“But none of that really mattered. I had found my tribe. It felt like a family reunion for the family I’d never really known, a homecoming at the place where I was always meant to be but hadn’t known how to find.”
~ David Levithan
Remember How It Felt to Relax in a Restaurant?
Do you remember that feeling? Deciding on the way home from work that you were too tired to cook, calling a loved one to join you, and sighing with contentment as you settle into the restaurant chair. You open the menu and have more options than you can possibly eat, with no worries about food reactions. Wouldn’t it be great to feel that again? That’s the goal of this guide.
When you’re on a healing diet for autoimmune disease, restaurants are no longer safe havens. They are a minefield of potential food triggers, menus filled with food you can’t eat, and staff who often don’t understand your needs even when you try to make them clear. One wonderful benefit to the growing paleo movement is that there are culinary entrepreneurs among us! However, they are rare. I’m honoring them in this post.
Don’t Judge a Restaurant By Its Name
Just because a restaurant says it’s paleo doesn’t mean it truly is. When I double-checked menus, I found lots of non-paleo ingredients. Some “paleo” restaurants even had wheat on the menu! In the end, I came up with three categories. The first list are restaurants that truly are 100% paleo. The second list are 100% gluten-free restaurants with a paleo philosophy. The third list are 100% gluten-free restaurants where at least half the menu can easily be adapted for the paleo diet. Any restaurant that served gluten in any form – no matter their name – didn’t make the lists. For those of you following the paleo autoimmune protocol, I also made notes below on how AIP-friendly each restaurant is.
Note: In each section below, restaurants are listed alphabetically by US state first, then alphabetically by other countries.
100% Paleo Restaurants
These are so rare that I’ve only found two restaurants where everything on the menu is 100% paleo. That means the menu is free of all grains, gluten, legumes, dairy, soy, refined oils, refined sugars, and processed and artificial foods. The focus is on high-quality real food: fresh vegetables, high quality meat and seafood, healthy fats, and paleo-friendly herbs and sauces. In other words: Restaurant Heaven. Niche restaurants are a challenging business, so if you live near one of these, visit them today!
- Festal Paleo Café in Vancouver, Canada – This is the first 100% paleo restaurant in Canada. They began as a meal delivery service and expanded to a restaurant location in 2017. Their goal is to feed people for both health and joy, and they have a wide and varied menu. For AIP, ask the staff to help you modify your order.
- Palaeo – Primal Gastronomi: 7 locations in Denmark – Peter Emil Nielsen is on a mission – to create healthy, fast food around the world. He’s starting with his home country of Denmark, but that’s not where he plans to finish. The menu is 100% paleo with 1 exception: you can order cheese as a topping or milk in your coffee, but neither is automatically included in any meal. I’ve spoken with Peter and he said patrons can definitely adapt the menu to AIP, but you need to be clear with his staff, because they won’t know what AIP means.
100% Gluten-Free Restaurants with a Paleo Philosophy
Some people start a restaurant with a paleo goal but offer a slightly expanded menu to appeal to a wider audience. These are the restaurants that fall into this category. Below, I list the non-paleo items on each menu. In order to be on this list, a restaurant has to be 100% gluten-free and mostly paleo. (A partial gluten-free menu doesn’t qualify.) Just like the 100% paleo restaurants above, these restaurants care about food quality and sustainability, prioritizing local, seasonal, organic, wild-caught, grass-fed, and pastured ingredients whenever possible
- Sapiens Paleo Kitchen in Scottsdale, AZ – This dinner restaurant blends a paleo philosophy with French cuisine. Dairy is the only non-paleo item on the menu, and everything can be ordered dairy-free. They make all of their food in-house from scratch, including their sauces and paleo breads. They also pride themselves on accommodating special diets, so if you’re following the AIP, ask the staff to help you adapt your order.
- Nectarine Grove in Leucadia, CA – 90% of the menu at this little café is paleo, with a few non-paleo options to satisfy vegan customers (legumes, dairy, and gluten-free grains). There’s a clear allergy key on the menu, with P standing for paleo. You’ll find salads, burgers, bowls, breakfasts, paleo pizzas, bone broth, kombucha and kefir on tap, as well as an in-house bakery. For AIP, ask the staff to help you adapt your order.
- Kitava in San Francisco, CA – This new restaurant began as a meal delivery service and expanded to a seated restaurant in 2017. They believe in transparency, so just click the meal photos on the website to see the full list of ingredients. The only non-paleo items on the menu are white rice and legumes, but they’re optional and they offer paleo alternatives. They also have an AIP menu, and they know the protocol inside and out. Their AIP offerings are grain-free, legume-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nightshade-free, nut-free, and seed-free. There’s even a key at the bottom of the menu noting where black pepper is included in a dish (a stage one AIP reintro), and which dishes can be prepared without it.
- Just Be Kitchen in Denver, CO – Built on the idea of bringing healthy fast food to Denver, they serve breakfast, lunch, and have a broth bar as well. The only non-paleo items on their menu are grass-fed butter and cheese as optional add-ons. For AIP, ask the staff to help you adapt your order. They pride themselves on helping people with special dietary restrictions. I also love their mission statement: “To serve mindful mouthfuls from a conscious kitchen with kindness on a plate.”
- Kara Lynn’s Kitchen in Clearwater, FL – This small restaurant was inspired by an AIP success story. The menu is mostly paleo, with quinoa being the only grain offered and the occasional use of dairy. While the menu isn’t AIP, the staff should be familiar with the protocol.
- Cavé: A Paleo Eatery in Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ – This restaurant is mostly paleo, the only exception being the use of ghee and grass-fed butter. If you’re dairy intolerant, confirm the cooking fat used with the staff. For AIP, you’ll likely need to adapt your order. While the menu says no substitutions, I believe as members of the paleo community, it’s reasonable for people with autoimmune disease to make special requests here. Mention the paleo autoimmune protocol to the staff.
- Locanut in New York City, NY – Founded by a nutritionist, this fast casual restaurant’s menu is mostly paleo, and the few menu that aren’t can easily be adapted. Non-paleo items include gluten-free grains, legumes, and dairy upon request (however, the menu is by default dairy-free). Their large menu includes soups, salads, bowls, plates, brunch, wraps, and treats. For AIP, ask the staff to help you adapt your order.
- Springbone Kitchen in New York City, NY – The menu is primarily paleo, centered around bone broth, and easily adapted to AIP. Non-paleo items include wild rice, gluten-free breads, legumes and some dairy. However, they are all clearly marked on the menu and they offer paleo substitutes (like cauliflower “rice”).
- Picnik in Austin, TX – Picnik began as a food truck, and in 2017 they expanded to open a full restaurant, making paleo Austinites very happy. The only non-paleo items on the restaurant menu are dairy and white rice, and both are marked clearly. Not only that, but an AIP menu is available upon request.
