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Review: Uncle Maddio’s in Edgewood, Atlanta

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A year ago, I wrote about my experience at Uncle Maddio’s, and how much I loved it, and it’s dedication to serving safe gluten-free pizza. A few weeks ago, an Uncle Maddio’s opened right around the corner from me.  I was thrilled, now I could enjoy this yummy gluten-free pizza regularly.

As luck would have it, I was invited to the opening night, and while I was super excited to be one the of the first to try their new location, I can’t deny I was also a bit nervous.  I was nervous because I didn’t want to be a guinea pig for people trying to navigate and learning how to prepare a gluten-free pizza with minimal risk of cross-contamination.  In addition to this, the opening night was packed.  A setting I try to avoid when I want to be sure the people in the kitchen and servers are handling my order carefully.  My nerves were eased when I spoke with the owner and she assured me that they have been trained and that the main person making pizzas that night was an experienced pizza maker from another Uncle Maddio’s location.

Logo_Uncle_MaddiosI decided to trust it, and ordered my pizza.  I love how the format is “Chipotle-style”, casual and family-friendly.  You can order from one of the many speciality designed pizzas, or you can go down the line and choose the toppings to make your own unique pizza.  There is a huge menu board that lists the specials and toppings available.  My family all ordered gluten-free pizzas, because honestly they all like the crusts better, even though they don’t have to eat gluten-free like me.

I told the pizza maker I was going to have a gluten-free pizza, and thankfully he changed his gloves without being asked, as well as, alerting the next people in the pizza line to change their gloves as well.  Since I have been to an Uncle Maddio’s before, I was familiar with what toppings were safe, but as we know, ingredients always change, so I asked again.  I was told that all veggies were OK, but he seemed a little fuzzy as to all that was safe after that.   I ordered a pizza with red sauce, broccoli, green olives and tofu. My daughter ordered her favorite of tofu and pepperoni – such a great contradiction!

All in all, it was a great experience, even if I was a little nervous in the crowded, just-opened atmosphere.  The leftovers the next day were just as delicious!

One change I would make, if I could, would be to mark the gluten-free toppings on the menu board rather than leaving us guessing.  The salads are marked, so why not mark the pizza toppings?

I can’t wait to go again!

Review: Gluten-Free at Bravo

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My weekend was full of celebration for my birthday and my mom’s birthday – how cool is it that we share a birthday?  We ended up eating out for three meals, with Bravo being one of those restaurants.  I hadn’t been to Bravo in years, in fact, I am not sure that I have dined there since starting the gluten-free diet.

The gluten-free menu is decently sized with options for salads, entrees and pasta.  Since we were there for lunch I chose a salad with grilled salmon.

IMG_4497Doesn’t that look wonderful?  The salad is “Served with field greens, tomatoes, grilled asparagus, Feta and a balsamic vinaigrette”.  I was pleased with the freshness and flavor of this salad.  The salmon was cooked perfectly and I love the addition of grilled asparagus to a salad!

The one thing lacking from Bravo is a dessert option for the gluten-free diner.  The menu does have crème brulee and ice cream on it, but neither are included on the gluten-free menu. It would be nice to see one or both added in the future.  Bravo has locations across the US. Visit the website to see locations nearest you.

Have you dined gluten-free at Bravo?  Please share your experience below.

Red Lobster Gluten-Free Options

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 15 Comments

I can’t believe there is a chain restaurant out there that I haven’t tried since I have been gluten-free, but there is: Red Lobster.  I guess I knew they had a few gluten-free options, but never really stopped to see what they offered.

In addition to the obvious gluten-free items like steamed shellfish, baked fish, baked potato and plain salad there are many other options such as:

  • Shrimp scampi
  • Bacon-wrapped shrimp  with mashed potatoes
  • Blackened fish
  • Coleslaw
  • New York Style cheesecake with strawberries

There are some other items marked gluten-free, like chicken wings and French fries, but it is necessary to check to see if a common fryer is used at the location where you are dining.  The allergen menu is updated on a regular basis to ensure that if anything has changed it is updated.

Just because an establishment offers a gluten-free menu doesn’t mean you don’t need to ask questions regarding preparation and precautions taken to eliminate the chance of cross-contamination.  Here are some questions that should always be asked:

  • Is there a dedicated fryer?  Fries, tortilla chips and chicken wings are not gluten-free if they are fried with breaded items.
  • How are gluten-free items on the grill/flat top kept from coming in contact with gluten?
  • Is it possible to cook the gluten-free items in a separate pan?
  • If there is gluten-free pasta offered, is it cooked in a dedicated pot?
  • Is the salad prepared in a separate dish to avoid being tossed with any crouton remnants?
  • Are separate utensils used to plate the gluten-free food?
  • Are vegetables a part of your entrée?  Ask how they are prepared to ensure any butter sauce or seasonings are gluten-free and that they are not cooked in pasta water.
  • If there are gluten-free bread or bun options, how are they toasted/warmed?
  • If you are eating breakfast and ordering omelets or scrambled eggs, ask if pancake batter is used to add fluffiness.
  • If there is gluten-free pizza on the menu, is it baked separately or on a dedicated pan?  Is the sauce and toppings kept separate from the non-gluten-free sauce and toppings?
  • Desserts – flourless chocolate cake isn’t gluten-free if the pan is dusted with flour; ice cream should be scooped with a clean scoop that hasn’t come in contact with gluten, crème brulee is gluten-free until a cookie is stuck out of the top of it.

The list above is not all-inclusive, but should give you a good place to start when dining out gluten-free.  Always remember if you don’t feel comfortable eating someplace, leave and go to another restaurant. Don’t worry about hurting feelings of any staff members, your health comes first.  I try to research new-to-me restaurants in advance to limit some of the issues that may arise and make a mental list of questions I want to get answers to before I get settled in.

Have you eaten gluten-free at Red Lobster?  Have you tried the New York Cheesecake?

What is your number one tip for dining out gluten-free?

(source)

Review: Uncle Maddio’s Gluten-Free Pizza

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 2 Comments

Typically, at home, we make our own pizzas, that way we can choose our own toppings, and I can be sure what we are eating is 100% gluten-free.  But, this weekend was my daughter’s birthday and she really wanted to go out for pizza, and with how busy I have been, I figured it would be less stressful on me, and nice to get out and not have to cook and clean. The one pizza place I knew of that carries gluten-free pizza, in Atlanta, was closed Sunday, so I asked for some suggestions, and a friend mentioned Uncle Maddio’s in the Toco Hills area of Atlanta.

As usual, I called them beforehand just to confirm they have gluten-free pizza and if they make their own crust or they bring it in from an outside vendor (they bring it in from an outside vendor), and their procedure for making gluten-free pizzas. I felt pretty comfortable with their responses, so we decided to try it out.

Uncle Maddio’s is located in a shopping center but was very cheerful once we walked in the door, and had a nice area to dine outside.  Since it was my first visit, I had to take in the very large menu before ordering.  At Uncle Maddio’s, you order at the counter, and like many burrito places (Uncle Maddio’s was actually created by the founder of Moe’s Southwest Grill), they get your crust, and you go down the line telling the server what you would like on your pizza. There are many signature pizza combinations you can choose from, or you can go solo and create your own unique concoction.  All of the ingredients looked extremely fresh, and there was a lot of topping choices – over 20! Their pizza sauce is made from scratch, and they use local vegetables and organic spinach, and greens. They also use hormone-free, free-range chicken, and all-natural Angus rib eye steak.  Along with pizzas they also offer large, fresh salads.  Panini is on the menu as well, but not an option for those of us who eat gluten-free.

They were extremely helpful in answering any gluten-free questions I had and told me before doing gluten-free pizzas they always change their gloves and get the gluten-free crust out of a separate area.  They also said if I wanted they would get the ingredients out of separate bins – so if I didn’t want them getting cheese out of the same container as they got cheese for a previous gluten-filled pizza, that was no problem, and they would get it out of a new container.  Just be sure to ask them to do this, as they will not do it automatically if this is what you want.

The gluten-free crust only comes in the 9″ individual size, so we each ordered our own pizzas. My daughter ordered simple and had a pepperoni and cheese pizza. My husband choose tofu, portobello mushroom, broccoli, and jalapeño; and I had spinach, artichoke hearts, green olives, and bacon.  They looked fabulous..and tasted even better!  I was with other family members who ordered pizza on the regular gluten-filled crust, and I have to admit….the gluten-free one looked better!  It was thin and crispy and tasted great!

The food (and the price) was great, and we will definitely be coming back for pizza night this Friday! I have a feeling we will become regulars.  This is a great place for children and offers a kid’s pizza deal with a 6″ pizza with one topping and a drink.  It seems to be a popular place, so plan accordingly, the line was growing at 5:30 on a Sunday when we were there.

Review: Red Robin’s Gluten-Free Buns

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 15 Comments

We have dined at Red Robin many times since following the gluten-free diet.  In fact, it was one of the first places where I felt comfortable eating gluten-free.  Despite the fact that the gluten-free buns were just recently added to their menu, they have always had a nice selection of menu items without gluten.

It was just announced in November that Red Robin would be adding Udi’s Gluten-Free buns to select locations across the US.  Our local Red Robin just recently started serving them, so I knew I had to get over there to sample them as soon as I could.  I know it may sound a little silly, as I have eaten many of Udi’s gluten-free buns/products in the past.  However, just the idea of ordering a burger or chicken sandwich in a restaurant and having it come on a bun that is safe for me to eat is too exciting for me to pass up.

We headed out last night to meet up with my dad, stepmom, and sister for a belated birthday dinner for me.  When they asked where I wanted to go to eat, Red Robin popped into my head immediately.  I went in with the intention of having a burger but ended up ordering the chicken Caprese sandwich.  I had ordered the same chicken sandwich protein-style (wrapped in lettuce) the last time I had been to Red Robin and fell in love.  Having the bun option certainly made the choices harder, but that was something that I was thrilled about.  If you have been following the gluten-free diet for any amount of time, especially before it became so mainstream, you know what I mean.  It used to be that there were few options if any.  There were many times when I felt lucky to get a plain burger, baked potato, and salad with oil & vinegar.IMG_0372

Doesn’t that look amazing?  If you have previously dined at Red Robin, you know that the baskets that the food comes in are typically red.  The yellow baskets are for orders that are gluten-free or have some other kind of allergen red flag.  Red Robin does a wonderful job of catering to those with all kinds of sensitivities, not just gluten-free.  The allergen lists are updated frequently to ensure that any changes in procedures or manufacturers are noted to the best of their abilities.

My sandwich was outstanding! The bun was toasted perfectly and held up to the many items that were stuffed inside –chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, and tomatoes. I ordered the pesto aioli (also gluten-free) on the side and ended up dipping my fries in it. I was full about halfway through this meal, but couldn’t help but finish my sandwich because it was so good!

The one thing that Red Robin is missing from their gluten-free menu is dessert. Of course, I don’t usually have room for dessert, but it would add to their already great options for those who are gluten-free. Red Robin has locations across the country, though not all of them may be serving the buns yet. Make sure to call ahead if you are going in specifically to try the buns, as I would hate for you to be disappointed.

Have you had a chance to try the buns at Red Robin yet?  What did you think?