When the Atlanta location of Rosa Mexicano opened several years ago, word quickly spread that the menu there was very gluten-free and friendly. The gluten-free training of the staff was slightly shaky at first, but servers who couldn’t answer questions about gluten-free options quickly referred to the chef so they could relay accurate information to gluten-free patrons. I’ve enjoyed lunches with gluten-free friends and joined gluten-eating friends for brunch at Rosa Mexicano many times.
For whatever reason, I’ve never been there for dinner, but all my meals there have been both gluten-free and delicious. When I found out that the company was rolling out a new gluten-free menu, I made a date to meet a friend there for lunch. The regular menu at Rosa Mexicano is very gluten-free friendly. In fact, there are more items on the menu that are gluten-free than ones that aren’t. Even so, after checking out the numerous gluten-free choices, I asked the server if I could have something that was not listed as gluten-free. It appeared from the description of the Quesadilla de Pollo that it could easily be made gluten-free if made with corn tortillas instead of flour. The server checked with the chef and said they could easily use corn tortillas to make me a gluten-free quesadilla.
While some people might not be comfortable asking for a special request meal when so much on the menu is already gluten-free, I feel that since I often did that when I ate gluten, there is no reason to stop now. If something can’t be prepared gluten-free, chefs will let you know and you just order something else. The key is to always have a second or third menu selection to fall back on, just in case what you want can’t be prepared gluten-free.
My chicken quesadilla made with fresh corn tortillas was simply delicious! The chips with red sauce we noshed on were as fabulous as ever. I think I could drink the red sauce from a mug – it’s that incredible! We skipped the guacamole which is prepared tableside, but it’s also incredible if you like fresh guacamole, of course. After we finished lunch, our server brought us out a lovely light dessert, compliments of the chef. It was a house made watermelon sorbet with fresh fruit in a light sauce and it was absolutely incredible! This is a seasonal dessert so it’s not always available. As it turned out, one of the owners of the company in NYC actually treated us to our meal that day.
Without question, lunch at Rosa Mexicano in Atlanta is one of the best values around. You get creative dishes prepared with fresh ingredients for the same price as many places here charge for over-processed bland meals. There are locations of Rosa Mexicano in the following cities:
- NEW YORK, NY (FIRST AVENUE)
- NEW YORK, NY (LINCOLN CENTER)
- NEW YORK, NY (UNION SQUARE)
- HACKENSACK, NJ
- WASHINGTON, DC
- NATIONAL HARBOR, MD
- ATLANTA, GA
- MIAMI, FL
- LOS ANGELES, CA
- SOUTH BEACH, FL
*The meal reviewed above was provided to me free of charge. As always, my opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any outside sources.
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