Roy's at Pebble Beach

On Christmas day, we had a late lunch at Roy's at Pebble Beach.  Right after we moved to California in July, we had reservations to celebrate our 15th anniversary at Roy's, but ended up cancelling them because of smoke from the Soberanes Fire.  We chose this restaurant to celebrate our anniversary, because Roy's was our favorite restaurant on our honeymoon in Hawaii.  We ate at Roy's on Kauai and Maui, and always had their amazing chocolate souffle, which is described as a flourless chocolate cake with a molten hot center, raspberry coulis, and vanilla bean ice cream.  I knew the souffle was gluten free, because I have eaten it at Roy's in Orlando, and it is listed on Roy's gluten free menu, which you can view here.

Our meal started with complimentary edamame, which my family devoured before I  had a chance to ask if it was gluten free.  Right away, we did ask our server about the chocolate souffle, because it takes a while to prepare.  Imagine my disappointment when I found out that they do not use the same recipe as other Roy's restaurants, and that it has flour in it, so it is not gluten free.  It turns out that the Roy's at Pebble Beach is an independent restaurant that is run by Pebble Beach Resorts.  They did not have a gluten free menu, but gluten free options were listed on their regular menu.

Bahama Breeze Island Grille

Over Thanksgiving Break, we traveled to our hometown of Pittsburgh.  While we were there, my husband's family asked us if we wanted to meet them for dinner at the Bahama Breeze Island Grille in Robinson Township.  Bahama Breeze, which serves Caribbean cuisine, is a restaurant chain owned by Darden Restaurants.  Earlier this year, I had a great meal at Seasons 52, which is also run by Darden.

Bahama Breeze does have a gluten sensitive menu, which has the typical disclaimer I am used to seeing, even at Disney World.  No one is going to guarantee you a gluten free meal, unless it is a 100% gluten free restaurant.  The key for me is that restaurants take appropriate precautions to keep my food safe.  When I started asking my usual round of questions about food preparation, our server said he would get a manager.  The manager I spoke to told me that my food would be prepared in a separate area of the kitchen, and that she would make it herself if I would like.

Blaze Pizza

Earlier today, we had lunch at Blaza Pizza in Gold River, California on our way home from Lake Tahoe.  I have wanted to try their pizza since reading my friend Sarah's review on her blog Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW.  Shortly after we moved to California, a Blaze Pizza opened in Disney Springs, and I have heard from Sarah and others that they do a great job with special diets.

All the employees I spoke to at Blaze Pizza were incredibly friendly and willing to help.  I was told that they change their gloves, and press gluten free pizza dough on a dedicated pizza press.  When I expressed concern about cross contamination of their toppings as employees stick their gloves in them after touching gluten-filled dough, they were happy to get fresh toppings from the back or under the counter for me.  I did not have to worry about flour in the air, because they do not toss any of their pizzas, and I did not see them dusting their regular dough either.

California Pizza Kitchen

This post was last updated October 15, 2017

Earlier today, we had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen in Monterey, California.  CPK is one of our favorite chain restaurants, and we used to dine at their Waterford Lakes and Millenia Mall locations when we lived in Orlando.  You can read my previous reviews here.

I rarely eat gluten free pizza at restaurants, because of cross contamination concerns, but I don't have to worry when I go to California Pizza Kitchen.  In 2013, they introduced four gluten free pizzas that are safe for people with celiac disease - the original BBQ chicken pizza, pepperoni, mushroom pepperoni sausage, and margherita.

P.F. Chang's

This post was last updated May 25, 2019 

Yesterday, we spent the morning at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.  While we were hiking, we called the P.F. Chang's in Monterey to make a reservation for lunch, because I was in the mood for Chinese food.

I was shocked to see that P.F. Chang's now has a separate gluten free menu.  On past visits, which you can read about here, gluten free options were listed in their regular menu.

Seasons 52 - Orlando

Last weekend, we had lunch at the Seasons 52 on Sand Lake Road.  Locally, you can also find Seasons 52 in Altamonte Springs, and they have over 40 restaurants in 18 different states, which you can view here.

Seasons 52 features seasonally inspired menus, and they have gluten sensitive, lactose & dairy sensitive, vegetarian, vegan, and sodium friendly menus.