Restaurants
Recommended by People with Alpha-gal Syndrome
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Restaurant recommendations
These restaurants have been recommended by people with alpha-gal syndrome. The authors of this website have no first-hand knowledge of the majority of these restaurants. Therefore, we cannot endorse them ourselves.
Alpha-gal-friendly restaurants
Restaurants recommended by people with alpha-gal syndrome
| Person making recommendation | Restaurant | Town/city | State/province | More information | Recommended dishes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebecca S | The Veggie | Madison | AL | This is the only restaurant I’ve been able to freely go into and order vegan plant based food from the menu like a past “normal” experience. It makes you feel like you aren’t so ostracized from humanity to have a safe restaurant! | Anything- it’s all vegan food! | |
| Lisa Yocum | Trio's | Little Rock | AR | Every month they offer new featured dinners and always include a vegan option. | Thai Shrimp Curry | |
| Hilary J | Da Legna at Nolo | New Haven | CT | So good! A variety of really good New Haven style vegan pizzas | Vegan pizzas | |
| Sharon F | Clyde's | Washington, DC | DC | Clyde's is exceptionally allergy-aware. Their staff have extensive allergy training. I usually get a salad and add salmon. They are very careful to avoid cross-contact when they make the salmon. | Oysters, mixed greens salad with salmon, The Mermaid raw bar platter. | |
| Nicole V | Planta | Washington | DC | This restaurant has a menu that is entirely plant based. It’s a chain and I have also tried their locations in New York City and Bethesda, Maryland. | I’ve had several different items. | |
| Sharon F | Planta | Bethesda, Washington, other locations | DC, MD, NY, CA, IL, ON | This is a vegan restaurant with many great alpha-gal-friendly options. Be sure to ask about carrageenan and gums if you react to them. There are gums in many of their foods, but they are super helpful about checking dishes to see if they are gum-free. | ||
| Kimberly Pedigo | 50's Prime Time Cafe | Orland0 | FL | This is in Disney, and it was an amazing experience. No carrageenan, and they are extremely careful about all food allergies. Alpha gal is in their computer system, so ordering was very easy. | Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, apple pie crumble and a milkshake | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Leaky Cauldron | Orlando | FL | Universal Studios - Ask for Chef Sherri, she is fantastic. I've been here 2 or 3 times and she always triple checks to make sure there's no carrageenan and no cross contamination. | Fish and chips, chicken and roasted potatoes, and a few vegan options! I have not checked the dairy-free butterbeer for carrageenan, but that might be an option too | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Antojitos | Orlando | FL | Universal Studios City Walk - Ask for Senor Ernst, he will walk you through every ingredient on the menu. The chips are in a dedicated fryer, the rice is dairy free and the chicken is cooked separately! Wonderful experience and delicious food | Chips and salsa, chicken and rice. Also options for sweet potato enchiladas with vegan cheese (not sure about carrageenan) and other vegan options | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Surfside Inn & Suits (hotel) at Universal Studios | Orlando | FL | Universal Studios Hotel - Best turkey burger ever...I had to keep checking to make sure I wasn't accidentally eating beef. They have dedicated fryers, no carrageenan in the cheese or deli turkey. Even though it's a 'budget' hotel at Universal it is my favorite because of the food options. | Turkey burger with vegan cheese, french fries, deli turkey sandwich, chicken and cilantro lime rice, fried chicken tenders, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns | |
| Dulcie | Big Canoe Clubhouse | Jasper | GA | they have a trained chef and also an allergen fryer and take allergies seriously. I have probably eaten there 10 times now with no issues . My favorite so far is Big canoe friend rice with chicken | Big canoe shrimp and chicken fried rice | |
| Elicia B | Mrs Sally’s | Mansfiel | GA | The owner wanted to make a safe space for people with food allergies. The takeout menu includes spaces to check which allergies you may have and Alpha Gal is on the list | Have not eaten there | |
| Mary Beth Paul | Delmar Public House | Godfrey | IL | Chefs are knowledgeable about AGS. Use full safety protocol. | Chicken sandwich Turkey sandwich Salad Pub fries Veggies | |
| Mary Beth | Delmar Public House | Godfrey | IL | Chefs are familiar with AG and take all precautions | Chicken sandwich and/or salad with chicken | |
| Julie E. | Ferguson House | Nashville | IN | Chef has AGS, staff are knowledgeable, ags menu items are marked | Grilled cheese, eggs | |
