Eating Gluten-Free in the South can be tricky with a capital T, but with a little planning and creativity, you won’t have to go hungry!
Please note that my experience is not your experience, and you will need to advocate and express your individual needs very clearly, any time you go out to eat.
These are my favorite places in Northwest Arkansas (NWA) that take Celiac Disease seriously.
Dedicated Gluten-Free:
1) Stoic Brews Alternative
My Faves:
- Charcuterie Board
- Sausage Pizza
- Sweet n’ Spicy New Yorker Pizza
- Moral Compass
This is a must-visit while in Bentonville! They are currently closed on Monday. It is not too far off of the square and it is in a fun area. The owner has Celiac Disease and opened it due to the lack of GF options that are safe in the area. All of the food is also oat-free and only a few rotational beers contain oats if you are allergic like me. The pizza has the chew that we all miss in GF pizza. My gluten-loving Dad even approves of this one which is high praise! They have a small menu, but it is done well. It is comprised of pizza, calzones, nachos, charcuterie, pretzels, and pupusas. My favorite pizza is sausage, which is technically not on the menu, but they will make it for you. I also highly recommend the charcuterie board-I am obsessed! The Moral Compass is my favorite GF Beer, but I was not a beer fan before my diagnosis. The Cream Ale and Hazy IPA are also delicious. My hubby, who is not Celiac, will gladly drink the beer here any day!
2) Conifer
- My favorite splurge/special-occasion restaurant! I highly recommend making a reservation.
- Rotating menu that changes hyper-seasonally.
- Not all drinks are GF, but they are well-labeled on the menu.
Open every day from 5:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. The Chef/Owner has Celiac Disease, and he trains his staff to cater to other dietary needs as well. He is a super nice guy, and is always willing to modify dishes, so no need to worry. I have many allergies/sensitivities, and the waiter/waitress will speak to the chef. They have literally gone as far as checking labels for me. They always have vegetarian dishes and generally have vegan dishes as well. The menu changes frequently, so if you don’t see anything that tickles your fancy, check back in a few weeks. Chef Cooper has been nominated for a James Beard Award two years in a row for his phenomenal food. One more amazing thing about the chef is that he makes sure his employees have health insurance and paid vacation!
3) Ryn
- 8-10 course GF tasting menu.
- A definite splurge, even more so than Conifer, but it is the same wonderful chef.
- As a very small operation, you must make sure to reserve your table. It is $150 per person and a 20% Service Charge is added to ensure the workers have consistent compensation. They do have a wine add-on as well. I have yet to go, but have heard it is an amazing 2.5-3.5 hour farm-to-table experience.
It is closed Sunday-Tuesday. They are open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday with the first seating starting at 5:30. I have heard that they encourage you to take a stroll on the farm, Sun Painted Farms, in between courses. I will update this once I am able to go for the incredible experience!
Not Dedicated Gluten-Free:
These resta
1) Juicy Tails (Rogers location):
My Faves:
- Charbroiled Oysters (no bread)
- Fresh Crawfish (seasonal)
- Argentina Shrimp or Jumbo Shrimp: Cajun, Garlic, & Hot
- Snow Crab
My absolute favorite place to go for an “anytime” kind of meal where they treat you like royalty! They literally know me by name, and most servers have my favorites memorized too. It’s safe to say this is the place I frequent, and I hope that you find it to be just as accommodating! Emily, the owner, is super sweet and trains her staff to take food sensitivities, intolerances, allergies, and Celiac Disease very seriously! The Manager, Jed, is absolutely amazing and knows to call it out to the kitchen as a “Gluten Allergy,” so there is not any confusion. He will literally wash his hands any time he goes to grab something for me which is so sweet! Lily and Eryn are wonderful and will take your Celiac needs very seriously! They have separate Celiac Condiment holders that they will bring out upon request with salt and pepper shakers, fresh paper towels, and ketchup (if needed). They are closed on Tuesday, so plan accordingly.
2) Wrights BBQ (Rogers location):
My Faves:
- Bacon Burnt Ends
- Ribs
- Brisket (wet)
- Rocketman (brisket, mashed potatoes, & burnt ends)
Make sure to tell them that you need “Allergy Board and prep.” They also cater to Alpha Gau, and other dietary needs/restrictions, so they will usually ask you what kind of allergy you have because they don’t make anyone sick. They will change their gloves across the line, grab a new board, wash the knife, put down parchment paper to weigh your meat, and grab a new package of meat. Please note that they are closed Sunday and Monday.
