If you or someone you know has food allergies, sensitivities or other diet restrictions, you need not feel sequestered to your home and obliged to cook every meal. Some restaurants have designated items on their menu, many can refer to the chef for ingredients, and often the chef can accommodate specific needs. Here are a few tips for eating out.
• A good choice may be to select one of the Northeast Ohio's fine dining establishments that serve simple, high-quality ingredients. Their chefs are generally accom-modating to specific diets, and do not usually use additives such as modified food starch or pre-packaged bouillon. Stick to meat, fish and veggies. The more processed or complicated the cuisine, the more likely the problems. For example, request food without sauce and vegetables sautéed in olive oil.
• Call a chef ahead of time to ensure that he/she is aware of your diet restrictions and the repercussions of ingesting these foods. Some organizations supply information cards online that you can print and carry to the restaurant for the server and chef to read. By doing some research, you will also be educated in how to best describe your restrictions.
• Japanese or other Asian food can be a good selection because their dishes commonly do not contain dairy. It also encourages you to eat foods you may not normally eat. However, there are a couple of pitfalls: soy and MSG are very common problems for many people. Even if MSG is not added to the food, it is a common ingredient in soy sauce or other prepared sauces.
• Mexican food can be a favorable selection because the ingredients are often basic and assembled separately. Dairy can easily be eliminated, and unknown sauces should be avoided. Corn tortillas are an ideal option for people with sensitivities to gluten.
• Most restaurants can prepare an all-vegetable salad. Bring your own salad dressing to ensure that it is safe for you.
The following is a list of restaurants compiled with the help of some local nutritionists and people with food sensitivities, as well as information found online. It does not cover all the possibilities in Northeast Ohio. When in doubt, make a call ahead of time – it won't hurt to ask, but it could be uncomfortable, damaging or fatal not to know.
Aladdin's (local Middle-Eastern food, local chain): Offers many gluten-free and dairy-free choices.
American Harvest (Middleburg Heights): Natural food store that contains a vegan café.
BD's Mongolian Barbeque (national chain): Allows you to assemble your own stir-fry, so you have control over the ingredients and sauces. Note that orders are cooked near each other or on the same grill; however, at your request, they will clean the grill before preparing your order.
Blue Point Grill (Warehouse District, Cleveland): Although higher in price, the chefs are accessible and understanding.
Boston Market (national chain): Offers gluten-free choices. Note, however, that this food is offered buffet-style and may become contaminated by neighboring foods.
Buca Di Beppo (national chain): