Top 6 Gluten-Free Spots to Discover in Southside Village, Sarasota

cgeorg14

These folks have a gluten free crust and a gluten free cauliflower crust! Both are good but I prefer the gluten free crust over the gluten free cauliflower crust. Great spot with lots of locals, and the gluten free cheesecake is delicious!

Lea Mueller

In the past decade we have visited Libby's countless times and always been relatively pleased. In recent years, my mother and I were diagnosed with gluten and lactose allergies. We were excited to find Libby's on a GF guide and to return to the restaurant, however we were disappointed by our visit. The first thing we noticed is that there were no allergens listed on the menu. This was surprising given Florida's Food Allergy Awareness Act. Interestingly enough, they did list gluten free pasta as a substitute for regular pasta. We attempted to figure out which dishes were gluten free but our waitress was unable to provide concrete answers, even when returning from asking the kitchen. You would think that there would be a gluten free pasta sauce available given that you can order GF pasta but you would be wrong. None of the sauces were gluten free and neither were any of the other dishes on the menu. The only food option we were presented with was the marinara sauce from the spaghetti and meatballs dish. Of course, without the meatballs since those are made with breadcrumbs. If there were any other GF options, our waitress was unable to appropriately communicate this. We decided to end our dining experience early since two of our three diners were unable to find anything on the menu to accommodate their dietary needs. In an age where dietary restrictions are becoming more common, it's a shame to see a prominent restaurant like Libby's close the door to the massive community of this kind.

Alexandra Archer

The blueberry streusel gluten free keto doughnut was shockingly good. Hard to believe really. My husband had a breakfast sandwich that was also great. Atmosphere inside was calm and exactly what we wanted.

Aly Ledene

What a gem! This place is adorable. Great place to go alone or with a group. My wife has celiac and we were concerned about that darn wheat in the tea. Well, the owner brought out the book from the supplier and according to their site none of their teas have gluten. This meant my wife could enjoy nearly every drink on the menu. The tea was delicious!!! But the atmosphere was even better.

Colleen Maguire

The Serving Spoon is like a second home to me! I live in the neighborhood and eat here 3-5 times a week. The food and service are fabulous. I always check out the specials board, especially on the weekends. At first glance, it seems like an old fashioned coffee shop, but let me tell you, the menu has everything from traditional breakfast to creative (or create your own) omelettes to huevos rancheros to fabulous French toast, waffles, pancakes, blintzes and bagels and lox. And that's just for breakfast. For lunch they have homemade soups, a great variety of huge salads, cold and grilled sandwiches, and even delicious burgers. Want a healthy meal? Try the quinoa power starter, the morning protein bowl, an egg white power wrap, avocado toast, a healthy salad, or drink your meal by ordering one of the delicious juices from the juice bar menu. I don't know where to start with the specials. There's always a "Sampler" which could start with a unique fruit covered pancake, grilled steelcut oats with agave, or stuffed French toast followed by 2 breakfast meats, eggs, and home fries. Their corned beef hash is actually made in house, not canned hash that looks like dog food!!!! My favorite special is the shrimp and grits. OMG it's better than what a fancy seafood restaurant would serve. I could go on. Oh! I almost forgot the baked goods: muffins, sticky buns, biscuits, and more, and even gluten free raspberry almond bars. Their locally sourced coffee is out of this world. AND they recently got a license to serve beer, wine, mimosas, and bloody mary's in case you're in the mood to celebrate! But the best part is the servers in this family run restaurant. Natasha is the owner and there is usually one or two of her 5 children working there. Plus the nicest gals you ever want to meet. During the "season" it's packed, but never more than a short wait. Sarasota Memorial Hospital is around the corner and many staff members eat daily at the Spoon, as well as Sarasota’s finest from SPD. You will be treated like a local and by the second or third visit, they'll know your name! EAT HERE!

Gwenda Kelty

The atmosphere was inviting and comfortable with couches, high-back chairs, lighting and decor and great music playing. Food tastes amazing and so many gluten -free options! Will definitely be coming back.