More Gluten-Free Dining Options in the ATL!

South City Kitchen

Atlanta is known to be a very gluten-free friendly place in terms of shopping for products made specifically for the gluten-free consumer and for gluten-free dining options. Now there is another restaurant group catering to the needs of the gluten-free community here. According to this press release, Fifth Group recently implemented gluten-free menus at all of their dining establishments.

Excerpt from press release:

“As a company, we are dedicated to giving our guests as many dining options as possible – and that includes options for those with dietary restrictions,” said Fifth Group Restaurants Partner Robby Kukler. “It’s another step in striving to satisfy our current patrons and potential new diners, and with a rise in celiac disease diagnoses, I think it’s a big step that we absolutely must take,” he adds.

South City Kitchen rolled out their gluten-free menu at both the in town and Vinings locations here last year. The Shrimp and Grits dish is one  of best available in the area and the restaurant now lists Old Bay Fries as gluten-free. La Tavola, the Italian place owned by Fifth Group, doesn’t offer gluten-free pasta, but they promise no one will miss it when they see all the great things that are safe to enjoy there. It’s often difficult to enjoy Mexican cuisine when dining out gluten-free, due to the flour and corn items being fried in the same oil in many places. This seems to be the case at El Taco as well, though there are dishes made with non fried corn tortillas that gluten intolerant guests can enjoy.

After reviewing the gluten-free offerings listed in the Fifth Group press release, it seems like South City Kitchen might have the most impressive choices for gluten-free patrons. Pan-fried chicken livers, low & slow smoked pork barbeque, steamed mussels, butterbean hummus and low country pickled shrimp are all safe options for the starter course. If the South City Kitchen Chefs could used gluten-free flour for their crab bisque, that would be another great gluten-free option. Check out some of the safe entrees offered at South City Kitchen below.

• Sautéed shrimp and scallops with creamy stone-ground grits
• Seafood jambalaya
• Roasted mushroom meatloaf with smoked chili ketchup
• Pan-seared Georgia mountain trout with marinated crawfish
• Grilled molasses brined pork chop with smashed sweet potatoes and cider-Creole mustard glaze
• Coca-Cola braised beef brisket with butter poached bliss potatoes

Ecco has some of the best food available in the Atlanta area. My bet is that is the talented Chefs there wanted to create the finest gluten-free pizza around, they easily could. However, due to cross contamination issues, that isn’t an option at the amazing European bistro style eatery. On Sunday nights, Ecco offers quite a deal to gluten eating patrons. For only $15, guests can choose enjoy a personal pizza or pasta dish and a glass of wine or bottle of beer. For gluten-free patrons, they could use a gluten-free crust and/or Trader Joe’s gluten-free pasta, omit the beer offering (due to the price) and charge $20 for the gluten-free Sunday night deal.  If you don’t look out the window at Ecco, you could easily think you’re somewhere in the Mediterranean. Finer cheese selections are hard to find anywhere in the Southeast. When there for a birthday dinner once, I was underwhelmed by the gluten-free dessert options at Ecco, but they did offer something other than ice cream.

Even though the Fifth Group establishments are not offering gluten-free replacement foods like pasta, pizza and bread, the many safe options are at least interesting and not bland in any way. Places that are not serving boring meals that consist of plain meat (or fish), rice and salad to the gluten-free set are to be commended, no doubt!

Special to Erin over at Gluten-Free Fun for sending me the press release about Fifth Group!