Eating out as someone who is gluten free can turn into a saga. It can go from being straight up rejected from restaurants, who offer zero gluten free options, or worse to others who lie about their contamination safety and leave you at risk of  getting sick. And of course, there is no pain quite like going to a restaurant, being so excited for the food to come then realizing they’ve  slapped a small piece of dry bread and gluten free fusilli pasta and called it good. 

The lack of tasty and safe options is disappointing as many people nowadays are gluten free, whether it’s celiac or gluten intolerance.  For people with celiac it’s not only a matter of avoiding gluten but  also avoiding contamination. Being celiac means you react to anything as small as a bread crumb, and while reactions vary person to person it is not fun no matter what happens. 

Which leaves the question of finding a restaurant with good gluten free food that is also contamination safe.  For anyone who is yet to answer that question, here are a couple of fan favorites around Bend for gluten free people and their safety around contamination.  

Craving pasta? – Spork, right off of Newport avenue this restaurant has a great menu and is mainly gluten free, with the exception of the sandwiches. Their pasta is made with rice and they have delicious rice bowls. You will not be disappointed with the selection at Spork or its environment. The staff is never anything but nice and understanding and their kitchen contamination is consistently safe.  

Missing french fries? – Bosa, located on Galveston street, has been a great spot for GF-ers. Though it is on the pricier side, they offer things many other places don’t. This includes an all gluten free frier where you can enjoy french fries without being contaminated and fairly good GF pasta. Bosa is extremely nice and accommodating and customers usually report no bad experiences after eating their gluten free substitutes. 

Miss a good breakfast? – The Lemon Tree in downtown Bend is a great brunch spot for everyone. They don’t necessarily have a lot of gluten free substitutes but they do have some good options on their menu that are gluten free. Their kitchen staff is safe with contamination and have great reviews regarding contamination from customers after eating there.

Want good tacos? – The classic El Sancho, also on Galveston, has a primarily gluten free menu minus a few things and is very good about cross contamination. They have tons of options and even some fried goodies like their plantain chips that are totally safe. 

Want safety? – You can’t go wrong with Active Culture down on Riverfront street, they have delicious rice bowls, smoothies, even nachos–all delicious, and all safe. Their employees are super nice and have no issue when asked about their kitchen safety. Their “Not Your Mama’s” nachos are not only delicious but loaded with every topping, perfected with delectable cheese, and are of course, gluten free. 

Everyone deserves a good experience eating out but it’s hard to advocate for your allergy needs. So looking for those great spots where not only is the food tasty but the staff is also nice and accommodating can be pretty difficult. The best spots can be lying in the shadows or in plain sight. It just takes a little hunting.