Although, believe me, I did for many years. It is exhausting and some nights I had GF bread with peanut butter and jelly. What is good is that the longer Gluten Free is out there, the more people will take it seriously and offer options.
Now, I do want to say that it isn't just the restaurant being aware of Gluten Free and Celiac Disease, but it is usually the staff that make the difference. For example, Cheddar's in Jacksonville, NC is AMAZING, but Cheddar's in Hattiesburg, MS almost killed me. I was not surprised to hear that the MS one shut down within months of my eating there. But, back to the good stuff...
Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
2007 Western Blvd.
Jacksonville, NC
This is an amazing place to eat because of one man, Travis. He is the head chef and manager of this Cheddar's location. The Gluten Free Menu at Cheddar's is very limited and bland. What makes Travis amazing is that he was willing to discuss methods. The very first time my husband and I went out to dinner, it was to this restaurant. I explained to my server that I needed to speak with the chef to let them know the severity of my Celiac Disease (just to make me feel confident about eating there).
When Travis came out, I asked him why certain items weren't on the Gluten Free menu - like potato skins for example. He said the skins were deep fried before they were filled and baked. So, I asked him if it would be difficult to leave out that step and simply stuff and bake the skins. He said that was easy to do and now even though it isn't on the GF menu, Travis makes us baked potato skins every time we go.
We talked about certain food items like the Key West Chicken and Shrimp. I couldn't understand why grilled chicken and shrimp over rice with veggies and a fresh pineapple pico wasn't gluten free. He said it was the rice, but he could switch out some GF ginger rice for the traditional rice and viola! I'm getting off menu, custom dinner - which is DELICIOUS! We have gone back there every month on our "month-a-versary" and every time, Travis comes out and shakes our hands and it is like having dinner at the home of a family member.
Olive Garden
1415 Western Blvd.
Jacksonville, NC
This is another date place for hubby and I. Once again it is about the people. We always sit at the bar, and the same bartender has waited on us each time we've gone. Granted, the selection is very limited, so we've only gone there twice, but we've enjoyed it each time.
You see, the only thing I ever get is grilled salmon with salt and pepper. They put lemon wedges on the side and give me the house vegetable, steamed (usually asparagus or broccoli). The issue is that for less money, we can eat a better version of the same meal at home.
But, it is good to know that this Olive Garden is a place we can eat out in a pinch if we are in J-ville and find ourselves hungry. Plus my man loves the breadsticks there and delicious dishes like lobster ravioli, that pop up every now and then.
So if the stars align and they're featuring one of his favorites, while we happen to be out and about in that neck of the woods, we go there.
Dominoes
Hubert
100 Highway 172
Hubert, NC
This place is amazing in a pinch. Some nights you want pizza, but the family doesn't want your brick crust, no cheesy bread, no specialty toppings gluten free pizza. So, we order from this Dominoes. I get my GF personal pizza and the family gets their insane meat lovers giant pie with some awesome side items.
You might think it would be scary to order GF pizza in a place that hand tosses their wheat pies. It is! If you ask the people to be careful, they are. This location gets it right and to date, I have never had any cross-contamination reaction whatsoever.
Church Street Irish Pub & Deli
105 Church Street
Swansboro, NC
Fantastic place because they have so many options. First is the method of eating. You can eat out on the deck. You can eat inside the bar area, or you can take it to go from the deli. As for food options, this place uses all Boar's Head products, so their cold cuts and hot dogs are safe. Additionally, they use 100% all beef burgers.
Now, while they don't offer Gluten Free bread, they do offer to let you bring in your own GF breads or buns and will even take a buck off your order for supplying your own bread! So, I can go in and get a deliciously juicy burger, or crazy cold cut sandwich, on a bread or bun I like, and save some money doing it!
The only thing I will warn you about is the condiments. I don't believe their condiments (which are not Boar's Head) use GF vinegars. So their mayo, mustard and ketchup are not safe, so bring your own. Unfortunately this also goes for the pimentos in their house special pimento cheese. They also use a pre-made slaw dressing so skip the cole slaw as well.
For drinks at the bar, they only carry beer and wine, but they do have some hard ciders. I am a beer lover, so I am the DD when we go. If you like hard cider or wine, you'll be good to go here. Also, I'm pretty sure if I became a regular, I could talk them into keeping a six pack of GF beer in the cooler. Since we only go about once every six months, I didn't ask them to.
Friendly staff, great location too - right on the Historic Swansboro Waterfront!
The Boro Restaurant & Bar
109 Front Street
Swansboro, NC
This place was suggested to me by my former roommate and his girlfriend when they went there on a date night, and realized the restaurant offered a Gluten Free Menu.
I recently went there on a double date and they have some great selections. I ended up getting the Good Old Fashioned Burger and to my great joy, their beef is cut with BACON! They also have really delicious GF buns and the best part... GF vanilla Crème Brulée for dessert!
My friend got the Warm Spinach Salad and her husband proceeded to eat all of her leftovers while we were waiting for dessert, it was that good.
My husband got the Pork Belly Burger and he loved every bite of it because the amount of pork cut into the beef is a higher ratio than the regular burger. He said it was amazing and ate every little bite.
Amos Mosquito's (A.K.A. Skeeter's)
703 E. Fort Macon Rd.
Atlantic Beach, NC
My first foray into eating shrimp and grits was at Skeeter's.
It was another month-a-versary, and we decided to take a Harley ride. These are one of our favorite things to do together because we love the sunshine beating down on us, the wind blowing in our faces, and we get to snuggle up on the bike (since I have to hold on to stay on).
So it was a beautiful sunny day, and he asked me if I wanted to see Fort Macon. I love historic sites, especially sites of historic military events. The fort was part of the Civil War, and was even used as a Federal Prison for a time. Plus, the Fort Macon Park has it's own beach on the Atlantic!
Little did I know, when we got to Atlantic Beach, that he had planned on us getting dinner. So after checking out the Fort, and its beach, we popped over to Skeeter's. Let me tell you, you know restaurant is going to be good when there is a line across the parking lot, waiting for the doors to open. Doors open at 5pm and we got there at 4:45 and were in line behind at least 20 other people.
So, even though most of their food isn't Gluten Free, they had a wonderful appetizer of Cheesy Lobster Dip, which I was served with cucumber slices instead of the baguette slices. My husband got the Lump Crab Cakes.
Then, the main course... My first time eating Shrimp and Grits and it was magnificent!!!
The Chelsea
335 Middle St.
New Bern, NC
This is the second place I ate Shrimp and Grits. I don't know how they do it, but the Chelsea has grits made of fluffy white clouds of goodness. Their menu advertises that the grits are stone ground, so maybe that is the difference. No joke, these grits were so soft and fluffy it almost had a texture like whipped cream, only they were hearty, cheesy cheddar grits.
In fact, the grits are so good there that my husband ordered them right along with me. He actually mentioned them to me before our first dinner date. We were supposed to go to Tryon Palace and then have dinner at The Chelsea that day, but our date was cut short when he got called into work.
It always stuck in the back of my mind and so when we, and a bunch of friends, went to a brew festival, I knew we would have to go there for dinner. It was a blast and everyone raved about how good their food was.
To be honest, my own shrimp and grits recipe is based on the grits from The Chelsea, with the broth from Skeeter's. I liked aspects of both and did what I had to in order to make them perfect to my likes.
Other Restaurant Reviews Coming Soon
Chipotle Grill Jacksonville or New Bern
Ruddy Duck Tavern Morehead City
Forkful Restaurant Jacksonville, NC
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