| Julie E | Brown County Inn | Nashville | IN | Alpha gal safe items marked in menu, dedicated ags fryer, staff are knowledgeable | Curry, fries | |
| Julie E | Hoosier Thai | Nashville | IN | Staff always ask about food allergies upfront, are knowledgeable about ags, most dishes can be ordered as vegan. Vegetable oil and non dairy milk are standard. | Most of the noodle entrees | |
| Julie E | Big Woods | Nashville | IN | GF free crust is standard for vegan orders but I confirmed ingredients of regular dough and this is vegan as well. Vegan cheese available, marinara is vegan, veggie toppings. Staff is not as knowledgeable of AGS but vegan friendly. Staff always seem stressed and over worked, place is always busy. Cross contamination seems high. Chain restaurant in this area of Indiana but only this location has vegan options. | Vegan pizza | |
| Julie E | Tasty Plate Cafe | Morgantown | IN | This is a 100% vegan restaurant. The owner and chef is a community activist and AGS champion. She attends monthly AGS meetings even though she does not have it. I've only ordered catering and she recently closed the restaurant but will still be catering and holding events. She understands AGS and is an active learner. Carrageenan and gums are noted allergens on menus. | Flatbread, cheese samples, pie, greenbean casserole, corn bread casserole, pumpkin pie, misc holiday cookies, misc scones, cake. | |
| Julie E | E sushi | Columbus | IN | They had not heard of AGS but understood quickly and asked questions to ensure my safety. Best experience at a sushi place so far. Very kind and careful staff. They informed me of their kitchen practices and what cross contamination risks existed. Best sushi in this area of Indiana by far. | Sushi | |
| Julie E | Noodles and Company | Franklin | IN | Vegan option available. Used clean pan, surface, and utensils at request. Had not heard of AGS but listened and took a allergy card to cook. Had allergen menu readily available. Very kind and throurough staff. | Japanese Pan Noodles w/tofu | |
| Julie E | Hive | Bloomington | IN | Staff are very knowledgeable about ingredients and kitchen practices. Allergy card was taken to cook. Clean surface, pans, utensils used. Very kind and helpful staff. Many vegan options, but also chicken options that are safe. | Vegan bahn mi, half chicken, fries | |
| Christi M. | Hawaiian Bros. | Overland Park | KS | This is an alpha gal friendly option for me. | Huli Huli Chicken | |
| Sarah M | Branch Out | Paducah | KY | Safe food. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. | Whole restaurant is vegan and gluten free. | |
| Jannette Parent | Branch Out | Paducah | KY | I've been eating there for years and it's always a great experience. The food is delicious and everything is safe for us to with AG. | Everything! It's a vegan restaurant with gluten free options too. | |
| Rosie Curtis | BRANCH OUT | Paducah | KY | Super great food, very careful..caters to vegan and Alpha Gal folks. Lots of safe bakery. Even safe milk shakes in season! My favorite place to go! 😀 | The whole menu! Delicious food, we stopped everytime we head north, we even go out of the way to go there. The Shrimp tacos ( vegan) are beyond words! My husband who is dies not have AGS orders and loves them. | |
| Debra Poiroux | Branch Out | Paducah | KY | It is completely AG safe, vegan and gluten free! And everything was delicious | Oyster mushroom po-boy, mushroom burger (on gluten free bun), sweet potato waffle fries, tomato soup, coconut shrimp wrap, desserts | |
| DP | Branch Out | Paducah | KY | Delicious! | Loaded sweet potato fries, mushroom cheese burger, cupcakes, coconut shrimp tacos | |
| Jenny L | Joella’s Hot Chicken | Lexington | KY | Joella’s Hot Chicken has a dairy free & vegan menu as well as a gluten free menu. All their chicken is dairy free regardless of how it’s prepared. They use soybean oil in their fryers. Chicken is the only meat they serve. They have non spicy chicken options as well as spicy for those who can’t tolerate the spicy flavors. They were very kind & according to my allergies. I ate chicken tenders, fries, & slaw with no issues. Only thing I did not checked was carrageenan in their chicken as it doesn’t seem to bother me. So pay caution if it’s a concern for you. | ||
| Donna | Olive Garden | Richmond | KY | The staff are very understanding of food allergies and went out of the way to make sure I was safe. | Pasta with marinara sauce, steamed broccoli, salad with oil and vinegar, no cheese or croutons and bread sticks. They also fixed my side of shrimp in a separate pan with oil instead of butter. | |
| Steve O | The Maker | Martha's Vineyard | MA | Owner/Chef Carlos Montoya Partner and GM Sheenagh Caridi https://www.makercafemv.com/ 508-687-9794 [email protected] Very knowledgeable and responsive chef…even check the wine was vegan that is in the turkey bolognese. Separate AG menu | ||
