Hello to everyone in and around the Lehigh Valley who is looking for a good place to eat or drink and not get attacked by the dreaded "glutonium"! I've recently had to make the switch since it would appear that I have Celiac disease. There are lots of reasons for avoiding gluten, you could be doing it to lose weight, just generally feel healthy, or maybe it is a real allergy and you want desperately to steer clear. I have always loved dining out with friends, good food, and lots of carbs, so this has been a challenge. I've been struggling to find good info. on what places are/are not gluten-free online, so I thought I would share some of my favorite places to eat and still feel good. :) #1 Biryani City, Allentown, PA (Indian) I think my favorite thing about coming here is I don't feel like I'm giving up any good food ordering from a 4 item gluten-free menu. Everything I've had here is delicious! I can still order here and enjoy something new and exciting that I haven't tried before (granted I did not grow up eating Indian food). I think the dosai is one of my new favorite foods. It is made from rice and lentils. It is very thin, similar to a crepe, but with a different taste/texture. You can order it filled with a potato mixture which I highly recommend. It comes with 3 different and delicious dipping sauces. It is enough for a group appetizer, but I could eat an entire one myself. The biryani dishes are all excellent as well. Their rice is superb! The butter chicken is delicious. I am sitting here, plotting my next visit now, dreaming of dosai... #2 Mr. Lee's Noodles, Easton Public Market This place was a favorite of mine before I found out about the allergy. Both Biryani and Mr. Lee’s rank very high for me. I had to list Biryani in the top spot simply because there are far more options there. Lee’s can accommodate rice noodles substitutions and will prepare your meal in an allergy safe environment if you request it. I love that this is still an option for me. It really satisfies my desire to have some delicious noodles without feeling like I'm sacrificing. This is also really a good location, The Public Market, since there are many food options there. If you are with a group and varied tastes/needs, you'll almost certainly find something that everyone will like. #3 White Orchid, Center Valley Promenade Shops (Thai) There are several Thai places around that I believe offer gluten-free. I think Thai Avenue in Allentown does as well. I haven't been there yet though. We did try Thai-Thai II in Bethlehem, the gf options are pretty limited at Thai Thai II and not much more exciting than standard pad-thai. White Orchid can be a bit pricey, but it is a nice place to go for a special occasion/date night and I don't have to feel like I'm sacrificing good flavors/variety. Their menu is labeled so you don't have to guess as to which items are prepared gluten-free and which are not. Their sauces and rice are delicious. There are a nice amount of menu choices and the drink list is varied as well. They even have a gluten-free beer on the drink menu! :o I would recommend this as a good special occasion spot.
#4 The Shelby, Allentown, PA (American)
This is another good place for a group because there is a wide variety of options. It is also a bit pricey though. Their menu is labeled for what items can be prepared gf. You should inform your waiter if you need it prepared for an allergy, they will accommodate or inform you if there are portions of the meal they will have to omit (i.e. breadcrumbs, etc.). The last time I can I ordered the paella and it was sooo good! It was a huge platter, so I definitely felt that it measured up to the price tag. I really tried to only eat about half of it and take the rest home, but it was too good! It’s menu items like that, which make me still enjoy dining out. Great cocktails here as well. They also have a nice Sunday brunch with a fair amount of gf options.
#5 Youell’s Oyster House, Allentown, PA (Seafood)
Seafood is a pretty safe bet where gf is concerned. There are a lot of menu options to choose from, which I always appreciate. I am sure there are other seafood restaurant options that are good picks, please let me know your thoughts. This one is my favorite. Standard menu fare is pretty good, but my favorite items are typically the specials. I loved the grilled salmon special the last time we were there. It is probably best to have a reservation on a crowded weekend night. Hubs and I showed up without one and were perfectly happy with the cozy bar seating. They have seafood towers, which yes we did order one time. They are really cool looking, but probably not the most economical item on the menu. Great lobster, crab, and all around great seafood. Be sure you can have the specials prepared gf before ordering.
Check out my next post for my runner's up.
Wishing you good eats far far away from the dreaded glutonium.
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