Being gluten free, like any allergy or diet, can be difficult to navigate. Almost all meals contain some form of gluten, whether that’s in bread, pastas, or snacks such as crackers. Luckily, restaurants around the country, and around the world have started offering gluten free options such as gluten free breads, buns, and more. However, many restaurants in Grand Rapids have taken this a step further, running half their kitchen, or even in some cases their entire kitchen, gluten free. Below are some of the must try gluten free establishments in the greater Grand Rapids area:
Rise is a coffee shop with one primary location right off Fulton in Grand Rapids. They offer an entirely gluten free menu with pastries and small meals such as toast. They also sell their items around other coffee shops in the area and have a pop up location downtown Grand Rapids at the downtown markets. By having an entirely gluten free kitchen, the food at Rise is fully celiac safe, as it has zero exposure to gluten contaminated items.
Hall Street Bakery is not entirely gluten free but they do have a separate kitchen to bake gluten free items. They offer gluten free breads for sandwiches and individually packaged gluten free baked goods to ensure a celiac safe environment. Not only this, but their items taste just as good as the real deal. Half their products are gluten free while the other half contain gluten, making it a great place to eat with a group of people, some who are gluten free, and some who are not. This type of set up in a restaurant drives in all sorts of customers promoting an inclusive environment.
Papa Chops is a gluten free restaurant on 28th street that sells burgers, pizza, and typical lunch and dinner meals that are entirely gluten free. It’s one of the few restaurants in Grand Rapids that is entirely gluten free. Breads are the most difficult product to make gluten free in terms of matching taste to non gluten free items and so it is impressive how Papa Chops is able to make the base of most of their meals bread.
Nonla Burger is another restaurant that is not necessarily known for being gluten free but has a gluten free bun option that is phenomenal. Nonla Burger sells their food at already a practical and cheap price, with only five to six dollar burgers, so the small upcharge one pays for the price of a gluten free burger isn’t that big of an issue. A common issue with gluten free buns and breads is that they are significantly dryer then normal breads, because they use different types of flours. However the patty and sauces Nonla puts on their burger are so good that its hard to notice the dryness of the bread. Once again, its a great place to eat with a group of people, some gluten free eaters and some not.
It’s incredibly important to provide gluten free products to enforce an inclusive eating experience. Even if someone is not gluten free, eating gluten free offers many health benefits. It increases gut health which therefore eliminates bloating. Also, many processed foods contain gluten and so by being forced to say no to these items individuals often find themselves eating healthier. For example, by having to be conscious about what you eat, individuals are forced to turn down certain foods and therefore have healthier gluten free options such as salads, corn based tortillas, and breads containing chickpea or almond based flours which are inherently healthier.
There are many gluten free options offered in restaurants around Grand Rapids but these are some of the most notable. It is difficult to perfect a gluten free item to the point that it’s difficult to tell the difference between it and non gluten free products, but Rise, Hall Street Bakery, and Papa Chops execute it beautifully.
