We have all heard about gluten-free diets, either because we know someone that has to follow one or because of the attention magazines and TV shows have given to celiac disease lately. But what exactly is gluten and why can’t we all eat it and digest it?
Gluten is the common name for the proteins contained in specific grains including all forms of wheat and also other related grains such as rye, barley and triticale.
When people with celiac disease eat foods that contain gluten, it creates a toxic reaction that causes damage to their small intestine and does not allow their digestive system to properly absorb food. This means they cannot eat anything that contains or that has been contaminated by gluten. It’s a lifelong, very strict diet that has to be followed without exceptions.
While grocery and health stores offer a vast array of gluten-free products to cook with, dining out can be trickier.
Menus, servers and chefs don’t always have definite answers about whether gluten is present in a certain dish or not, and dining can easily turn into an endeavor instead of a pleasure.
Many local restaurants, however, are now offering gluten-free menus and more and more waiters and chefs are getting educated on celiac disease and gluten-free foods. Here’s a list of restaurants in Collier and Lee counties that offer celiac disease friendly options.
Here are a few gluten-free options for dining in Collier and Lee counties. Some establishments are well-trained in preventing cross-contamination. This list is a work in progress, so if you know other local options, please list them in your comments below.
■ Aurelio's Pizza
Offers gluten-free pizza at Estero location only
Gulf Coast Town Center, Estero (239) 274-8446
■ AZN Azian Cuisine
Menu's gluten-free selections are marked with a red cross, but patrons can speak to the chef for more options that can be tailored to be gluten-free. Warn the chef or waitress you can't eat gluten. Restaurant also offers gluten-free soy sauce. (Tell the sushi chef you are a celiac or can't eat gluten to ensure there is no cross-contamination in the kitchen area due to tempura, eel and soy sauce with wheat; restaurant offers wheat-free soy sauce)
9118 Strada Place, in Mercato, just north of Vanderbilt Beach Road in North Naples, (239) 593-8818
■ Bha Bha, a Persian Bistro
Ask for assistance
847 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples, (239) 594-5557
■ Bistro 821
Ask waitstaff for gluten-free list of items.
821 5th Ave. S., Naples, (239) 261-5821
■ Bonefish Grill
1500 5th Ave. S., Naples Bay Resort, Naples, (239) 417-1212
26381 U.S. 41 S. Bonita Springs (239) 390-9208
Menus available at www.westendrestaurants.com
Ask for assistance on gluten-free options
5555 U.S. 41 N., Waterside Shops, Naples; (239) 596-9112
■ Buca di Beppo
Speak with a manager if you have special dietary needs or if you have specific food allergies. See footnote on menu.
8860 U.S. 41 N., North Naples, (239) 596-6662
■ Cafe Alessio (Closed for the summer season)
Regular menu features gluten-free pizza and pasta available at additional cost. Pizza is more than $20. Desserts, too.
1485 Pine Ridge Road, North Naples, (239) 597-7500
■ The Capital Grille
Ask for assistance
9005 Mercato Drive, U.S. 41 at Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples, (239) 254-0640
■ Carrabas Italian Grill
Offers gluten-free menu.
4320 U.S. 41 N., North Naples (239) 643-7727
12631 U.S. 41 East, East Naples (239) 774-2965
27220 Bay Landing Drive, Bonita Springs, (239) 949-0981
■ Chops City Grill
Gluten-free menu available. Menus ask patrons to alert servers about any allergies, etc.
Bonita menus are at: http://www.chopscitygrill.com/
Naples: 837 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 262-4677
Bonita Springs: Brooks Grand Plaza, corner of U.S. 41 and Coconut Road, (239) 992-4677
■ Encore Bistro & Bar
2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples, (239) 596-1160
Menu has a few gluten-free options marked
■ First Watch
Gluten-free menu available. Popular for breakfast.
26381 U.S. 41, Bonita Springs, (239) 390-0554
225 Banyan Boulevard #100, Naples, (239) 434-0005
Berkshire Commons, 7163 Radio Road, East Naples, (239) 304-0746
Granada Shoppes, 1000 Immokalee Road #81, North Naples, (239) 566-7395
Marquesa Center, 13030 Livingston Road, Naples, (239) 213-1709
■ Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Gluten-free menu available.
8985 U.S. 41 N., Naples, (239) 598-2424
■ The Grill at the Ritz-Carlton Naples
280 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples, (239) 598-3300
Offers a gluten-free menu. Tell the waiter your dietary needs. Ask for gluten-free baked bread and muffins; gluten-free cookies also available on GF dessert menu.