| Steve O | The Red Cat Kitchen | Martha's Vineyard | MA | The Red Cat Kitchen Owner/Chef Ben DeForest 508-696-6040 Separate AG menu | ||
| Steve O | The Sweet Life Cafe | Martha's Vineyard | MA | The Sweet Life Cafe Owners/Chef Hal and Erin Ryerson 508-696-0200 Separate AG menu | ||
| Laurie Galvin | Thai inter | California | MD | Awsome | Pad tai and spring rolls | |
| Esther O | Mug & Mallet | Ocean City | MD | The owner at this restaurant went above and beyond to answer every tiny question and to ensure the safety of my food. She personally came in to oversee my meal on her day off after I reached out to her over FB messenger. She is extremely allergy aware and I encourage absolutely everyone to support this restaurant and to reach out to her with any questions before visiting. | Vegan crab cakes | |
| Trista J | Slutty Vegan | Baltimore | MD | Great service, very helpful | Everything! | |
| Leah | Bollywood Masala | Waldorf, formerly La Plata | MD | This is a safe go to for me and has been ever since I was diagnosed 8 years ago. | they have several vegan and AG-safe items on the menu that are made with coconut milk, etc. Very friendly, just ask them | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Mall of America | Bloomington | MN | This Mall was very difficult to find options. Cafe Laredo advised to order gluten free tortillas because they go in a separate fryer, and the chicken can be cooked separately. Rice has no dairy, salsa verde sauce can be swapped out for cheese sauce. At Sweet Paris Creperie, the Berry Agave Crepe is vegan and gluten free. I did not check the soy milk they use for carrageenan but they were very option to conversations about allergies. | Cafe Laredo - chips, salsa, chicken rice and black beans. Naf-Naf Grill - falafel, rice, chicken, and french fries. Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe - Berry Agave Crepe | |
| C Morris | Texas Roadhouse | St. Charles | Mo | They cooked the chicken separate from other meats, and made me a special potato. They coat their potatoes in bacon grease before they bake them, so I got one baked special for me. | Grilled chicken, baked potato, salad. | |
| Kim P | Carrabba’s Italian Grill | Multiple | Multiple | I’ve eaten there several times with no issues. I explain the allergy and they use clean pans to cook my meal. Like any restaurant you have to stay vigilant | They have a vegan section on their menu. | |
| Sheila Beaudry | The Spotted Dog | Carrboro | NC | I have eaten here for years and never had a problem, Non-dairy ice cream doesn't even have carrageenan. Lots of choices of vegan, vegetarian, chicken and fish options. Just make sure they know your allergies. | Most of their menu has vegetarian/vegan options, but I love the Mediterranean pasta bowl with chicken with vegan cheese. See https://thespotteddogrestaurant.com/menu | |
| K vaughn | Red robin | Burlington and Greensboro | NC | Manager came out and assured me u would bears. They cook the chicken on a parchment lined Pan that has never seen anything but chicken. It is plain but that isn’t their fault. I can’t have diary, mammalian or gluten. I can eat there safely wit my family anytime. They get AGS. | Chicken sandwich on gluten free bread | |
| Kelly C | Grub Asian Fusion | West Nyack | NY | They don’t have any pork on premises. They have beef but they use a clean pan for every dish. Just avoid the deep fried stuff. They are incredible people, too! | Pad Thai with crispy duck, drunken noodles, chicken satay bao buns, green curry, chicken dumplings, and more! | |
| Kelly C | Patsy’s | Nanuet | NY | They have strict protocols about food allergies and avoid cross contamination. They also offered to make a fresh vodka sauce without the pancetta. | Classic pizza with grilled chicken (if able to have dairy), pasta with marinara, zucchini, salad, boneless wings | |
| AJ | Can’t Believe It’s Vegan | Westerville | OH | Very good food, friendly staff, locally owned & operated. | A spicy pasta dish. | |
| Monica L | Ruby Ds | Tulsa | Ok | It's vegan but so good! It is safe except for bacon has carageenan but they usually tell you that. | Cheeseburger and chilli cheese tator tots | |
| Becky Emmert | Petunia’s Pies and Pastries | Portland | OR | Dedicated vegan and gluten free bakery. Safe and delicious! They are used to masking about carrageenan. Most items are safe. | ||
| Becky E | Harlow Cafe and Juice Bar | Portland | OR | They were the first restaurant I went to after my diagnosis. They were so understanding. I’m fume reactive to so going out was a big deal. They have been consistently safe and delicious. | Dedicated vegan (except eggs) and gluten free restaurant. Almost everything is AGS safe. They are used to me asking about carrageenan. Fresh, healthy, delicious food. | |
| Karen Gulrich | Gulfstream Cafe | Murrells Inlet | SC | Very allergy friendly, eat here safely frequently, advise them of the allergy. Manager is very helpful. | Whole Crispy Fish | |
| Karen Gulrich | Gulfstream Cafe | Murrells Inlet | SC | Eat here frequently. Advise them of allergy. Manager is very allergy helpful. | Peel & Eat Shrimp | |
| Karen Gulrich | California Dreaming | Surfside Beach | SC | Not the large chain. This is a local restaurant owned by the same folks that own Gulfstream Cafe. They are very allergy knowledgeable and make sure your food is safe. I eat here safely frequently when in town. | Nashville Hot Wings (do not add the brown sugar or dipping sauce) | |
| Kristi Mogen | Qdoba | Aberdeen | SD | I am fume reactive, this restaurant has adequate venting so I do not get sick from fumes. I used the online vegan menu, asked the team member to change gloves, and chose a few items from the vegan menu. I eat there about once a month and have never had a reaction. I live in meat and potato country, where AGS is unheard of, it is nice Qdoba has a vegan menu, with adequate ventilation. | Brown rice, pinto beans, corn salsa, corn chips and guacamole bowl. | |
| Debbie K | Sunflower Cafe | Nashville | TN | This is a completely vegan cafe. Friendly and informative service. Good food. Reasonable priced | Tahini Ginger Tofu, Hot Chik’n Bowl, Southwest Salad, and more | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | True Food Kitchen | Nashville | TN | Their menu changes seasonally, but they always have an appetizer, several entrees, and a dessert that are alpha-gal friendly. There is no carrageenan in the ice cream or ricotta, but they advised me to avoid the "magic dust" seasoning because it contains seaweed and they couldn't confirm what type. They can also make dairy free blueberry pancakes for brunch! Overall this is a great restaurant for date night, family birthdays, etc. | Chicken Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl, Butternut Squash soup, vegan pizza, Turkey Burger with vegan cheese, Ice cream with chocolate chip cookies, Ube Pink Lime Tart and more | |
| Christy S | Chick fila | Jackson | TN | Just the reassurance that it was a safe place to eat. This was the 1st I’ve dined out and it was a great experience | I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich on a vegan bun with waffle fries | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Snooze Eatery | Nashville | TN | They are very careful about allergies - the manager will come to your table and make sure the kitchen understands your allergy. They have ingredient lists and are happy to show them to you. | Scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, hashbrowns, fruit and toast, or Vegan banana pancakes, or Sweet potato protein bowl, and more | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Pooky Jane's Kitchen and Pub | Nashville | TN | This is a dive bar, very casual, but the owner is well trained in handling allergies. He hand breads the chicken tenders. Once you tell him you have alpha gal, he will start a new fresh pot of oil so that there is no cross contamination, and will make your fries and chicken tenders separately. He also can grill chicken separately. I have not tried the fried mushrooms or onion rings, or the turkey sandwich, but those may be good options too | Fried chicken tenders and french fries, or grilled chicken sandwich | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Nectar Urban Cantina | Nashville | TN | The salsa is vegan, the chips are not fried with anything else. They were really honest about not being able to make chicken without a huge risk of cross contamination. Instead, they make fish in a separate pan, and I combine it with vegan verde rice and vegetables - delicious! | Chips and Salsa, fish, rice and root vegetables. Vegan tacos, burritos and enchiladas also available. *Chicken is not an option here* | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Boombozz Pizza | Nashville | TN | The vegan cheese does NOT contain carrageenan. Also, they allow me bring in my own toppings and add it to my pizza - so I bring in turkey pepperoni or turkey sausage crumbles, and it tastes almost exactly like a regular pizza! Note: the gluten-free cauliflower crust contains dairy. But the regular crust is dairy-free. | Vegan cheese pizza with marinara sauce or garlic/olive oil sauce | |
| Kimberly Pedigo | Polly Sparrow Bakery | Lebanon | TN | The owner, Kelly, is amazing with allergies! She checked every ingredient in the kitchen to make sure there was no carrageenan. She is fantastic about cross contamination. You can drop in any time she's open, and she will have at least a few dairy free or vegan options to choose from. | Blackberry thyme tarts, cupcakes, spinach & vegan mozzarella bread, almond wedding cookies with powdered sugar, chocolate birthday cake, cinnamon pull-aparts, and so much more | |
