Top 20 Gluten-Free Gems to Discover in the Highlands

Jourdana Webber

I have symptomatic celiac disease and this restaurant was a delicious and safe experience! They have a separate toaster for Gf bread and understand celiac disease and avoiding cross contact. I ordered the pastrami hash and it was easily modified by cooking the potatoes in a clean pan versus flash frying. the oat milk is not celiac safe bc not made w certified Gf oats/ doesn’t have the certified GF logo. My husband and grandpa are not celiac and didn’t leave any food on their plates- they ordered the commuter bike breakfast. Also, the jam is out of this world delightful. If you are celiac or have a gluten intolerance, can eat safely here and it’s def worth it! Taylor was an excellent server and so dang kind!

Michael Panyard

Glad they had gluten free options (good cauliflower crust) but for the surcharge it would be nice if they cut the pieces all the way through (was a bit tough to cut with knife and fork). The toppings were delicious and the Ceasar salad was great (our family of 4 was able to have a nice serving each by splitting the small). The service was a bit slow, but it did seem busy. Very friendly and would definitely come back again

Jessica

Loved the gluten free pizza (chicken pesto was Amazing!!) and live music 🎶

Shannon Newell

Ordered takeout - 1 pepperoni and 2 personal gluten free margerhita. They were very busy. Ready on time but just so so

Clarissa Emily

Beautiful Venue with even more beautiful breakfast pastries & desserts! Plenty of gluten free and sometimes even vegan options! The perfect spot to start your morning, or have a short rest in the afternoon after your shopping or hiking. A must see/experience in Highlands!

Britiney McCombs

Had lunch at Madisons on the Fourth of July - while that can be a very busy day in Highlands we were greeted with smiles, great service from our waiter and delicious food! They were able to provide gluten free alternatives and amazing desserts! Don't skip out on the espresso martini - Highly recommend!!

Nikki B

This place is a hidden gem! Compared to the town that's just a walk away, the pizzas were reasonably priced - and delicious! Our family is gluten free and they had a great cauliflower crust. Everyone was satisfied.

Neil Natic

Perfect location right on the main strip. We stopped in between lunch and dinner rushes. They were supposedly full but had some empty tables. Certainly could be a staffing issue. We only wanted drinks and an appetizer / meal for a party of four. Low maintenance. Food was good, had gluten free options (manager came by to discuss with my wife) and drinks were solid. The rest of this review is regarding service which is unfair due to their hesitation in seating us. with that said our server just didn't come by very often. I had to go inside and find her to even pay. We had to track down our server at all times. Drinks went empty, when you ordered it took forever and we had overall poor service. I want to be clear - they were questioning whether they would seat us....this review is with the appropriately low bar but it was pretty tough. I would without a doubt return. It's likely a one off situation.

Erin Phillips

Ashamed to say it took more than a dozen years of residency in Highlands for me to finally have a meal at this lovely establishment. It was worth the wait but also, don’t wait, because you’ll kick yourself. Our table shared several appetizers, all absolutely delicious and we enjoyed two of the menu offered entrees as well as one of the night’s specials. Seafood, beef and pork were all represented and all were cooked exceptionally with interesting but extremely complimentary sides. Each diner in my party also enjoyed a perfectly made cocktail as well as an excellent per glass pour from the well-appointed wine options. Desert was a shared crème brûlée that was nearly transcendent in its perfect flavor with the texture of gossamer. If gossamer was made of creamy velvet. Portion sizes were perfect and the staff was exemplary. I had the added bonus of dining with a friend of the owner, who made time to stop by our table twice to say hello and make sure we were pleased with everything. She even remembered one of my companion’s gluten allergy and was ready with a better appetizer option when we accidentally ordered a dish that would have been problematic. The host was friendly and at one point, called the entirety of the small dining rooms attention for a brief acknowledgment of all the special occasions being hosted that night (turned out nearly every table had a birthday girl at it - including ours!) The vibe was supremely comfortable and lively, but not too loud to prevent decent conversation amongst our table. I have been informed that dining on the patio (once warm weather returns) is an enchanting experience - one I will certainly not wait another dozen years to enjoy! Prices were comparable to all finer dining restaurants in the Highlands-Cashiers area though I believe Lakeside provides more value for the dollars spent than many others on the Plateau. It has been a long time since a dinner out has left me completely content with the experience but Lakeside hit all the right notes for food, drink, service, and atmosphere. The little restaurant on the shore of Highland’s Lake Harris knows what they’re doing, and are an excellent representation of the best of Highland’s culinary offerings. Seamless professionalism, remarkable culinary execution, unpretentious charm.

Jourdana Webber

I am symptomatic celiac and was able to eat safely! Staff is knowledgeable and able to modify dishes if necessary. Highly recommend especially if you are gluten free. I shared the paella with my husband, modified the potatas bravos , and enjoyed the Spanish shrimp dish!

Elena Andro

Their soup was so fabulous I was sorry I’d offered to share a bowl. The pork sandwich had nice crunch and well balanced flavors. It was especially helpful that they offer gluten-free bread for my husband.

Michael Panyard

My family and I were only in this area for a few days on vacation and after eating here once - we all were in agreement we needed to have one more meal there before we left town. While our first night was busy and we ended up taking it to go because of lack of seating, the service was very friendly and quick considering the quality of food we got. They also were very gluten free friendly and helpful finding options we could have. The brisket was my personal favorite, but my two kids split their BBQ nachos...which were enormous and the queso was killer - I might have stollen a few chips. My wife also says this was the best chicken she's ever had - barely tried the sauces because the chicken alone was so flavorful. I also found out (too late) they have their own bourbon which I'll need to go back and try some day. I personally loved the Mac and cheese as my side of choice (not gluten free). Loved it so much I got souvenir hoodie. Don't pass this place up!

Ann Mc

Barbara Lee

Jourdana Webber

When I got diagnosed celiac, I was afraid I'd never feel safe eating at an Italian restaurant again . Let this restaurant put your fears to rest. They understand celiac and gluten free and are willing to accommodate many items on the menu. They have GF penne they can substitute and they know to cook it in a brand new pot of water as to avoid cross contact. I got a truffle, pasta special and I wanted to cry it was so delicious. I also got bread service! Their Gf bread comes packaged separately and they heated it up safely for me avoiding cross contact. I highly recommend for anyone with celiac (or without!) My husband (not celiac) got the Mediterranean pasta dish and my grandfather (not celiac) got the osso bucco. While it is pricey, the taste and serving size are exceptional. A family-owned gem you have to try.

sue markham

The Angus hamburger was cooked to perfection, well-seasoned, and juicy! The gluten-free bun was a welcomed option - no additional fee. French fries were hot and delicious.

David Morgan

Emily Williams

Sonia Palacios

Erin Hubbard