- Ruggles Black in Houston, TX – Open for lunch and dinner, this restaurant is designed to be paleo and keto-friendly. The only non-paleo items on the menu are dairy, gluten-free soy sauce, and optional gluten-free bread. You’ll find lots of American favorites including tacos, burgers, pizza, and fish and chips – all made with paleo ingredients. For AIP, ask if the chef can make something special for you.
- Wilde Kitchen in Brisbane, Australia – This breakfast and lunch café was also founded on a paleo philosophy. Non-paleo items on the menu include dairy, gluten-free grains and chia seeds. However, their menu contains many strict paleo offerings, and has a clear allergen key. For AIP, you’ll have to adapt the menu; clarify ingredients with the staff. This café also gets bonus points for nutrient-density: many of their meals include fermented vegetables, and they boost their smoothies with collagen and their bone broth with liver powder.
- Seedling Café in Melbourne, Australia – All food at this casual breakfast and lunch café is paleo-inspired, gluten-free and refined sugar-free. Non-paleo items include quinoa, dairy, peanut butter, and gluten-free bread. Since eggs, nuts and seeds feature heavily on the menu, it may be challenging to eat AIP here. But perhaps you can order something off-menu.
- Bare Whole Foods in Mona Vale, Australia – This restaurant’s mission is to “create meals the way nature intended.” The only non-paleo item on their menu is quinoa, and dairy is an optional choice on their drinks menu but not used in regular cooking. Fermented foods also feature heavily, and they have a reputation for being able to accommodate AIP requests.
- Cycle Bistro in Dubai, UAE – Quinoa is the only non-paleo item on the menu of this little café. Otherwise everything on the menu is 100% paleo. If following AIP, ask the staff to help you modify your order.
100% Gluten-Free Restaurants that Can Accommodate Paleo
These restaurants weren’t started by paleo chefs, and they might not even know what paleo means, but they do believe in a safe, gluten-free dining experience. Like all of the restaurants in this entire blog post, gluten isn’t allowed in these kitchens at all, which is so much better than a regular restaurant with a gluten-free menu. Why? Because there’s no risk of cross-contamination – It isn’t possible to get “glutened” here. The other requirement for this list is that half of their menu has to be paleo-friendly, meaning it can easily be adapted to the paleo diet with a few minor changes. (No more searching menus for one sad, flavorless option.) Lastly, I only chose restaurants that care about the quality of the food, sourcing local, organic, sustainable, wild-caught and grass-fed ingredients whenever possible. This is the cream of the gluten-free restaurant crop.
- Mason Dixon Bistro in Huntsville, AL – This little bistro began as a gluten-free bakery and then expanded to include breakfast and lunch. Their menu includes a key: P, DF, EF, V, SF. P stands for Paleo. However, it would appear that they don’t consider goat cheese to be dairy, so if you’re truly dairy-intolerant, you’ll want to confirm ingredients when you place your order (this is true when it says DF for Dairy-free on the menu also). For AIP, salads are your best bet, but you will need to make some modifications and clarify dressing ingredients.
- The Preacher’s Son in Bentonville, AR – The chef of this restaurant has celiac disease which inspired the 100% gluten-free menu. It’s not a paleo restaurant, but there are plenty of paleo options, and since everything is cooked to order, they should also be able to accommodate AIP here. Just communicate your needs clearly with the staff.
- Intentional Foods in Mesa, AZ – The mission of this restaurant is to be allergy-friendly. Their menu contains no gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, or nuts. They also make everything in-house, to be sure there is no cross-contamination. While much of their menu contains non-paleo ingredients like grains and legumes, they allow substitutions. I spoke with the owner, and she said they try to accommodate as many dietary restrictions as possible. They can make anything to order, with the exception of their chicken salad which is prepared in advance. So, this restaurant is AIP-friendly, too.
- Asian Box: 8 locations in CA – This “build a plate” restaurant specializes in Asian flavors. Everything on the menu is gluten-free and dairy-free, with exception of an optional addition to coffee. Since everything is made in-house, including the sauces, you should be able to ask for a complete ingredient list to help you choose paleo and/or AIP. Note: The Asian Box is designed to be a takeout restaurant.
- Healthy Creations Café in Encinitas, CA – This breakfast and lunch café also has a detailed allergy key on their menu, showing vegan, vegetarian, paleo, and dairy-free meals. However, there are more paleo options than appear at first glance. You can turn their sandwiches into a paleo meal by substituting paleo bread or coconut wraps. Their power bowls can be made paleo-style with a roasted cauliflower base. And most of their salads can be made paleo with minor substitutions. They do make everything in-house, including sauces and dressings, so should be able to give you details on ingredients. For AIP, the trick will be whether the food is all prepped in advance or if they can accommodate special orders. Call ahead to inquire.
- Honey Hi in Los Angeles, CA – This little café is open for breakfast and lunch, and everything on the menu is gluten-free, gmo-free, vegetable oil-free, and refined sugar-free. From there, they focus on seasonal, high-quality, real food. The menu looks easily adapted to paleo, but since nightshades feature heavily, you’ll have to make special requests for AIP. Also, since they’re not dairy-free, be sure to ask whether ghee or butter is used in the preparation.
- Sibling by Pushkin’s in Sacramento, CA – This little breakfast and lunch place isn’t paleo to begin with, but it has a menu that can be easily adapted. Just clarify ingredients and make substitutions as necessary. For AIP, a special-order salad is your best bet.
- As Quoted in San Francisco, CA – This breakfast and lunch café was founded on the belief that food can be medicine. In addition to being 100% gluten-free, most of their menu is also dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free. They feature local seasonal vegetables, pastured meat and eggs, bone broth-based soups, as well as salads and sandwiches. While not a paleo restaurant, there are plenty of paleo options. Just clarify ingredients with the staff and adapt your order accordingly.
- Kye’s in Santa Monica, CA – This is a restaurant that specializes in “sandwiches without the bread.” Instead, each is wrapped in either nori, romaine, or collard greens. You can order any of them “paleo-style” where they remove the rice and add a cauliflower/almond meal mash. For AIP, ask questions to help you modify your order.
- Oceans and Earth in Yorba Linda, CA – Much of their menu is easily adapted to paleo and with careful ordering, AIP should be possible. This restaurant also has a unique focus on nutrient-density. They have trademarked the name Living Salad: The greens for their menu are harvested from their own greenhouse in the morning with their roots intact, and not fully picked until right before serving, to retain maximum nutrients.
- Seoul Spice in Washington, DC – This “build your own meal” restaurant focuses on Korean cuisine. For paleo, build a salad, and add protein, veggies, sauce, and toppings. Since all of the meat appears to be pre-marinated, you may not be able to eat AIP here. Ask about the ingredients.
