Gluten Free?

[sunny_stace]

I've recently been put on a gluten free diet for a health issue just weeks before heading to Universal for the first time in almost 12 years! I started researching online but thought I would ask here as well if anyone has any tips or insight on recent experiences with eating gluten free items in the parks, citywalk, and at the resorts!

What are some of your favourite menu items or locations to dine at? Any places to avoid altogether? Any stories,tips,and photos would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

 

[davper]

https://glutenfreepsd.wordpress.com...versals-islands-of-adventure-orlando-florida/

 

[macraven]

UO website has info on the gluten free eateries

 

[sunny_stace]

Thank you both!

After taking a much more in-depth look at the Universal website I have contacted their food service team with an email and cancelled a couple of the dining reservations I had made previously that don't look so promising now...I made a reservation at The Kitchen at the Hard Rock. Has anyone eaten from the GF menu there?

 

[macraven]

sunny_stace, check out the sticky that damo has, "where to eat at Universal."

use the search box in the upper right hand corner and put in gluten free.

i know some peeps have posted about gf dietary needs over the year

 

[schumigirl]

Also check out Raeven’s trip reports......

Her boyfriend is gluten free and his food always looks so nice........might give you a few ideas

 

[mhgmom]

I would love to hear what you find out! My husband is a Celiac and we're our trip is 4/7. I didn't find the Universal website overly helpful. One of my biggest questions is if any or all of the counter service venues have gluten free rolls/buns. I also tried calling the Hot Dog Hall of Fame to ask if they have gluten free bread and was put into voicemail. I left a message and haven't received a call back. That was 3 days ago.

 

[macraven]

Send an email to guest services

They will be able to guide you for the dietary restrictions

 

[Raeven]

Also check out Raeven’s trip reports......

Her boyfriend is gluten free and his food always looks so nice........might give you a few ideas

I was just going to tell you about our reviews but @schumigirl beat me to it! My dining reports are over on the Disney dining boards but have Universal dining too.

Universal has a lot of great places, and we’ve been accommodated everywhere we’ve been so far. On Citywalk he’s had burgers at Cowfish and NBC Grill, and both Anjoitos and Margaritaville have pretty large GF menus. Toothsome has a chicken alfredo he loves.

In the parks Mythos can be quite accommodating, they have a really good GF chocolate cake too.

At the hotels we’ve seen GF options even just to grab and go and haven’t had issues in any of the restaurants. Islands at Rpr had a really good breakfast pizza, Jake’s was able to modify quite a few items that weren’t marked online, Mama Dellas and Bice have GF pasta, and The Kitchen was delicious and has a large GF menu.

We ate at The Kitchen last May and he had the rotisserie chicken and creme brulee, the food was amazing and we’re going back for breakfast next trip.

I’ve also heard Vivo has GF pasta, The Palm is a great steakhouse, Breadbox was able to find GF bread for him but they did say there’s a danger of cross contamination there, and Amatista Cookhouse seems to have a decent amount of GF options too.

 

[sunny_stace]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

I did email Universal's Food Services team and they were full of helpful tips and recommendations. I also took some time to look at more TRs and reviews here on the Disboards and across the internet and have learned a lot in a short time!

I wasn't sure about the Mama Della's reservation we originally had, as I'm travelling with my DBFF (its our 25th friend-iversary! ) who has recently had to cut her sugar intake who specifically wanted to go there for tiramisu so I went ahead and cancelled it. I replaced it with a reservation at The Kitchen, and also made reservations at Mythos, Confisco Grille, and Lombard's Seafood Grille (she may not be down for sugar but my bestie loooooooves seafood!) I have seen many of recommendations for these locations and will be sure to report back on my findings!

Other than those sit-down table services spots, we plan to eat at Wizarding World locations the Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks (especially as I know Butterbeer is gluten free ), Thunder Falls Terrace, and I will probably try the baked potatoes available at some of the kiosks around UO (as long as they are still available of course.)

We do also have a grocery stop planned on the way to resort (we are using Tony Hind's service to and from the airport) so that will give me a chance to stock up on snacks and other options just in case they are needed.

I am soooooo excited for this trip and the encouragement and resources I've found thanks to all of you have been wonderful! Thanks again!