| Leslie Dell | Cashew | Chattanooga | TN | It is a great vegan restaurant on the North Shore in Chattanooga. Most of the time they will ask you if you have any allergies they should be aware of and they are aware that I cannot have carrageenan. The only foods I have found so far I could not have is the pimento cheese, which is an occasional special along with the marshmallow frosting on some of their desserts. Great food that I feel comfortable going to eat time after time! | Barbecue jackfruit nachos and totchos, vegan meatball sliders, impossible burger and tots, beet burger, barbecue jackfruit tacos, tortilla chips and cashew cheese and an extended variety of desserts, including cupcakes, tarts, donuts, and cookies | |
| Linda Yates | Mod Pizza | Houston area | TX | I have been to multiple locations, and after informing of my allergies, I ask for clean bins of red sauce and vegetables. They have new bins either under the counter or in back. They immediately put on clean gloves and go out of their way to get clean veggies and always mark my pizza for a clean cut (new cutter). (You do not want the bins already in use, as they grab handfuls of meat and veggies with same gloves hands). They do have chicken, but I have not tried it yet. They also have dairy free cheese, but I don't usually get it either. Only place I feel good about ordering a pizza, since I can see them making it! They also have several vegan finishing sauces - I like the fig sauce - ask for it on the side and drizzle it over your pizza - you won't miss the meat or cheese! | Mod Pizza with red sauce and vegetables from clean new bins (not cross contaminated) | |
| Melissa | Slack Tide Fish Co. | Richmond | VA | Prior to dining at Slack Tide Fish Co. the first time, I messaged through the restaurant's website asking questions about whether they could accommodate two in our party with alpha-gal. The executive chef, Caleb Shriver, sent the most thoughtful reply. He is familiar with alpha-gal, as well as food allergies and how to avoid cross contact with allergens. He included a copy of the current menu (changes seasonally) with menu items highlighted that were either alpha-gal safe or that could be adapted for us. He even said that with a couple of days' prior notice, he could set up a dedicated fryer if we let him know that we planned to order a fried item. The night of our dinner, the waiter was already aware of our alpha-gal needs and again went over the menu items that we could safely order. It felt amazing to be served by such a caring and attentive staff and be so well-accomodated. We were able to relax and enjoy time with our loved ones as well as an amazingly delicious meal! | ||
| Greg W | Corbin’s Confections | Salem | VA | The owner if familiar with AG | Various | |
| Nicole V | Just Fine Donuts | Del Ray, Alexandria | VA | Delicious donuts and they also have one vegan ice cream option daily. | All of their donuts are vegan! | |
| Carol H | King Cropp Kitchen | Danville | VA | Delicious food, variety with well defined menu for multiple allergies | Scallops with a salad | |
| Teresa H | Bodacious Pizza | Virginia Beach | VA | The staff is friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable about food allergies. They have many alpha gal friendly options and the food is good! | Pizza, cookies, cinnamon rolls | |
| WW | King Cropp Kitchen | Danville | VA | Great owners who understand and support the AGS community | Almost everything is AG friendly | |
| Allison P | Outback | Herndon | VA | I called ahead to see if they could accommodate me and they were more than happy to make sure my fish was cooked in foil to avoid cross contamination from the grill and they made sure to not put butter on the broccoli. Everything was cooked to perfection. | Salmon baked in foil, plain steamed broccoli | |
| Allison P | Poke Sushi Bowl | Sterling | VA | I believe the only menu item that is not AGS friendly is imitation crab, so it is easily avoided. They also label items that are gluten free, so if you have additional allergies, that is helpful. | poke bowl | |
| Marcia M. | EGGHEADS | Gloucester Point | VA | They will cook anything they have available in a separate pan so there is no cross contamination from the grills. Very accomadating. | Eggs, Turkey Bacon, Seafood | |
| Sally K. | Olive Garden | Harrisonburg | VA | Hubby & I (both AGS positive) have been here several times & on each occasion, the on-duty manager has come out to talk with us about food prep & precautions used in preventing cross-contamination. One of the manager's nieces has AGS so she is well aware of our plight. | Minestrone soup, salad, angel hair pasta with marinara sauce, grilled chicken breast | |