■ Moe's Southwest Grill
Allergen menu available, lists dishes with gluten
1016 Immokalee Road, North Naples, 593-4998
6434 Naples Blvd., off Airport-Pulling Road, North Naples, 594-0065
23050 Via Villagio, Estero, 948-9071
13711 South Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, 415-6637
Gulf Center Town Center, Fort Myers, 415-6637
Allergen info: www.moes.com
■ Noodles Italian Cafe and Sushi Bar
Gluten-free menu available. Restaurant won't guarantee gluten-free sushi due to cross-contamination. Also, no gluten-free soy sauce offered so bring your own.
Mission Square Plaza, 1585 Pine Ridge Road, (239) 592-0050
■ Noodles Saigon
Many gluten-free options, ask for assistance
13500 U.S. 41 N., Naples, (239) 598-9400
■ Outback Steakhouse
Gluten-free menu available, but options mean you can't have certain ingredients and they offer no substitutes, so your dish may have no sauce or other items.
4910 U.S. 41 N. in the Tanglewood Market Place, Naples, (239) 434-7100
27230 Bay Landing Drive, Bonita Springs, (239) 948-3575
■ Pazzo! Cucina Italiana
Ask for the gluten-free menu
853 Fifth Ave. S., Naples, 434-8494
■ Pei Wei Asian Diner
Gluten-free menu available that contains five items and one side.
2355 Vanderbilt Road in The Collection at Vanderbilt shopping center, Naples (239) 596-5515
■ PF Chang's China Bistro
Gluten-free menu available
10840 U.S. 41 N., Naples (239) 596-10874
■ Pollo Tropical
See brochure listing allergens, including gluten. Request no bun and that employees pick up the grilled chicken with different tongs than they use to pick up the buns. Fajitas can be eaten with no wrap, or bring your own.
3777 U.S. 41 E., East Naples, (239) 417-2708
5065 Golden Gate Parkway, Golden Gate, (239) 304-0629
1652 NE Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, (239) 772-1644
■ Preston's Steak House
Many gluten-free choices on regular menu. Because seating is limited, reservations necessary.
109 9th Street S. Naples, (239) 435-1986
■ Real Seafood Co.
Gluten-free menu available
8960 Fontana del Sol Way, Bldg. 103, Naples (239) 591-3523
Ask for assistance
Bonita Springs: 26831 South Bay Drive, Bonita Bay Promenade, (239) 498-7697
Naples: 475 Bayfront Place, (239) 261-1416
■ Shark’s Cavern Restaurant and Bar
Ask for assistance; chef can prepare gluten-free meals; fish and steakhouse
Marquesa Plaza, 13040 Livingston Road, southeastern corner facing Pine Ridge Road, Naples, 643-1113
■ Shane's Rib Shack
Gluten-free menu; barbeque sauce is gluten free
6434 Naples Blvd., off Airport-Pulling Road, 596-0447
Coconut Pointe Mall, Estero, 495-7609
Gulf Coast Town Center, Fort Myers, 489-1135
Gluten-free menu: www.shanesribshack.com
■ Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grill
Ask for gluten-free menu
Coconut Point Mall, Estero, 498-6430
■ Sweet Mama's Island Cuisine
Chef Sheraz Roobenakhan is a European-trained chef and nutritionist who will prepare curries, Jamaican jerk chicken, Singapore noodles, and other island cuisine gluten free; catering also offered. She's currently the chef at Pizza Pasta Paradise, which is for sale.
3560 U.S. 41 E., East Naples (239) 331-8509
■ Ted's Montana Grill
8017 Plaza Del Lago Drive, in the Coconut Pointe mall, Estero, (239-947-9318)
■ Tokyo Sushi Japanese Restaurant
3743 Tamiami Trail, in the Town Centre shopping center, Naples, (239) 775-3388
Tell Sue, the sushi chef you cannot have soy sauce, tempura or eel,
■ Tommy Bahama Cafe -- Naples
1220 3rd St. South, downtown Naples, (239-643-6889)
Ask the server for the gluten-free menu. Tahitian Tuna Salad is very popular.
■ UFood Grill
Menu specifies allergens, including gluten
1201 Piper Blvd., No. 11, North Naples, (239) 598-4456
■ Uno Chicago Grill
Ask for assistance; gluten-free menu available; pizza now available
9510 Market Place Road, Fort Myers, (239) 693-8667
For information on where to dine gluten-free in Florida, go to www.celiachandbook.com; http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/850639/2008_guide_to_gluten_free_restaurant.html?cat=22; http://www.glutenfreeregistry.com/
To join Naples' gluten-free support group, contact Giselle Swan at (239) 961-3303 or email her at firstname.lastname@example.org. The group meets at 12:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at various restaurants and Whole Foods. To join the gluten-free group in Lee County and Fort Myers, call Terry Foster, who owns The Skinny Pantry, at (239) 935-5093 or email her at: email@example.com. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at her store, at 11356 S. Cleveland Ave. in South Fort Myers.