- Fresh Kitchen: 10 locations in FL – Another “build your own plate” restaurant with lots of paleo options. In addition to being gluten-free, most of the menu is dairy-free and refined sugar-free as well. They make their own sauces, and olive oil is their primary cooking oil. For AIP, ask the staff to clarify the ingredients.
- Brightwok Kitchen in Chicago, IL – This restaurant is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and peanut-free. The cuisine is Asian-inspired, and you “build your bowl”, choosing your base, protein, vegetables and sauce. You can definitely build a paleo bowl, but many of their sauces contain soy. If strict paleo or AIP, just bring your own sauce. I especially like that each bowl comes with your choice of 4 vegetables in addition to your protein. After all, vegetables are the base of the AIP food pyramid.
- Roots Café in Westbrook, ME – This breakfast and lunch café makes everything in-house with attention to quality. Paleo options are eggs, lettuce-wrap sandwiches, smoothies, soups, and salads. For AIP, a custom salad is your best bet. You may need to bring your own dressing.
- T. Loft: 4 locations in KS & MO – This chain of health cafés offer fresh-pressed juices and simple meals made from whole food ingredients. They actually have a “Primal Bowl” on their menu, which is their automatic paleo option (it’s also dairy-free.) But since they make each meal to order, they should be able to adapt many menu items for paleo and AIP customers.
- Nourish Café in Columbia, MO – This small café serves breakfast and lunch and is built on a philosophy of food as medicine. They pride themselves on serving all health-focused customers from paleo to vegan. In addition to being gluten-free, they’re also soy-free, corn-free, refined sugar-free, and refined oil-free. They serve sandwiches, wraps, salads, bowls, and smoothies. Much of the menu is easily modified to paleo. Just ask questions when you order. For AIP, it depends on whether the meat comes pre-seasoned. Call ahead to see if they can accommodate special orders.
- Rebel Roots Kitchen in Whitefish, MT – This clean eating café is located inside The Palace Bar and run by a former bartender who loves healthy food and wanted to share that with her community. Everything on the menu is gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO. The vegetables are organic, the meat humanely raised, and the fish wild-caught. It’s a small, casual, Asian-Hawaiian inspired menu, and while it’s not 100% paleo, it’s very paleo-friendly. Cauliflower rice is the base for many dishes. Since this is a one-woman show, hours vary depending on the season.
- Five on Black: 5 locations in MT & CO – Are you sensing a theme with the 100% gluten-free “build your own meal” restaurants? They’re great, because it makes it much easier to accommodate special diets. This restaurant focuses on Brazilian flavors. You can definitely order paleo here, but since much of the menu automatically includes spices, you’ll need to ask the staff questions to modify your order for AIP.
- Posana in Asheville, NC – This upscale restaurant creates it’s menu from this philosophy: “Nourish everyone who walks through our doors.” The chef’s wife has celiac disease, which inspired them to make the restaurant 100% gluten-free. With the focus on fresh food, much of the menu can be adapted to paleo, but you will need to make your requests very clear with the staff. Dairy features prominently in this menu and is likely the default cooking fat unless you request otherwise. They also have an excellent reputation for accommodating AIP requests.
- Inday Restaurant in New York City, NY – This “build your own bowl” restaurant focuses on Indian flavors. You choose your base, proteins, sides, garnishes and “crunch”, and they have some great variety in their bases including cauliflower “rice” or a roast squash “steak”. This looks easily adaptable to paleo, but I recommend asking questions, especially if you’re AIP as nightshades feature highly in Indian cooking.
- The Little Beet: 6 locations in NY and DC – This casual eatery prides itself on accommodating diverse dietary needs. The restaurant is 100% gluten-free, and from there you can go to their website and filter their menu for dairy-free, soy-free, etc. to get a sense of how to build your paleo plate. There is no nightshade-free filter, so AIP-ers will need to ask questions before ordering.
- Little Beet Table: 2 locations in NY and IL – While named similarly to the restaurant above, this is an upscale restaurant with completely different owners. The menu is easily adapted to paleo or AIP, but you’ll have to communicate well with your waitstaff when you order.
- Café Avalaun in Cleveland, OH – This restaurant is owned by a family who follow a primal lifestyle for their own health. The chef is even a certified health coach and familiar with many healing diets. While this isn’t a paleo restaurant, it is paleo-friendly. The menu has a detailed allergy key with some items labeled paleo. For the ones that aren’t, many can be modified with help from the staff. The chef also prides himself on accommodating special dietary needs, so if you’re following the AIP, ask for help with your order.
- Bastion Eat Well in Portland, OR – In addition to being gluten-free, they’re also soy-free and refined sugar-free, and the only dairy on their menu is ghee. It’s a breakfast and lunch restaurant with many paleo options including soups with a bone broth base, and grain-free versions of waffles, fried chicken, and tacos. For AIP, a personalized salad is your best bet. Clarify ingredients when ordering.
- Verde Cocina in Portland, OR – A gluten-free restaurant with a Mexican flair, they go out of their way to help people with special diets. They use a PF code to note paleo-friendly options on their menu, but they often require adaptations. Since nightshades feature heavily in Mexican cuisine, people following the AIP will need to ask if the chef can prepare a nightshade-free meal.
- Bedrock Eats & Sweets Market Café in Memphis, TN – Dairy features heavily on the menu, and some entrées contain corn or oats, but this restaurant does lean toward a paleo philosophy. Avoid the waffles (they contain whey protein and soy lecithin), but with help from the staff, you should be able to find a strict paleo offering elsewhere on the menu. I don’t recommend this restaurant for people following the AIP, since eggs and nightshades also feature heavily in their recipes.
- Bounty on Broad in Memphis, TN – This upscale restaurant has a menu that changes seasonally, and everything is served family-style. That means it’s the perfect place to go with a group of friends, in order to sample more of the menu. It’s also “quietly gluten-free”, meaning many people who eat there don’t realize that no gluten ever crosses the threshold. They’re simply eating delicious, farm-to-table meals.
- Gather Kitchen in Dallas, TX – This restaurant is 100% grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. Paleo labels are are marked clearly on the menu, and they even have Whole30 options. It’s a “build your own bowl” restaurant. You choose a base, veggies, protein, sauce, and garnish. For AIP, ask questions about the spices used in cooking, and bring your own sauce.
- Vibrant in Houston, TX – Open for breakfast and lunch, this restaurant is gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, non-GMO, and refined oil-free (they only use coconut, avocado and extra-virgin olive oil). Paleo options include soups, salads, eggs, salmon, and house-made sausage. Their breads and pancakes aren’t paleo (made with gluten-free grains and legumes), but their pastries are made with coconut and nut-based flours. For AIP, double-check ingredients, but it looks like their Golden Bone Broth Soup is AIP, and their salads can be adapted as well.
- Pharm Table in San Antonio, TX – This restaurant is based in Ayurvedic philosophy with a focus on nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods. There are plenty of paleo options on the menu including a “probiotic plate” of house-made ferments. However, due to the spices used throughout the menu, it would be challenging to eat AIP here. I recommend calling ahead of time to see if they can do a custom order.
- A Stir Bar and Restaurant in Seattle, WA – This upscale restaurant is both gluten-free and peanut-free, and they state on their website that they know all of their ingredients and are therefore able to cater to food sensitivities. There are plenty of paleo options on the menu, and the staff should be able to help you verify ingredients or adapt an order for AIP. For those of you who have been able to reintroduce hard cider, they are the largest independent cider bar in the USA, with 20 rotating varieties on tap, and 200 cider options in bottles. Hard cider is naturally gluten-free.
- GrabbaGreen: 20 locations throughout USA – This is an exciting chain because they are adding new locations all the time. Their menu is gluten-free, GMO-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free. Their proteins are seasoned very simply with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. To make a paleo meal, choose the build-your-own option and bring your own dressing. (Their dressings contain non-paleo ingredients, such as soy, seed oils, dairy, and agave, in addition to nightshades.) If you’re AIP, you’ll want to have reintroduced black pepper successfully to eat a full meal here, but for strict AIP, you can get a smoothie or side salad with fruits and veggies only.
- Covent Garden in Brisbane, Australia – An upscale restaurant that specializes in high tea, shared plates, charcuterie boards, and artisan entrées. They pride themselves on being allergy friendly and say they are committed to providing everyone with a stellar dining experience no matter your dietary requirements. Just be sure to communicate clearly with the staff.
- Gasthaus Zum Wohl in Vienna, Austria – This restaurant is 100% gluten-free and while they advertise also being 100% lactose-free, that’s not the same as dairy free. They do have cheese and clarified butter on the menu. They also have an allergen key and I’ve been told that P stands for paleo, but that tag is listed next to the cheese plate and many bread options. So, definitely clarify all ingredients when placing your order. If you communicate well with your server, many of items look easily adapted to paleo.
- Impact Kitchen in Toronto, Canada – This restaurant is where real-food vegan and paleo diets intersect. The meals start with vegetables and flavorful non-dairy sauces, with meat and seafood options for the paleo crowd and gluten-free grain and legume options for the vegan crowd. The only dairy on the menu is butter and whey protein as optional additions to beverages. They also have a reputation for accommodating AIP requests. Just clarify ingredients with the staff and adapt your order accordingly.
- Noglu in Paris, France – This little café is 100% gluten-free with dairy-free options. The menu is small and changes daily, but they always have a burger and salad on the menu, which can be combined for a paleo meal. Just be sure to clarify ingredients with the staff. Since much of the menu is prepared in advance, it might be hard to eat AIP here.
- Tawa Bakery and Restaurant in Abu Dhabi, UAE – A 100% gluten-free bakery that also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is no paleo key on the menu, but there are plenty of options that look paleo-friendly (and even AIP-friendly) if you clarify ingredients and adapt accordingly.
Let’s Thank Them with Our Business
The majority of new restaurants fail within the first 3 years, and when you’re catering to a niche audience you’re taking a higher risk. Let’s thank these restaurants and keep them in business! We can’t expect them to be there for our birthday, if we don’t support them throughout the year. If you’re lucky enough to live nearby, become a regular customer. For the rest of us, we have a wish list of places to visit. Time to plan some travel!
Minimum Requirements to Add a Restaurant to this List
I would love to expand this list, but my standards are high, my friends! There’s a reason this list is special. If you know of a restaurant that meets the following requirements, comment below.
- In order to make the list of 100% paleo restaurants, every item on the menu has to conform to a strict paleo template.
- In order to make any of the lists, the restaurant has to be 100% gluten-free. That means no wheat anywhere on the menu. Having a “gluten-free menu” is not enough to qualify.
- At least 50% of the menu has to be paleo-friendly. No gluten-free pizza, pasta or vegan food joints.
- It has to be a restaurant that serves meals (not a bakery, juice shop, coffee shop, etc.).
- The restaurants on these lists include casual cafés and upscale eateries. The one thing they all have in common is that you can spontaneously stop by and grab a meal. While there are great paleo catering and meal delivery services, they require advance ordering and therefore don’t qualify for this list.
I realize that you might have a favorite restaurant that doesn’t meet this criteria. That’s OK! It is indeed possible to find local places that can accommodate our special diet, and it’s a real gift when that happens. Here’s the thing, though: In restaurants, there are a lot of staff involved with food preparation, and it’s really easy for one to make a mistake or simply be misinformed. The less allergy-friendly the restaurant, the higher the risk of exposure to intolerant foods. I created this post to discover the places where relaxation can be returned to our restaurant experience. These restaurants are the dream!
5 Tips for Ordering in Non-Paleo Restaurants
While it’s exciting that there are any 100% paleo restaurants on the planet at all, most of us don’t live near one. So, here are my best tips for ordering a paleo and/or AIP meal in a non-paleo restaurant:
- Research restaurants in advance. The Eat Well Guide helps you find farm-to-table restaurants, which serve high-quality food and are more likely to accommodate special dietary needs. Find Me Gluten-Free is a smartphone app where customers rate restaurants on their gluten-free options and safety measures.
- Tip well. When you greet your server, tell them that you have food allergies so will need them to ask the chef some questions. But also tell them before you order that you tip very well for this extra service (and be sure you do!)
- Look at the menu like everything is available à-la-carte. Most of the menu items will include foods you can’t eat, but you can likely find a meal you can create.
- Use the word “allergy”. This is something restaurant staff take more seriously than “food intolerance.”
- Keep it simple. Don’t talk about your diagnosis or every single ingredient that affects you negatively. Instead scan the menu for something that you believe you can eat, and then ask your server to check with the chef regarding any potential hidden ingredients that you can’t eat. For me, I always have them doublecheck it’s gluten, dairy and nightshade-free, and I explain this means no butter and no red pepper spices, including paprika. Your list might be different.
Other Travel Resources
This recipe roundup was first published in 2017 but is updated annually. Last update 1/9/24.
Do You Have My Books?
Locanut in NYC is AMAZING! Paleo, can be AIP modified and paleo baked goods!! So good!
Thanks, Shay! I just added it to the list.
Love this list! Sadly, we in Portland (Oregon) have lost many paleo and dedicated gluten-free restaurants in the last year or so. One of my favorite paleo restaurants, Cultured Caveman, could not withstand the drastically reduced traffic due to the pandemic. And now I’m hearing Joule may be closed (according to their instagram). It breaks my heart.
