It's hard to not be jealous when all of your friends Uber eats pizza on a Friday night- here's how to stay sane!
“Oh my god that's gluten free? It doesn't even look like it! Can I try it too?”
I started eating a gluten free diet when I found out I had the celiac gene and a serious intolerance to gluten during my senior year. My brother and mom both have bad celiac allergies, so it was fairly easy to follow at home. However, eating in strictly dining halls and Marshall Street restaurants have put my diet to the test.
1. Acropolis
Picture this. You're on your way back from a fun night of super sober activities with your friends and you end up on Marshall Street. "Let's all get Acropolis for pizza!" That sounds fun to the majority of the group. Your roommate looks at you with a sad face... she knows. She says they might have something for you. You doubt her. Suddenly, there's hope. You read that they have cauliflower crust... no f***ing way. This changes the game. Gluten Free pizza on Marshall Street. There you go. You're welcome to any future gluten free cuse student.
2. Chipotle
Okay this one's kind of a cop out but bare with me. This is one of the only mainstream places that I can happily attend with my friends (I'm probably not very fun to plan dinners with). The only thing that really isn't GF at chipotle is their flour tortillas, so just don't get quesadillas or burritos; other than those, let loose. Even their hardshell tortillas are fair game!
3. 110 Grill
Now this is a hidden gem in my humble opinion. While exploring our lovely Destiny Mall in the first semester with friends, we stumbled across this magical land of allergy friendly food. Not only are they great for allergies like dairy and nuts, but gluten too. They have the chef come out and speak to you, they give you a complete GF menu, and they even write your order in a different colored pen. Now that's service. I made sure to bring my family there when they came to visit and they confirmed this place is legit.
4. P.F. Chang's
This one goes out to everyone too lazy to leave their dorm. P.F. Chang's is the first option on Uber Eats when you put "Gluten Free" into their search bar. With fair reason too. If your friends are ordering Chinese, it's easy to fear that there's no truly safe way to join in on their order. BUT, PF Changs has a few strictly gluten free options like lettuce wraps, soup, or broccoli and chicken. They also have classic fried rice in GF style.
5. Dinosaur BBQ
*Drop the mic*. Yes it's true. You're safe here. Dino has a huge menu online with options for those with gluten allergies. No, the corn bread isn't safe (sigh)... but a lot of their sauces are safe and their meats are mostly good too. Again, it's all on their website. I was super happy to find this out because Dino is a sort of novelty here. I wouldn't really be a Cuse student if I couldn't participate in their traditional cuisine.
6. Funkin' Waffles
This little restaurant is sort of near armory square. They have buckwheat waffles, which are certified gluten free. You can get any type of topping and it's honestly pretty good. You can get a half size or a full waffle and with the toppings it's definitely enough to fill you up. Don't forget to finish the meal off with a milkshake ;)
7. Rise N Shine Diner
This diner might be my personal favorite spot on this list. If you don't go to any of these spots, at least give this one a chance. You won't regret it. Gluten free pancakes here taste so so good, you will think you're eating the real thing. They also have the normal eggs and bacon and all of the fun breakfast goods, but they have specialty pancakes that do not disappoint. It's super crowded so if you go on a weekend morning make sure to call ahead or stop in to put your name down a little while before you plan to eat.
8. Strong Hearts Cafe
This one is a little store in Marshall Mall. Don't be scared off by the smell of subway and random fumes throughout this terrible building that held my french class fall semester. Instead, escape into this vegan spot. They have milkshakes, smoothies, wings, and salads that can be made gluten free. However, be warned that they use almond milk and soy for a lot of things. Probably not safe for many other allergies, but still okay for vegans and celiac sensitive friends.