Top 11 Gluten-Free Lunch Spots to Enjoy in Research Forest, The Woodlands

Lisa Scally

Chicken tacos but are lots of options

Briahna Denae

Im visiting my family from out of town, had an amazing experience at this location! Both my mom and I are extremely symptomatic celiac. Our server, Anita took such care to ensure that all our concerns were very clearly addressed and the manger even came over to check in on us and gave us extra treats. I’ve never been so confident and felt so comfortable and safe eating out before. Will definitely return again next time I visit. Thank you so much!

Janet Sonka

appreciate the gluten-free burger buns but don't talk to the cashier about ordering. Neither myself or anyone I've gone with has liked the taste of the food here. It's not bad but there's something off. For example I got the Cadillac burger and for me it was too dry and the Swizz cheese overpowered everything. Best to order one simple burger for the table and split it before ordering more.

Jalynn Sierra

The woman who greeted my family at the door, Isabel, was so helpful! My Mom is gluten free and she let us know her options!

Anthony Maurice

To sum up this place: it's an upscale cafeteria. And in this instance, that’s a good thing. They serve quality food in a non-pretentious, yet slightly pretentious way. What do I mean? Let me break it down. For starters, you seat yourself in a dining environment that offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor dining area is lined with large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The chairs and tables are slightly upscale, with wood accents, as opposed to the plastic seating you’d find in a traditional cafeteria. The outdoor patio mimics the indoors, with plenty of gas warmers and a modern-style accent fireplace wall. Again, not pretentious, but pretentious. The food menu is what you’d expect from any slightly upscale dining spot. The options are large and plentiful, but not so much so that it’s overwhelming (aka The Cheesecake Factory). Items like chorizo queso, lobster tostada, and truffle mac & cheese make up the appetizers (they call them "Beginnings" here). Blackened redfish, beef & lamb bolognese, and fried chicken & waffles are just a few of the "Kitchen Plates." They stick with the cafeteria theme in concept, but the offerings could just as easily be found on a fine dining menu in an upscale restaurant. Add a full wine menu, craft beers, specialty burgers with a gluten-free bread option, and you start to really understand this place. I had the build-your-own plate option, which included black pepper salmon with chipotle butter, steamed broccoli, and a mixed greens side salad splashed with what I assumed was balsamic vinaigrette dressing. A Shiner Blonde Light from the ice trough topped it off nicely. My take: I would definitely go back. We went for lunch, but I'm eager to try the breakfast offerings. This is the place you go when you're in your daytime best casualwear, want to grab some great food, and still catch a good buzz. No waiters constantly asking if you need anything. Just an eclectic crowd of both business folks working on laptops and suburban Houstonians enjoying their day in The Woodlands.

Mika Carter

There are hardly words for my giddiness and joyfulness after first trying these tacos. I didn’t know vegan, gluten free tacos could be this good, and fun. Shout out to Velvet Taco for thinking outside of the usual suspects - which are gross. I wish the employees knew the sauces better so there was a more uniform response about what a safe substitute for default sauces might be, but overall - 🫰 🫰 ⭕️

Katy Wilson

We had a wonderful lunch here! The kabobs were delicious and service was excellent! Also, they have gluten free options on the menu! Highly recommend.

Angeline Lemus

This restaurant is truly a hidden gem and has quickly become our family’s favorite spot in the area! The staff at this restaurant are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Our server, Andrew, and the manager, Anna, went above and beyond to make our experience special. They were both incredibly caring and personable, adding a warm touch to our visit. We started with three appetizers: roti curry, spring rolls, and chicken satay. The roti curry was the standout—it completely blew us away, and we couldn’t stop coming back for more. It’s easily one of the best dishes on the menu. For entrees, we enjoyed the Yellow Curry, Tom Kha, Red Curry, Beef Noodle Stew, Pad Thai, Cashew Nut Delight, and Vegetable Stir Fry (Pad Pak). They were incredibly accommodating to dietary needs, substituting steamed veggies for rice, and we appreciated that all the curries are gluten-free, making meal selection a breeze. This spot is a new favorite for when family visits—highly recommend!

Sarah H

When we arrived they told us any sushi roll could be made gluten free. We love spicy sushi, so that's all we ordered... a while after placing our order our waitress came back to say all spicy salmon and tuna had gluten, so they'd have to change that out AND they would upcharge us for using the non spicy fish. The only option given to us was that they could put chili powder on top for some spice. Then they didn’t even do that for us. It was so incredibly disappointing, especially the fact that they were upcharging us for switching out the fish because we had a food allergy.

Bobby Gordon

Jim Smith

I had the occasion to try Terra Vino today. I was very impressed. This is hidden off Research Forest in the Woodlands. The ambience is upscale contemporary. Nice! My daughter and I went early, arriving about 5PM. I ordered the Short Rib Pappardelle Ragu, and my daughter had the Chicken Parmesan with Fettucine Alfredo. We had a started of warm Focaccia bread with Olive oil. It was fresh and very good. Our orders arrived quickly. We both tried a bit of the other entre. First, the Chicken Parmesan. The chicken was moist and flavorful with a nice Mozzarella topping. It was perfectly seasoned. It had a nice side of Fettucine Alfredo. The sauce was delicate and tasty, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. I will probably try that as my entre next trip. I ordered the Short Rib Pappardelle Ragu since it looked appealing, and it was something I had never tried. It was outstanding! The pasta was made home made fresh, as are all of their pastas with the exception of the Gluten Free options. The sauce was amazing. Tomato based, with plenty of tender short rib, along with some carrot and basil. Again, excellent flavor. It also had some mushroom pieces, which I easily set aside. (Not a problem per se, just not my preference) I asked if it was possible to hold the mushroom the next time I ordered it, and the waiter said yes, that was no problem. It's nice to know that they can handle a small mod like that! All in all, this is the best Italian I've had in a while. The portions were generous, without being overbearing. I will definitely be back!