Hi Andrea. I just checked out Joule’s post. What a sad and strange situation. It looks like they haven’t given up yet and actually have enough customer support to continue, but something happened internally that’s causing them to shut their doors temporarily. The reason remains a mystery. I hope they’re able to re-open in a new location. Keep following their page and definitely give them your business if and when they do. Portland’s a beautiful town. Here’s to persistent, resilient entrepreneurs and the loyal customers who keep them in business. It’s been a tough year for us all!
Hi
Are there any restaurants in Miami , gluten free paleo friendly ?
Hi JM. All the restaurants I know are already on the list, and Miami hasn’t yet made an appearance. If you hear otherwise, please let me know.
Here’s one in the Cleveland area:
Cafe Avalaun-100% gluten free with a paleo philosophy. http://www.cafeavalaun.com/#home
Really delicious too. I attended a class they held in their off hours that taught cooking for AIP!
Thanks for the recommendation, Michelle. I just added them to the list!
Sad to tell you that The Cultured Caveman closed permanently in July of 2020.
Oh, this is so sad! They were an institution. I wonder how many of these restaurants will end up surviving the pandemic. It’s such a challenging time for all restaurants, but I imagine niche restaurants are having an even tougher time. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll update the list.
The cave paleo beastro in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – https://www.the-cave.ca/menu. Almost their entire menu is paleo-friendly and the sweet potato hash is amazing.
Also checked out celebrate gluten free, also in Edmonton – cute little bakery with amazing baked goods.
Krista, thanks so much for letting me know about Cave Paleo Beastro. I’ve added them to the list. I didn’t add the bakery, since this list is restaurants only, but it looks like Edmonton has some great options!
Thank you for this we travel a lot and have 4 kids with different food needs this will be great to have on our next trip.
Hello, I’m from Krakow ;). If you’re celiac I will recommend visiting Zakrecona Kawiarenka. The place is 100% gluten free. Sometimes I go to the Chimera restaurant to pick up my lunch. They are not certified gluten free, but the place offers you some paleo options. For gluten free meat and organic vegetables, I recommend farmer’s marked called “Targ Pietruszkowy”. For buying snacks I would send you to the “Natura” health food store. Good luck 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to share those recommendations, Katarzyna.
Thank you for doing all this.Your contribution is truly changing lives of others. Your book “A Simple Guide to the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol” helped me tremendously. <3
What a beautiful testimonial! Thank you, Katarzyna. For anyone who’d like to know more about that book, here’s a link: https://www.phoenixhelix.com/simple-guide/
I found a great little place while visiting Denver last week (mmm…COFFEE! Paleo Bistro) They might qualify for your list…http://www.mmm-coffee.com/
Hi Tiffany. They’re already on the list: #8 under 100% Gluten-Free Restaurants with a Paleo Philosophy. I’m glad you had a chance to check them out!
I recently found Properly Fueled in Bordentown, NJ. Delicious! They are Gluten Free, Paleo, locally sourced. Very accommodating. Might need a couple modifications to be AIP but they are happy to pull out their ingredients list on anything.
Hi Andrea. I just checked their menu, and while they do have some gluten-free offerings, their menu isn’t 100% gluten-free. So, it doesn’t qualify for this list.
Paleo Supply opened recently in London – it was food truck, now has a permanent unit at Canary Wharf.
Hi Jen. I did a little research, and unfortunately they don’t qualify for the list. While they are called Paleo Supply, they have gluten & processed food on their menu as well. For example, today they’re selling an Oreo shake which is topped with Oreo cookies. I spoke with the owner and she said that she’s blending her old and new food businesses together. The shake is part of her old business (which isn’t going away). So, you can find paleo options here, but the risk of cross-contamination is high as well.
That’s a shame..I had high hopes! Thanks for looking into them though, this list is a great resource!
I recommend the Backbone Cafe in Sacramento, and also Primal Santa Cruz. Thanks!
Hi Tara. Backbone has gluten on the menu so doesn’t qualify for the list, but Primal Santa Cruz looks like a perfect fit. I’ve just added them to the list. Thanks for the suggestion!
This Bed & Breakfast in Vermont isn’t a restaurant, so doesn’t fit the qualifications for the list. But I wanted to give them a shoutout here in the comments, because they offer AIP-friendly breakfasts with advance notice. How cool is that? https://www.stonehillinn.com/aip-dietary-restriction-breakfasts
I’d recommend considering adding Just Be Kitchen in Denver, CO to the list. They are a paleo restaurant, but I ate there while on strict AIP, and they were able to accommodate me. Plus, the positive energy in that place is something everyone needs!
Ali, they are perfect for the list! I just added them. Thank you. I love their mission statement: “To serve mindful mouthfuls from a conscious kitchen with kindness on a plate.”
Cultured Caveman no longer has food trucks. All business is in the restaurant. I think this changed beginning of this year.
Thanks for letting me know, Laurie! I updated the blog post accordngly.
Hi, I’d like to recommend Brodo (multiple locations) in NYC https://www.brodo.com.
Not AIP though – there’s black pepper in all their broths, and tomatoes in some.
Hi David. Brodo doesn’t qualify for the list because they don’t serve full meals. I should do a separate post at some point with a list of broth bars, though. I love that they’re a trend!
Bryan from Kitava here – I appreciate you including us on this list! I’d like to address the comment about our AIP selections. We definitely have more than one AIP option, and are well-versed in the protocol (though we’re always learning!). Please visit our website to download the PDF version of our AIP menu, http://www.kitava.com.
Hi Bryan. Thanks so much for all that you do! I think your restaurant sounds wonderful. Spices are a confusing part of the AIP. The protocol actually excludes more than just nightshades. It also excludes seed-based spices like cumin and mustard, and other spices like black pepper. That’s where your menu doesn’t currently match the protocol. For example, unless you’ve changed your recipes, black pepper is included in many items on your menu labeled AIP. This article might be helpful to you. It explains it a little bit more about the black pepper exclusion, and the list at the top includes all the AIP-friendly herbs and spices. I realize this is an added challenge for restaurants.
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for the reply! Yes, we’re definitely aware of spices and black pepper being a part of the protocol. However, we also realize black pepper specifically is an early re-intro ingredient, and since it’s difficult to eliminate in cooking, we indicate clearly where it is on our AIP menu, as well as the circumstances where guests can ask for us to exclude it from certain dishes.
Have you visited our website and downloaded the AIP PDF version? I would like to know your thoughts after viewing that.
Bryan, you are awesome. I’m so sorry – I didn’t notice that you had a little key at the bottom regarding black pepper and where things can be prepared without it. You are definitely one of the most educated and AIP-friendly restaurants on this list. I’ve updated your listing accordingly. I’m on the East Coast, but next time in San Francisco, I will definitely look you up!
