Top 12 Gluten-Free Kid-Friendly Spots to Explore in Riverside and Cardiff

Lucy Boardman (Kitty)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic Service & Welcoming Atmosphere at Hodo Lounge! I visited Hodo Lounge last night with my partner, four friends, and two dogs, and we had an absolutely wonderful time! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, but what really made the experience stand out was the incredible service from Ryan behind the bar. I have a severe banana allergy, and one of my friends has celiac disease, so we’re always cautious when dining out. Ryan was exceptionally attentive to our dietary restrictions, ensuring we felt comfortable and safe while also being genuinely friendly and easy to chat with. I ordered the standard Lounge Brunch without tomatoes, and Ryan went the extra mile by offering to swap them for something else. I chose mushrooms for my partner, which was a thoughtful touch. I also ordered the large Lounge Brunch for myself with the same adjustment and got an extra hash brown instead—small details like this make a big difference! For drinks, my partner had a Diet Coke while I ordered a Daceri Nolarder (alcohol-free). Two of my friends also got the same drink and really enjoyed it, but I found it wasn’t quite to my taste. When Ryan checked in with us after a few minutes, I mentioned this, and without hesitation, he asked if there was something else I’d prefer. I requested a peppermint tea, and to my surprise, he brought it out free of charge—a really kind and thoughtful gesture. Beyond the excellent service, the food was great, the atmosphere was relaxed, and we all felt incredibly welcome—including the dogs! It’s rare to find staff who not only accommodate dietary needs so attentively but also go out of their way to make sure every guest has a fantastic experience. We’re already looking forward to coming back, and we’ll definitely be recommending Hodo Lounge—especially thanks to Ryan’s outstanding hospitality.

Emily Lovewell

We booked here because they said they could do gluten and dairy free. I had the best gluten and dairy free pizza and my son also had a gluten free pizza. It was really good. For starter we had the meat board and they brought nice gluten free bread to have with it rather than breadsticks. The staff are really friendly and make sure that everything is OK. The atmosphere is warm and there is a buzz with people chatting and in the background Italian music. We will definitely be going again when we are next in Cardiff

Marzena Zygadlo

We moved to Cowbridge Road East a few weeks ego and I need to tell you it's our favourite pizza so far. We tried 2 other places first, but Calabrisella is way better if it comes to pizza choice. I have gluten intolerance, but I felt ok after (which I always do in Italy after pizza) so from time to time I will treat myself to their pizza for sure. Highly recommend.

Matt

I don't usually leave reviews but they deserve one! The host is fantastic. He's always bubbly and talkative and kind. He gives recommendations for what would give with each dish and the food is always really good. We've been a couple times, had different dishes, and really enjoyed it. Good vegetarian and gluten free options.

E Ghiani

Super busy when we went, but the staff were *EXCEPTIONAL* regardless of how stressful it must have been. As a table for 6 we were kindly warned about the wait time but were given our drinks speedily and our food came out within the time frame they gave us. It was also a dream as a coeliac! I adored the chicken club sandwich (a beast of a sandwich. good luck trying to take a bite without having to dismantle all the layers.) I highly recommend this gem. 5/5 and thank you to the girls and their amazing service. :)

Laura

Good food, reasonable prices, options for gluten free and friendly staff.

Jess

I'm actually vegan & GF. They don't serve a GF base (this is a pic of their non-GF pizza), but I took my own GF base, and they dressed it with vegan cheeze- like any regular margherita! Charged me a bit under a usual price because I'd brought my own base, too. ● If you're Coeliac, it still wouldn't be good to eat here as they warn of cross contaminatin. But if you're just intolerant (like me) it's all good 👍

Oliver Hawksworth

Amazing food. Bartender was very accommodating towards us with gluten free options and made the drinks very quickly for us.

Jessica Osborn

Delicious, family friendly and accommodating for Coeliac and gluten free as well as vegetarian diets. Staff were so attentive despite being very busy. Booking advised for Sunday lunchtime. They turned away 14 people while we were there!

Lelly Talks

Decent coffee and tasty food. Nicely tucked away to provide some tranquility from city life. Some good gluten free choices 😊

Leyton

Enjoyed a delicious meal to celebrate a friend's birthday. Everyone who works here is so welcoming, polite and helpful. The food did not disappoint and was packed with flavour. Lots of the meals are gluten free (which I have to have) and there are good veggie selections. My friend opted for the Syrian Pidi duck to start and I chose the pan-seared scallops. We had the obligatory tasting of each other's and decided it was all lovely! For mains we decided on Chef Anand's tiffin signature sea bass which was perfectly cooked and we enjoyed the thoran veggie side dish to accompany which was recommended by our waiter. Together with a lovely fruity chenin blanc, this was a beautifully presented and super-tasty meal which was reasonably priced, all in chilled out, stylish surroundings with a relaxed vibe. Well recommended!

Elliott

Really lovely people working there. Very accommodating for dietary needs. Sorted out gluten free food and made very clear what was safe to have and what was not. Also super super tasty