Knowing Where To Eat When You Are Gluten-Free In Rome, Georgia, can be challenging. I hope to help. Please keep in mind I can only tell you about my experience. It is up to you to ask questions and make careful choices when eating out.
By now, you have probably heard the term Gluten or Gluten-Free. It has been a popular subject for a few years now as people are trying to make the world aware of gluten’s effects on some people.
My Story
Several years ago, I was not in the best health. I had just turned 30 and was taking nine different medicines. I was a complete wreck. I had acne, joint pain, female problems, stomach issues, migraines once a week, and more. I learned to live with my problems but wondered why I had them and if there was a link between the different symptoms. My mom discovered that people could be allergic or intolerant to wheat, specifically, the gluten found in wheat. There is also Celiac disease which is an immune disease. When a person with Celiac disease eats gluten, it damages their small intestine.
I decided to give it a try. I cut out gluten from my diet completely. After two weeks, I felt much better, and within six months, I was down to two medicines. All of my crazy symptoms were gone! Eating Gluten-Free was a life changer for me. A couple of times in the first few years, I accidentally got gluten in something I ate, and I instantly noticed my symptoms returning. I must admit that after years of eating a strict Gluten-Free diet, I took a break. It was the first time my symptoms came back slowly. But they did come back, and I had to go back to a strict Gluten-Free diet.
Dining Out
Eating out is tricky. At first, when I would ask the waitress/waiter for a gluten-free menu, I would get a strange look. Then they would disappear and return with a menu, but it has improved over time. The Internet and restaurant apps have been the best help for chain restaurants. They give you a list of what is gluten-free at each restaurant.
Craving Gluten-Free Pizza
Once I started eating Gluten-Free, pizza was one of the first indulgent foods I found. Mellow Mushroom has a Gluten-Free pizza. Gondola Pizza, formerly Gondoliers, has Gluten-Free pizza. Domino’s now has Gluten-Free crust, and Pizza Hut is working on getting Gluten-Free crust in every location. I am watching Pizza Hut to find out when it is available.
I Love Mexican Restaurants
It has been surprisingly easy to eat at Mexican Restaurants. They don’t use many gluten products except flour tortillas; you can always substitute them for corn. My experience has been good with Mexican Restaurants even when I first started years ago when eating Gluten-Free was still new to the world.
Big Chain Restaurants
Casual restaurants such as Applebee’s, Chilis, Outback, Olive Garden, and Longhorns have come a long way. There was very little they could help me with when I first started. I would have to pick something safe, like a salad without croutons, or ask many questions about cooking the food or what seasonings they use. (lesson learned, seasonings and spices have wheat in them too). Nowadays, they have menus online that you can look at before arriving. They have special menus at the restaurants upon request. When I tell a waitperson I have a gluten allergy, they note it for the cook instead of asking what it is.
Fast Food Options
Fast food has been significantly limiting in what I can safely eat. Chick-fil-A now has a Gluten-Free bun that you can request. I prefer grilled chicken nuggets. Wendy’s has several great salad options. Check an online menu and then communicate with the person who takes your order.
Local Gluten-Free Treats
Finding a sweet treat is challenging. Honeymoon Bakery has its menu items marked so you can make a good choice, and they help answer questions. Sunflour Community Bakery is new and has bread, muffins, and gluten-free treats. They are very gluten-aware.
The Sharp Sickle has gluten-free desserts and items for breakfast and lunch. They have two locations, the coffee shop at 329 Broad Street and the bakery at 167 Old Summerville Road.
All flatbreads at Newby Farm & Vineyard are gluten-free. Southern Seasons has gluten-free options for Afternoon Tea or Luncheon. (Let them know when you book.)
Olea Olive Oils & Wine has amazing gluten-free pasta to take home!
Places To Avoid
Chinese food is pretty much off-limits. Many soy sauces have gluten in them. Even if you chose steamed white rice, you still have soy sauce in the entrees. I just had to learn to make Chinese food at home. Now my kids request my chicken fried rice over going to eat at a restaurant.
Buffets are also off-limits for me, and that’s okay. I don’t care for them. You can’t control what happens at a buffet table, so I choose not to take any chances.
Grocery Shopping For Gluten-Free
I want to shout out to Aldi because they became my best friend when they moved to town. They have lots of Gluten-Free options, and they are clearly marked. Kroger, Publix, and Walmart also have great selections of gluten-free foods.
When dining out, don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you feel the person is unclear about what you are requesting, kindly ask to speak to a manager or the chef. You have to live with the symptoms of being “glutened,” not them. Keep in mind that anywhere you eat out will have shared kitchen areas, and restaurants can not guarantee that the kitchen will not cross-contaminate your food. I have never experienced a problem with this, but you take that risk when you are not 100% in control of your food.
If you are gluten-free, then share where you like to eat. Have you had exceptional service at a restaurant in Rome or around Rome? Let us know in the comments.
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Fantastic! Thanks for writing this, very informative. You share good information related to the healthy food.
I have benefited a lot from reading this article, I want more post about that.
Thanks again for this useful guide.
Thank you for your feedback. What other interests do you have?
food-related information.
I am glad you have an interest in the Gluten-Free lifestyle, there are many blogs out there whose main focus is that and it is really beyond the scope of my blog and this post. I wrote this article in hopes to help people searching find options when eating out in Rome, Georgia.