Just wanted to update that Hu Kitchen in NY only has 1 location now.
Thanks, David. I just updated the list accordingly.
Thanks for this! It’s super helpful! Squirrel and the Bee in Millburn,NJ is entirely grain free. It’s mainly a bakery, but it has a lunch menu https://www.squirrelandthebee.com/full-menu/.
Thank you so much for sharing! I keep a list of restaurants to research to add to this post. I’ll definitely check them out when I have a minute.
Sarah, I just wanted to let you know I added Squirrel and the Bee to the list today. Thanks again for the recommendation.
Foxy falafel in Minneapolis! They have a daily AIP special!
Hi Brinn. Is their entire kitchen 100% gluten-free? That’s a requirement to make the list (not just gluten-free options). Let me know!
This is an amazing resource – I have bookmarked it on my browser. Thank you so much for making it and keeping it updated!
You’re so welcome! I refer to it myself every time I travel, always hopeful there’s one nearby.
This is fantastic – thank you for putting this list together. A new restaurant just opened up in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. I ate there last week and it was fantastic – the staff was very willing and able to answer all of my questions (including those regarding my modified AIP needs)
Carnivore – 5313 Ballard Ave., Seattle, WA
Lauren, I just checked out their website and they are perfect for this list. Thank you for letting me know, especially how they were able to help you modify the menu for AIP. I just added them.
Thank you so much for this amazing list. So helpful.
In Los Angeles, CA, there is Amara Kitchen (gf, paleo), Honey Hi (gf) and Kitchen Mouse (gf, dairy free).
Linda, thanks for those nominations. Two out of the three you suggested don’t qualify for the list, but one did! Every restaurant on my list is 100% gluten-free, which is what makes it so special, and Amara doesn’t meet that requirement. I also don’t list 100% vegan restaurants, since protein is an essential part of a meal and paleo protein options aren’t available there. However, Honey Hi is perfect for this list! I just added it.
Hi Eileen… Just to put a bug in your ear that my goal is to open an allergen-free café in the South of France, as of the summer of 2018. I’m just now finishing the NTC programme, and next year I’ll undertake a 6-month culinary arts programme as ofJanuary… and then it’s go, go, go! I’m already working on the menu ideas. Everything will be gluten free and options will be provided that are dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, seed-free, nightshade-free. I’ll definitely keep you posted.
Jan, please do keep me posted! Not only will the French AIP community be excited, but I will be tempted to book a trip!
As a former employee, I’d like to share that Cultured Caveman restaurant (and the cart) has Low-FODMAP options on their menus. They’re willing to adjust some items to accommodate AIP/Low-FODMAP for those of us with SIBO. They’re awesome! Now that I’m in New Mexico, I appreciate what they do even more.
Janel, that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Barcelona/Spain has amazing gf places that can adapt to paleo/AIP if you order properly/talk to waiter: eg Copasetic, Gut (I found paleo dishes there, all 100% gf, and TASTY), La Fonda, La Lluna… and many other places, approved by spanish coelic society listed on the internet. Still, make sure to have a spanish celiac card printed out to make sure the waiter knows what you can’t and cannot eat.
For Catalunya/Spain, is also a place called Restaurante El Oasis in Lleida, which is gf, df besides butter in a few dishes, and has many paleo options and delicious. Carrefour is a great large chain that carries everything you need to cook yourself AIP/paleo, from plantains over good meat/fish and organic condiments.
The Arizona chain Picazzo’s (Tucson, Phoenix, Tempe, Sedona, Flagstaff) has also a bunch of paleo friendly dishes (baked sweet potatos with herbs, salads, smoothies that are paleo plus coconut ice cream, and dishes with meat that I think contain non-GMO canola oil as the “non-paleo-ingredient” but might work for some here).
Phoenix, AZ: grabbagreen: gf place, you can assemble your salad and protein how you want and create it according to your AIP or paleo needs! Also ‘nourish’ is amazing for food, dedicated gf facility, and completely labelled what the ingredients are (what contains eggs, nuts, etc). Both places don’t have a proper restaurant atmosphere, more like a cantina, but the food is worth it.
Salt Lake City, UT: Zest kitchen and bar has some dishes that are paleo, everything is 100% gf and vegan (besides you can add cheese for a few dishes on request). Most amazing carrot cake that is nut-based, so not AIP, but i think it’s paleo. Some salads can be made AIP, and they have great teas and smoothies. Most warm dishes are heavy on nightshades and can contain buckwheat (which is glutenfree) so make sure to check with your waiter.
Heidelberg/Germany: Schiller’s Cafe is 100% gf, much is df too. Amazing cakes, often baked with cassava flour, also savory dishes (quiches etc),competent staff. This is not a paleo place, but with some conversation you can figure out what you can all eat.
Strasbourg/France: La Pause Quinoa, cheap gf diner. I had a beef burger with salad and a fruit salad, and also here very knowledgeable owner. Paris has gf restaurants with paleo options, too.
Vienna, Austria is a dream eating 100% paleo! Gasthaus Zum Wohl has paleo marked dishes, and all is 100% gf and df. Super tasty while being not very pricey for the quality. Also in Vienna, and 100% paleo: http://www.vonwalden.at, has always ca 2 paleo dishes for a very good price, knows AIP, friendly and fun owner, AND he sells paleo bread, jerky, sesame pasta and other treats. Owner has a facebook site (Von Walden Paleo) where he posts links, and you can contact him what the daily meals are.
Stockholm, Sweden: Under Kastanjen has gf food that can be adapted to be paleo, and offer a scenic porch to eat. STHLM RAW has raw food, much is paleo, and cashew based cakes. Watch out you don’t eat cake sweetened with agave, but the owner knows all her ingredients.
There are some more places that I can add later. And always, still let your waiter know about allergies, even if it is listed here as a gf or paleo place.
Hi Lena. First of all, I’m so impressed with your paleo travel expertise. You’re an inspiration! Thanks for your recommendations. Unfortunately, most of these don’t qualify for my list. You can see the minimum requirements towards the end of the blog post above. However, some did make it! I’ll list those first below (and thank you for those!) Then, I’ll explain why your other recommendations didn’t. Before making any more suggestions, if you would make sure they meet the requirements first, that would save me a lot of time. I spent hours today visiting websites, because I vet and verify every restaurant on the list. (One of the reasons this list is so unique!) Unfortunately, I can’t invest that much time again.
-GrabbaGreen is a perfect for this list, and the fact that it’s a growing nationwide chain makes it an even better resource. Thank you sharing! I’ve added it to the list, and I’ll be seeking those out on my next US road trip.
-Your two recommendations in Vienna were perfect also, and I’ve added them, too: Gasthaus Zum Wohl and Von Walden.
