Hey friends! It’s good to see you again. This week we are going to talk about Charlotte’s top 5 allergy friendly restaurants. If you are not from Charlotte, that’s ok too! You might find something helpful here or you can come back next week to read a non Charlotte related blog for everyone. Let’s dive in!
Over the last several years, gluten has been the STAR of the show. Gluten, I’ve got news for you! Your co-stars are ready for their close up. The top 8 allergens are currently milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soy and wheat. You will also see many people having an allergy to sesame, celery and more off the wall things! An allergy is typically life threatening and a sensitivity is typically not life threatening, but can still cause a lot of discomfort. Especially if eating multiple items that you are sensitive too at once.
I am allergic to peas and anything containing gluten. I am sensitive to coconut, soy, dairy, eggs, sunflower oil, hemp, all grains, tree-nuts, peanuts, sesame, apples, bananas, cod fish, pork, turkey, spinach, butternut squash, tomatoes, additives and the list just goes on.
Eating out use to be quite the debacle, but the following restaurants in Charlotte have made my life so much easier and are my go to for outings with friends.
Let’s kick this list off with my all time favorite spot! I cannot say enough about Legion Brewery. Not only is the environment absolutely amazing, but the staff is out of this world. I have had the pleasure of meeting one of the Chef’s, Chad who is always more than happy to make a delicious meal that tastes great and meets my needs! The manager and waiter’s are all patient, kind and greet us with smiles. They never make me feel like I am a burden. In fact, the first time we ate at Legion, they were out of their gluten free desert. So they grilled up some strawberries and sprinkled some powdered sugar on top. I truly believe that food is connected to community. I often feel left out, but at Legion that is never the case. The other great thing about this allergy friendly restaurant is that everyone wins! Their menu is packed full with burgers, salads, vegetarian options, and more! They also have a gluten free menu, but if you need more than a gluten free meal, just ask for the manager or chef. And if you are with people that drink, they have a great selection of beer and local liquor that my husband loves. I am happy to say that I feel safe eating at Legion Brewery and love bringing my friends and family.
When I first started having issues swallowing, Clean Juice absolutely saved my life! At one point I was eating there multiple times a day. I could barely get solid foods down, but their smoothies helped me get some much needed nutrients. It doesn’t necessarily matter what location you go to as EVERY location has impeccable service. One of the staff members, Mecca, (she’s no longer at the Northlake location) learned about my allergies and food sensitivities and created me a special drink! She put together a smoothie that is a carrot juice base, with frozen pineapple, mangos, vanilla, cinnamon and turmeric. I switch it up on occasion and will add kale or spirulina, but I love it the way it is. I currently go to the Clean Juice in the Stonecrest Shopping Center in South Charlotte. If you are in the area, I recommend checking them out. Every time I walk in, I feel right at home. They each know my name, make me feel special and are never bothered when I want to create a new allergy friendly smoothie. They are also very careful and use new gloves and an allergy blender when I come in. After a long day, it is nice being greeted with such great smiles and feeling safe when it’s time for a tasty treat!
For a more relaxed experience, I highly recommend Bang Bang Burger off Tremont Avenue near the Common Market. They have a Whole 30 approved burger bowl that is to die for. I am drooling about it now! I may have to take a break from writing and go get one haha! It has mixed greens, bacon, tomato, red onion, guac, hard boiled egg, sweet potato bites and it’s dressed with lemon juice and EVOO. Yalllll…it’s SO tasty! I get it without bacon and tomatoes and ask for avocado instead of quac. The lettuce has spinach, but if you can’t have spinach they will give you romaine, just ask a manager.
Could you eat breakfast for dinner? Me too! Sadly, they close for dinner, but you can brunch almost all day over there. I just discovered their Avocado Benedict, which is a split avocado baked with two eggs any style, topped with pepper jack cheese & cajun spices and served with pico de gallo & fresh fruit! It is TASTY and they will make it with just egg whites and if you ask; they won’t use any oils to make it! There are quite a few ways to adjust it, but that’s one of my favorite things to grab when brunching at Famous Toastery. I also learned that they can adjust their gluten free items like pancakes and waffles and make them DAIRY FREE! Now that’s amazing. Happy brunching friends.
Ready to celebrate a special occasion, go on a hot date or just like to be extra? (I fall into ALL of those categories) Capital Grille is the place to be. My husband and I ate at the Uptown location in Charlotte last month. We had a TERRIBLE experience at another restaurant which included me eating raw meat, but that is another story! We went out to celebrate me closing a large client and were really looking for a great experience. So we chose to go to Capital Grille, where it feels like you are stepping back in time. They are so attentive, generous and thoughtful. I had told one person about our bad experience at the other restaurant and before we new it the manager was congratulating me on my big WIN and comped our drinks. (PS: I don’t drink anymore as it’s not great for people with Autoimmune disorders. Can’t wait to write a blog about fru fru mocktails in the future!) Any who…they make everything fresh, so it is super easy to adjust and make a meal that is catered to your needs. If you haven’t had the opportunity to eat there yet, I highly recommend going to see what great service looks like.
On Another Note
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Have a recommendation for allergy friendly places to eat? Please comment below so that I can check it out! I am ALWAYS on the hunt for new amazing restaurants.
Disclaimer:
Please make sure to do your own research when trying new restaurants. The content on the blog Making the Switch is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. I, the author of Making the Switch, am not a medical professional and the information contained on this blog should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or health illness. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented here. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