| Sally K. | Off the Grid | Sperryville | VA | The menu indicates AGS friendly selections | taco salad | |
| Sally K. | Red Robin | Short Pump | VA | Manager comes out to discuss precautions taken for cross contamination. Gluten friendly as well as AGS friendly. | Have ordered several different items over the months | |
| Molly H | Bangkok Garden | Norfolk | VA | The staff has been very attentive to my dietary restrictions, there are multiple choices for me, and the food tastes good. I have eaten here six times over two years, which for me is frequent, and I have never been disappointed. The restaurant seems to have a stable staff -- I always have the same server, and she recognizes me -- so maybe that's part of why I've had consistently good experiences. (The internet shows Bangkok Garden in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, but I have never eaten at either of those.) | curries, noodle dishes, and stir-fries | |
| Molly H | Bangkok Noi | Gloucester | VA | The server and chef were both familiar with alpha gal syndrome from other customers, and the server had suggestions of food other customers had enjoyed. They were bland, though, and I like spice, so I asked about other items on the menu, and the chef came out and talked to me because he was already aware that we can't all eat the same foods, and he wanted to make sure I could eat all the ingredients. He would not serve me duck because he could not guarantee the source. My meal was delicious, very much what one hopes for on a special occasion (our wedding anniversary), and it was safe! | A spicy seafood dish with rice (sorry, I don't remember its name!) | |
| Molly H | Aroi Thai Cuisine | Newport News | VA | This is a small restaurant in an area with many businesses run by and/or catering to an Asian population. The server was very attentive, took my food restriction card to discuss with the cook, then came back and discussed his answers with me. The broth used for the curry was vegan and could be served with a choice of proteins; I chose chicken, but tofu was another option. Oh, my goodness, best curry ever -- exquisitely prepared and presented, absolutely delicious, and reasonably priced. The server, who was Asian, made sue I'd had curry before because it was spicy (yes, and I like it that way), but my husband's noodle dish was milder, which I'm pretty sure means anybody could eat there and be happy, even with alpha gal syndrome. | Red curry with Chicken | |
| Molly H | Shun Xing Restaurant | Mathews | VA | It was a too-many-places-to-be evening, and we hadn't even thought about supper, so my husband suggested Chinese carry-out. We hadn't tried that since my diagnosis, and I only said yes because my husband has been so good about sharing my dietary changes, but to be frank, I expected I'd end up fixing my own fried egg with frozen peas while he ate his Chinese. Wrong. I showed my food-restriction card, and the woman at the counter, who I think runs the restaurant, was familiar with alpha gal, asked me more questions, and then had the cook prepare a special meal tailored to my tastes as well as my AGS -- actually, a double meal because it sounded good to my husband, too. Turns out the restaurant does this pretty frequently for customers, since AGS is pretty common around here. | No name to this dish created especially for me! | |
| Molly H | Jaipur Indian Restaurant | Farmville | VA | There are two different routes we can follow when driving home from my daughter's, but we usually choose the one that takes us through Farmville specifically so we can go to Jaipur Indian Restaurant. This is a small restaurant which changed hands about a couple of years ago (I think), and it was good before and even better now. The owner has been our server, and he takes my food restrictions seriously. I listed mango chicken because it illustrates a willingness to work with the customer: the restaurant's usual recipe has cream in it, but the cook used only coconut milk for me. The owner also suggests things I can eat, such as roti, which is non-dairy, instead of naan, which has yogurt. | chana masala; mango chicken (recipe altered for me); roti | |
| Molly H | CAVA | Newport News, Williamsburg, Charlottesville | VA | CAVA is a large chain that serves Middle Eastern inspired food with lots of vegan options. It is set up like Subway, where you go down the line and choose the ingredients you want in your bowl or pita. I have eaten at three different locations (there are many in Virginia and elsewhere), and in each, when I show my food restriction card, they change their gloves and consult a list of ingredients kept close by specifically for that purpose; they consciously cater to food restrictions. It's fast like fast food, and it's popular, so it's the kind of place you can enjoy with friends, but it's also healthy and tasty. | Falafel bowl, with varying ingredients | |