-Unfortunately, the Barcelona restaurants (Copaset, Gut, La Fonda and La Lluna) all had gluten on the menu. A minimum requirement for this list is a 100% gluten-free restaurant. There are thousands of restaurants out there that offer gluten-free options. The rare ones don’t let gluten in the kitchen and those are the ones I’m celebrating in this post. For the same reason, Under Kastanjen in Sweden doesn’t make the cut either.
-Restaurante El Oasis in Lleida would have made the list, but sadly they’re no longer in operation.
-Picazzo’s didn’t make the cut because not enough of the menu is paleo-friendly. Its focus is gluten-free versions of classic italian food (pasta, etc.) And while a couple of menu items could work, the minimum requirement for the list is that half the menu is paleo-friendly, rather than just a few choices. Again – this is a very special list. La Pause Quinoa in France didn’t meet this requirement either.
-Zest and STHLM RAW didn’t make the cut because they are vegan restaurants. While you can sometimes find a meal that works in vegan restaurants, it lacks nutrient-dense paleo proteins, so I don’t feature them in this list.
-Schiller’s cafe in Germany is really a bakery rather than a restaurant. Quiche seems to be the only savory option they regularly offer, and that’s not enough to qualify for the list.
-I hope you are not offended. I think we all work with whatever restaurants we find when we travel. I’m just highlighting the best of the best in this post, with the hope that more pure paleo restaurants will hit the market as our community grows.
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for your reply. My goal was not to cause you extra work, but I read afterwards the specifics for your list – I only added some comments on backcountrypaleo’s facebook site about a few places I’d add, and got recommended to just post here. Sorry I didn’t read your entire article before posting something.
I totally understand the reasons for not adding some suggestions to your list, and after all, it’s your list. My goal was to just mention places where I (have celiac and am extremely sensitive to cross contamination) I ate safe and paleo food and inspire people to travel 🙂 However, some suggestions were accepted and I hope people visit them.
One more: http://lagorcerocks.com/ A paleo retreat in France cooking you paleo food – how amazing is that? Haven’t been there yet, but sounds like a dream.
Is there a reason http://www.nourish123.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17_Menu_Gilbert_011217.pdf didn’t make it? You can really eat paleo and even AIP there and the guy even knew what AIP is and which dishes have no nightshades. I’m not affiliated to them, but I did like their concept a lot.
The spanish suggestions do partly list items with gluten which freaked me initially out – but they have crosscontamination measures/different prep spaces, are celiac aware and the spanish coeliac society was endorsing them. I ate without a contamination problem, and from my experience Spain is one of the most celiac aware countries regarding cross contamination measures.
Vegan restaurants aren’t so nutrient dense, but they were for me partly a starvation saver when traveling through with no kitchen, so I thought I just suggest them. Sometimes I’m just glad to eat something safe to get me through, but yes, wouldn’t recommend them for best nutrient density as a paleo restaurant (again, I didn’t read your entire article before posting).
Sorry that El Oasis is now closed, that’s sad, they were still open 1.5 years ago and amazing.
Schiller’s facebook site is a little thin and shows only their cakes off. They have smoked salmon and several egg options, plus cassava based baked sweet and savory stuff, but again, no need to list them – especially as all is in German and no menu listed online, which makes it difficult to check. There is another place in Hamburg that offers paleo-friendly options and all is gf df, but again they might not reach the 50% mark.
Thanks for understanding, Lena. How did I miss Nourish? It’s perfect, and I added it to the list. As for La Gorce Rocks, that DOES feel like a dream, but it might be one from the past, sadly. I checked their website and right now they’re only accepting self-catering guests (people who bring their own food). They had a baby, which shifted priorities. I asked them to let me know if they start offering catered retreats again.
We also have a Gluten-Free Miracles eatery in Lexington, KY. Paleo breakfasts, lunches, and desserts.
Thanks, Lisa. I added it to the list!
I am going to Atlanta and maybe Maco, GA next week. Any good AIP/Paleo friendly restaurants?
Hi Basmah. This is a full list of restaurants that are 100% gluten-free and paleo-friendly. There are none currently in Georgia. Your best bet is to follow the tips at the bottom of the article, on how to order meals in non-paleo restaurants. Have a great trip!
Mason-Dixon Bakery & Bistro in Huntsville, AL (and adding a location soon near Birmingham, AL) is 100% gluten free with a good paleo selection. https://masondixonbakery.com/
Kayla, thanks for sharing! I added it to the list.
Any AIP friendly restaurants in Connecticut? I’ll be traveling there this June 2017, for my husband’s sister’s wedding… I will have reintroduced some foods by that time (hoping for successful reintroductions…) I’m starting my reintroductions on April 17th. Thanks in advance and thanks for all the helpful info on your website (podcasts, recipes, snack guides, etc!)
Hi Christa. Have fun at the wedding! To my knowledge, there are no 100% paleo nor 100% gluten-free restaurants in Connecticut. Just follow the advice at the end of the article for ordering paleo in non-paleo restaurants. You might also want to listen to Podcast Episode 45: Social Lives on the AIP. We talked about eating at weddings specifically. Best wishes with your reintros!
Hi, Eileen,
This is such a great resource, thank you! I’m wondering if you or anyone has any suggestions for Hawaii, specifically Honolulu or Maui (Paia or South Maui)? I’m traveling there in May.
Thanks!
SJ, it’s very rare to find a restaurant that meets the criteria for this list, and to my knowledge there are none in Hawaii. That said, you can follow the tips at the bottom of this article for placing paleo orders in non-paleo restaurants. Have a wonderful trip! One other option is to bring some meals with you from a company like Paleo on the Go (which is what I do whenever I go on vacation.) They also deliver directly anywhere in the US, including Hawaii.
So so awesome! This makes me want to travel!
Me, too!
I used to buy food from Outside the Box, a Paleo food truck that also delivers food at your home in Seattle area. It’s been a while, but it served me well for some time, including during whole 30. Their website is eat-otb.com
Hi Gabi. They’ve dropped the food truck and are only a meal delivery service now, which is why they don’t qualify for this list.
Hi Eileen,
I’ve been to Asheville NC twice in the last two years and eaten at Posana multiple times! It’s my favorite restaurant, hands down! They don’t advertise as being 100% gluten free but actually, their entire kitchen is gluten free! That’s wheat I’ve been told when I’ve been. They do not use any gluten containing ingredients. The one exception is that they sell beer, but never cook with it. Just wanted to share that!
Thanks, Chellie! I just called the restaurant to confirm. This is great news! I can’t wait to check out Posana myself. I’ve update their listing in the article accordingly.
