Blake

Great breakfast/lunch place. Does not break the bank. High quality ingredients. Thank you for having gluten free bread.

Ivana Copelli

Yummy gluten free gelato. Open on mondays when other gelato places are not. Great selection of gelatos and sorbets.

Cab Tab

As many other reviewers have said, this was a VERY disappointing dining experience for myself and the 2 people that came with me. I convinced them to come with me as Tucker's was good back in the day. They are now back in Ottawa and it was totally disgusting. EVERYTHING was cold. Roast beef was very salty. Server could not answer one question we asked. Limited items. The butter bowl for the buns has ONE knife in it that ALL the customers use. In this day & age --- how gross is that. ZERO gluten-free options in the dessert bar. And did I mention everything was cold?? I spoke to the Manager before we left and he "explained" that they know about the temperature issues and that it's an on-going issue. Really?? You know it's bad, yet you keep taking people's money?? Unlike previous reviewers, we were NOT offered a discount or a comp meal --- however, we were asked "to not let this experience scare us from trying them again". REALLY ?? A MANAGER told us this. Unbelievable. STAY AWAY from this place. There is a reason the place was practically empty at 6 PM on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon.

Mitchell Singer

Great food and service. My girlfriend is celiac and was so easily accommodated! And with a smile

Tanja S.

We went here for dinner and overall, it was a good time! A bit limited as far as gluten free options go (the salmon was ok but the crème brule is amazing). My husband loved the crispy chicken sandwich. The ambiance was nice but there was a shrill intoxicated person by the bar who was quite loud. Great server!

Amanda Bailey

Aida Azevedo

Brian Decker

We got take out. Everything is cardboard and you taste it in the food and in the coffee. My wife also got the gluten free crepe and it was completely inedible. The silver lining was their orange juice, very good. The man bringing my food in the beginning was nice and attentive.

Alisa Kuzmina

Extremely rude staff. I asked about whether a pastry was gluten free. Her reply: “NO”. No explanation, just a subtext of eff off. I went back to the display case of different treats and saw it was written “blondies - GF”, so I go back to this cashier and order one. “We don’t have them.” Again, no explanation, extremely rude tone. I said “you don’t have them as in you don’t sell them or you don’t have them because you sold out?” So to that, she replies, with extreme annoyance: “we sold out. THATS why you don’t SEE THEM in the DISPLAY CASE.” I was in shock. I don’t know what I did to deserve this horrible treatment, but I will never go back to this coffee shop again. For the past fifteen years or so, this has been one of my favourite coffee shops. Today, that all changed. My mother and sister and her partner were there too and all felt the service was extremely negative and cold. My sister experienced a similar experience with a different cashier/barista working there today too, but I don’t want to write a review on her part. We are all just extremely disappointed with what’s happened to this place.

Reynalda Rush

Irene Manson

Antonio Torres

David Ewing