The Ultimate Guide To Allergy-Friendly Dining

Sweet Republic hasn't been named to several "best of" lists for nothing. This ice cream shop's fresh, ripe, and all-natural scoops come in 24 flavors available daily, including dairy-free sorbet, nut- and soy-free recipes, and gluten-free options, proving there is something for everyone. Sweet Republic's strategy is great for allergy sufferers, since all of their flavors are made in small batches to be sure that each one is made correctly. If you cant go to their shop, you can pick up a batch at select Whole Foods stores.

A haven for food-allergy sufferers, Nourish Café specializes in creating a comfortable dining experience for everyone. With a menu color-coded to indicate dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, egg-free, vegetarian, and vegan options, it easy to order with confidence. Nourish Café also holds a forum at the restaurant creatively titled "Freak at the Table," where they discuss their food challenges and, of course, eat. Nourish has a mix of items to accommodate allergy suffers and "regular eaters."

Love breakfast but can't consume gluten? Indulge Burger is the place for you. Indulge has a gluten-free breakfast menu with omelette options and even gluten-free English muffins, so a gluten intolerance does not have to prevent a great breakfast. And Indulge Burger doesn't stop there; they also have a gluten-free lunch menu, which offers burgers with gluten-free buns.

To satisfy a sweet tooth, Swirlz Cupcakes offers a wide variety of gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free cupcakes. From unique flavors such as mango passion fruit smoothie and mint chocolate chip to standards like red velvet, Swirlz has a rotation of flavors daily and the best part — no allergic reactions.

Opened in 1983, The Chicago Diner has a long history in vegetarian dining. They've won awards from The Chicago Reader, TLC, WGN, and Zagat, and The Chicago Diner is dedicated to offering a variety of vegetarian options and beyond.  Besides being a vegetarian oasis, the diner offers a gluten-free menu designating gluten-free-cheese, and an array of options such as a grilled portabello sandwich with gluten-free toast, and even gluten-free beers and ciders. As for dairy-free or vegan choices, mac and cheese and gyro sandwiches are on the menu. All items on the regular menu are also nut-free. So if you're vegetarian or don't mind going meatless, The Chicago Diner is the place to be.

Karyn's Café caters to dairy intolerance by offering dairy-free and egg-free pizza, sloppy Joes, enchiladas, and a range of favorites that have been edited to accommodate allergy-sufferers. The menu also lists gluten-free offerings. The café also has a menu with all raw options, from salad to pasta dishes. You can also top off your dining experience with a scoop of soy ice cream or a snowball.  

Located in the lively food district of Chelsea, Blossom is an upscale vegan restaurant offering dairy-free and egg-free options such as ravioli with cashew cream and empanadas stuffed with aioli and avocado. Blossom also serves up gluten-free options such as eggplant rolatini.

A plethora of gluten-free options are available at Bistango. Gluten- allergy sufferers are presented with a variety of gluten-free pasta dished, such as wild mushroom and ricotta ravioli or gluten-free penne. Bistango also offers several different gluten-free cakes, such chocolate, red velvet, or carrot cake. The restaurant is also conscious of nut allergies and strongly encourages diners to inform the waiter of any special needs, so the restaurant can be certain that they are accommodating their diners.

The owners of Blossom restaurant also opened V-Note, which is a vegan wine bistro. Diners are able to sip on organic wine as well as a variety of soy milkshakes and fresh juice blends. Diners can pair their drink choice with gluten-free options such as mushroom risotto or a soy bacon cheeseburger.  Allergy-sufferers will be able to dine and socialize in an environment that is safe for dairy, gluten, egg, and most nut allergies.

Soft Serve Fruit Company mixes are all made with the same base – filtered water, fresh fruit, and organic cane sugar every batch is free of the most common allergens including gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, and egg. Soft Serve Fruit Company is dedicated to serving fruit in a simple natural low-calorie way.

The Soft Serve Fruit Company mixes are all made with the same base — filtered water, fresh fruit, and organic cane sugar — and every batch is free of the most common allergens including gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, and egg. The Soft Serve Fruit Company is dedicated to serving fruit in a simple and natural low-calorie way.

Mellow Mushroom is a pizza café that is extremely cautious during preparation in order to comfort those with allergies. They not only have a gluten-free menu, offer egg- and soy- free options, and denote all allergens present in their dishes, but they also train employees to prevent cross-contamination. Mellow Mushroom announces on their site that their chefs change aprons, wash hands, use sanitized cooking utensils, and make sure that the pizzas are all placed on sheet pans so they will not transfer allergens.

The Vegan Yacht is actually not much of a yacht at all. It is more like a stand with outdoor seating, but they do hold one truth — they serve dairy-, egg-, and gluten-free options at an affordable price.

Kerbey Lane is committed to offering dishes that appeal to a diverse crowd of diners, including those with allergy setbacks.  From dairy- and egg-free pancakes to green chili fries with vegan queso, Kerbey Lane accommodates their diners with and without allergies. It is great place to dine with "regular eaters," since Kerbey Lane has a vast menu.