Thank you so much for this incredibly comprehensive resource! After reading it, it’s clear I need to plan a trip to Australia/New Zealand. One quick note–I live in Asheville, NC and Posana is my favorite local restaurant (#24 on the 100% GF restaurants list). I wanted to clarify that they do in fact have a 100% dedicated gluten free kitchen. In fact, they have an Excellent rating from the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America’s (GIG) accreditation program. It’s the perfect place for Celiacs like me, and they’re incredibly accommodating for AIP.
Eliza, I’m a little slow on the uptake. I just got another reader comment about Posana and called the restaurant to confirm that the entire restaurant is 100% gluten-free. They just don’t want to scare wheat-eating customers away by making that clear on their website. So, I was a little confused, but I updated the listing. Thank you!
I recently ate at the Paleo restaurant called Cavé in NJ and it was delicious! https://www.cavepaleoeatery.com
It should be added to this list
Dominique, Cavé is on the list already – #6 in section 2. 🙂
What a great article Eileen!!! I can’t wait to go try the one in Kuala Lumpur… and while I dream about Malaysia, I’ll go check out the sandwich bar in Santa Monica for sure!!
PS: Love the website redesign!!
Ambra
Thanks, Ambra! After 4 years I was overdue. I hired Christina from A Clean Plate (she also does web design) and couldn’t be happier with the results!
Did you check out Zeal, also in Boulder?
I love Shine, Fresh Thymes is a fave, as is Blooming Beets! Boulder is amazing for eating and staying healthy!
Hi Michele. Zeal isn’t 100% gluten-free. That’s why they didn’t make the list.
Wow, this list is amazing, thank you! I would add a Canadian one (hopefully there are more!): Impact Kitchen in Toronto. http://www.impactkitchen.ca It is a mostly paleo place, although they do have rice and butter options. Everything is easily customized and they brought out a full ingredient list binder when I had questions. They accommodated AIP (they had heard of it but didn’t have an AIP menu or anything, I had to go through what I couldn’t have) and their manager spent a bunch of time with me making sure everything was checked and my meal was safe. Their food is delicious!
Ana, this restaurant is perfect for the list. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve added it!
Eileen, thanks for adding us to the list! And yes, we do allow people to adapt the menu as they wish. 🙂
Hi Eileen,
It would be fantastic if you want to add our restaurant to your list. We are located in Malmö, Sweden and opened in September 2016.
We serve vegan, raw food, LCHF and of course Paleo at our restaurant and everything is gluten free! Both Jonas Bergqvist and Jonas Colting, two well known Paleo profiles in Sweden, has endorsed our restaurant.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQQV98UBuW7/?taken-by=jonascolting&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPKMP42g4RC/?taken-by=paleoinstitute_jonasbergqvist&hl=en
Please look at our website (currently only in Swedish but I hope you can use Google Translate). http://www.inthepink.se You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @inthepinkrealfoodandcoffee.
Best regards,
Heléne Jensen
Hi Helene. Thanks so much for letting me know about your new restaurant. It definitely looks paleo-friendly, and I’ve added it to the list. Just to confirm – I’m assuming you allow people to adapt the menu, making substitutions as needed to meet their dietary restrictions?
Great list – thank you!!!
This is AMAZING. Thank you so much for putting in the effort to create this. It will benefit so many.
Please remember that paleo and celebrity, Chef Pete Evans’ restaurants in Australia – Asana in Brisbane, Qld; Heirloom in Perth, WA.
Carolyn, Pete includes wheat on his menu. That was totally shocking to me, but that means he doesn’t qualify for this list. Every restaurant above is 100% gluten-free (not simply offering a gluten-free menu).
So when do we all relocate down under?!? Thanks for all your hard work in putting this list together! It sort of feels a little like a challenge to try to find some places where I live to add to the list…
Right?!
A new one in Bothell, Wa! Still looking forward to going. Their menu looks to be “Primal” but gluten and grain free. http://revolvefoodwine.com
Thanks, Heidi! I added Revolve to the list.
Just so you know the Paleo Café has been disbanded in Australia. I can recommend EnGage in Adelaide which has taken its place. Same people running it and still paleo food, just amazing.
Tallia, I can’t find EnGage online. Can you share a link?
Eileen, love the list! In addition, I have had significant success with a restaurant in Las Vegas called Greens & Proteins. Their cooking is very clean and they have a great build your own menu. They also sell Power Balls 🙂
Another one to check out is Caveman Truck in Indianapolis. I didn’t have a chance to try it (as they were closed) but Caveman Truck is regarded as thee “place” to eat paleo in Indy!
Hi Kelly. Caveman Truck doesn’t have regular hours, which is why I didn’t include them. They seem to have switched to catering events only. Greens and Proteins unfortunately isn’t 100% gluten-free, so doesn’t qualify.
Amazing!
Please consider adding the following paleo options in Melbourne:
Patch cafe, Richmond
Craved by Caveman – food truck
Paleo Den
Hi Holly. You are making me want to move to Australia! I’m waiting to hear back from Patch Cafe confirming that their sourdough bread is gluten-free (that’s the only potential gluten on their menu that I can see.) I added the other two to the list. Thank you so much for commenting!
Thank you for this list! Checking out every single menu before going anywhere just makes going out to eat so stressful and not worth it.
Exactly, Allison! That’s why I double-checked the menus of every restaurant in this post. Advance research. 🙂
Thanks so much for putting this together. None in Ireland where I am located presently but great to know when travelling.
Hopefully that will change some day. If it does, let me know!
How bout Patch cafe (http://patchcafe.com.au/#menu) in Melbourne Australia and also Serotonin Eatery (https://www.zomato.com/serotonin-eatery) in Melbourne also?
Hi Catherine. Since Seotonin is a 100% vegetarian restaurant, it doesn’t qualify for the list, but Patch Cafe looks like it has potential! I just need to find out whether their sourdough bread is made with gluten or not. I know they offer paleo bread as well, but every restaurant on this list is also 100% gluten-free. I sent Patch an email and am just waiting for their reply.
Zealy bay soudough is made from wheat flour so it doesn’t qualify, but I’m guessing gluten contamination may be less likely here since they are buying loaves rather than having dusty floating flour on the premises. I will be going here as it looks way more aip adaptable than any of the others on the list in Melbourne, soooo many pseudo grains 🙁
This is amazing and totally makes me want to live in Australia! They know what’s up down under! Thank you for your hard work!
Right?! I can see why Mickey Trescott was blown away when she visited there last summer. What I love about this list is that it can replace some travel fears with travel yens. 🙂
Wow Eileen! What a comprehensive, SUPER helpful post!! This will help so many people for sure. Thanks for taking the time to put this together, as I know it couldn’t have been easy!
Thanks, Michele. It took sooooo much time, lol! Way more than anticipated, but in the end I think it was worth it. I will absolutely be using this resource when I travel. You are so lucky to live in a city with a couple of these great restaurants!