| Molly H | Naf Naf Grill | Staunton | VA | This was a total surprise, a small Middle Eastern Grill attached to Love's Truck Stop on the highway near Staunton, VA. It wasn't meal time, but we wanted to know about a Middle Eastern Grill at a truck stop, so we went in and ordered baba ghanoush, a favorite food in our household. I showed my food restriction card, and the person at the counter immediately checked an ingredient list kept by the counter for that purpose. It's much smaller than CAVA (Middle Eastern fast food chain) without as many menu items, but the concept is the same, including attention to food restrictions. We made a point of stopping there another time for the baba ghanoush just because it was so good, but if we're ever there at mealtime, I'll check out the falafel and report on that, too! | Baba Ghanoush | |
| Petra | Eggshead | Gloucester Point | VA | The owner has alpha-gal. They are aware of cooking procedures and will accomodate most stuff on the menue for you. | Vegetarian omlett, fruit cup | |
| Martha | Botanical | Charlottesville | VA | The staff was very accommodating. I am AGS and gluten free. They were very willing to make the food that fits my dietary needs. | Sticky Cauliflower, Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl | https://www.botanicalfare.com/ |
| Sara S. | I have 2) Botanicals and Planta | Charlottesville and Bethesda | VA, MD | They are both fully plant based and are very clear about their ingredients. Planta staff specifically came to my table and asked about allergies. The chef went through all of the food I wanted to order and was able to tell me that their whipped cream has carrageenan in it. I felt very safe eating there. | All of them but my favorite at Botanicals is the Miso Mac and Cheese and my favorite at Planta is the Vodka pizza | |
| Leah | Sahara Pizza | Napavine | WA | They have vegan cheese! They also have gluten-free crusts. I love being able to order a veggie pizza like a normal person. I have not yet tried their chicken toppings. | Pizza | |
| Kristi M | Qdoba nationwide | Aberdeen | SD | Excellent venting, change gloves, has vegan menu | Rice - brown and white, beans - pinto and black, salsa, salad, corn salsa, guacamole, chips, tea, coke beverage | https://www.qdoba.com/dietary-preferences |
| Mary Page | Birdies Bake Shop | Washington | Missouri | All items are alpha gal safe and absolutely delicious I have had their cookies cakes cinnamon rolls carrot cake scones. Charming bakery on the river | They have cakes, cookies, pastries. Both owners have alpha gal. | Facebook page |
| Ray L. | Veg Out Vegetarian Restaurant of Aiken | Aiken | SC | Small, privately-owned. Speak with the owner if you have any questions or would like modifications and he will gladly accommodate your request. The menu posted on the wall clearly identifies Vegetarian and Vegan selections and the ingredients. Well-ventilated – neither my wife nor I noticed any fumes. The owner was not familiar with the term "Alpha-gal" but had heard about "the red meat allergy" from a spotted tick. | The Medi – sandwich and Hibiscus Cooler | https://www.vegoutofaiken.com/ |
| Ray L. | Crafty Buffalo Kitchen and Taphouse | Salisbury | NC | Privately-owned restaurant. I reached out to them via email and received a response from the owner, Jim Wade. I told him about my Alpha-gal. He said I should ask to speak with the manager when I arrived, and they would make sure I was accommodated. When I arrived, I met the manager who then took me to meet Jim. After going over my request he brought my waiter over to meet us, went through my request with him, then went over it again with the chef. Jim completely understood what cross-contamination is and made sure everyone was clear. The food and service were excellent! You could tell they took pride in the establishment and service! They have other items on the menu that can likely be made Alpha-gal friendly. Well-ventilated – neither my wife nor I noticed any fumes. Use their “Contact” tab on the website in advance with any questions. | Cedar-Planked Salmon with steamed broccoli and fresh seasonal fruit. | https://craftybuffalo.net/ |
| Melissa C | Cape Fear Seafood Company | Surf City | NC | The restaurant was very attentive to allergies and special dietary needs. My tacos were customized to be dairy free, and the fish was cooked in a separate pan instead of on the flat top. Our waitress, Jade, went over the menu options and discussed my allergy needs before I ordered. She stated that all of this restaurant's locations follow the same strict allergy protocol. There are locations in Raleigh/Cary as well as several along the coast. | Blackened Fish Tacos | https://capefearseafoodcompany.com/locations/surf-city/ |
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