Tu-Lu's Bakeryis a gluten-free bakery offering special- order cakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, paninis, and other baker's treats. Tu-Lu's also offers vegan (dairy- and egg-free) baked goods as well. Almost anything a gluten-free sweet tooth can crave is offered at Tu-Lu's.

Pizza is usually not an option for those who suffer from dairy and egg allergies, but at Blackbird Pizzeria it is not a problem. Blackbird Pizzeria specializes in vegan pizza, which means pizza for everyone, even allergy sufferers.

Bourbon Blue is an American-style restaurant with a bit of inspiration from New Orleans, and they are cooking with allergies in mind. Having a gluten-free and dairy-free menu is how they accommodate allergy sufferers. Their staff is familiar with several food allergies and they specify in their menu that to accommodate any dietary accommodations, you can speak with the chef. Now that's our kind of service.

Healthy, raw, and organic are just a few words that describe Sun Café. The café is dedicated to providing healthy options but is also mindful of food allergies. Diners can pretty much tailor their order to be prepared with their dietary specifications.

Recognized by USA Today and Zagat, Native Foods' menu is entirely dairy-free, "even the mayo." They serve up nachos with dairy-free cheese, and many other favorites. The restaurant even has a separate menu with  soy-free options such as roasted chile tacos. The restaurant did not stop there; it also has a separate menu with nut-free and gluten-free choices.

The Misfit is a swanky restaurant and bar that serves up comfort food daily. They can accommodate gluten, dairy, and egg allergies without compromising on the taste. Allergy sufferers can join the other "misfits" and have a lively dining experience.

Organic, whole-grain, and preservative-free, Breakaway Bakery's goodies are a much healthier way to satisfy a sweet craving without triggering an allergy. In addition to being all-natural, Breakaway bakes gluten-free products that have 400 percent less starch than usual baked goods. They also bake dairy- and egg-free products such as cocoa cinnamon donuts. Breakaway also offers soy- and tree-nut free products, but advises customers to call ahead for those options.

If you are in Seattle, and need a scone, a bowl of soup, or even mac and cheese, you can swing by the Flying Apron, which is gluten-, dairy-, and egg-free. This bakery and café has a little of everything, from custom cakes to West African yam peanut soup.

Want to dine alfresco and allergy-free? Graces 5 offers an outdoor healing garden where you can munch on gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and peanut-free options. Graces 5 has removed all ingredients that can trigger those allergies from their kitchen and has also designed a custom food allergy profile that diners can print out and bring in with them. This profile will be entered into the computer and your server will give you a menu with recommended menu options. Graces 5 provides a customized dining experience minus food allergens.

Gluten-free dressings, croutons, and breads are all available at Lilit Café. The gluten-free menu includes choices from crab cakes to pizza. At Lilit, gluten allergy sufferers have just as many options to choose from as the other diners.

At Chef Geoff's, modification can be tailored to almost anyone to prevent allergic reactions. Along with offering a gluten-free menu, the staff is trained to prevent cross-contamination. All you have to do is alert your server and they will recommend the options for you.

Craving a chicken provolone sandwich? Well, at Red Velvet Café you can have it even if you don't eat dairy — they have a soy cheese option that can be substituted in their sandwiches and other recipes, and they can also offer gluten-free choices. So go ahead and order the spicy chicken quesadilla, because at Red Velvet Café you will not miss out.

At City O' City, the menu notes which items are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and which items contain nuts, to make it easy for allergy sufferers to order with ease. The diner offers gluten-free waffles, and burgers and wings without dairy additives. Also, everything that comes from their bakery is egg- and dairy-free. To top off your meal, grab a cocktail to celebrate the peace of mind you feel after ordering an allergen-free meal.

Egg allergies are not a worry at Watercourse — you can substitute eggs with a tofu option. Menu items that are gluten-free and those that contain nuts are clearly labeled to aid those with allergies. Watercourse is a place to relax about your food allergy and enjoy their art gallery instead.

If you are in Denver and craving pizza, The Rebellion Pizza is the place to go, as it offers dairy-free and egg-free pizza options with a variety of allergy-friendly toppings. There is also an option of gluten-free crust. Burgers can easily be made without dairy products as well. So if you want party food, you can swing by Rebellion or have it delivered.

Customize your pizza at none other than Your Pie. The staff at this pizzeria not only follows procedures to prevent cross-contamination, but also has a list of customizable allergen-free options. They offer gluten-free dough and they can substitute the cheese for dairy allergy sufferers. 

Serving unprocessed and all-natural food, Black Bean Co. is a self-proclaimed energy food restaurant that also offers a variety of allergen-free foods. With a host of Thai, Mexican, and American-style entrées, dairy, soy, and egg allergies are not a challenge. Options such as The Green Beach burrito or the Super Asian wrap are dairy- and egg-free. The restaurant also has a plethora of soy-free menu options.