 

[schumigirl]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

I did email Universal's Food Services team and they were full of helpful tips and recommendations. I also took some time to look at more TRs and reviews here on the Disboards and across the internet and have learned a lot in a short time!

I wasn't sure about the Mama Della's reservation we originally had, as I'm travelling with my DBFF (its our 25th friend-iversary! ) who has recently had to cut her sugar intake who specifically wanted to go there for tiramisu so I went ahead and cancelled it. I replaced it with a reservation at The Kitchen, and also made reservations at Mythos, Confisco Grille, and Lombard's Seafood Grille (she may not be down for sugar but my bestie loooooooves seafood!) I have seen many of recommendations for these locations and will be sure to report back on my findings!

Other than those sit-down table services spots, we plan to eat at Wizarding World locations the Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks (especially as I know Butterbeer is gluten free ), Thunder Falls Terrace, and I will probably try the baked potatoes available at some of the kiosks around UO (as long as they are still available of course.)

We do also have a grocery stop planned on the way to resort (we are using Tony Hind's service to and from the airport) so that will give me a chance to stock up on snacks and other options just in case they are needed.

I am soooooo excited for this trip and the encouragement and resources I've found thanks to all of you have been wonderful! Thanks again!

Sounds fabulous!

You have some nice choices there.

We found them to brilliant when we emailed or called about queries, same with friends who have children with serious allergies.

Glad you’ve got sorted though.......

 

[sunny_stace]

So we are home now and I just want to offer a quick report back on how my gluten free dining experience turned out!

Best Meal - Tie between The Kitchen (at HRH) where I had the GF three cheese flatbread with grilled chicken added on top (the crust on this was thin and crispy and I wouldn't have known it was GF), and the GF Pasta Alfredo with grilled chicken at Toothsome (this was our second outing here, the first was just meh but we wanted a second shot at the dessert menu!)

Best Snack - All I have to say is thank goodness butterbeer is GF!! I probably indulged in at least 10 frozen butterbeers over the course of 5 days! I also had a couple of cracks at the cold version which was very delicious but the frozen is where it's at for me! Besides that, popcorn! Can't go wrong with hot buttery salty popcorn goodness. The Lemon Slushes were also a great snack in the Florida sun!

Worst Meal - GF pancakes at the Leaky Cauldron....I don't know what these are made of but they were nasty, rubbery, chewy, thin as paper, and tasted like evil...I think You Know Who must have been back in the kitchen making them! I abandoned them after a couple of bites.

Most of my other meals consisted of baked potatoes, fries (though these weren't guaranteed GF so if you have a true allergy this may not be an option for you), and grilled chicken (there were several other options available but I am a very picky eater on top of everything I'm not supposed to be eating at the moment so chicken is a staple in my diet which I thoroughly enjoy.) All of the staff and chefs I interacted with were more than happy to help and were very accommodating!

We used Tony Hinds' service for transport to and from the airport and the grocery stop was a lifesaver! I was able to grab some GF crackers, bread, cereal, and other snacks. This was perfect for a post-park midnight snack in the room, and also gave me something cheap and easy to snack on one night at the movies where the GF options were nowhere to be found.

Overall, I enjoyed most of what I ate while at UO and I expect the options will only continue to grow!

 

[macraven]

I’m glad you came back to the thread to post
It will help others !

Many ask about gluten free foods and which place has tasty gf items

 

[MomtothreeEs]

Thanks so much for this thread and the review! I can usually find information about where to find GF foods, but it’s harder to figure out where the yummy stuff is. I’ve been trying to find reviews on GF at Toothsome. It’s good to know GF Alfredo is an option because my celiac boys love Alfredo.

 

[sunny_stace]

Thanks so much for this thread and the review! I can usually find information about where to find GF foods, but it’s harder to figure out where the yummy stuff is. I’ve been trying to find reviews on GF at Toothsome. It’s good to know GF Alfredo is an option because my celiac boys love Alfredo.

I'm so glad this helped you, I too was having lot of issues looking for reviews that matched what I was looking for!

I'm not Celiac so I would double check with the restaurant directly to be sure, however the staff at Toothsome were really great on letting me know which items were suitable for my sensitivity and which menu options could be slightly modified. Many places around the property offered GF pasta so I'm hopeful you'll find an Alfredo dish that will delight your boys!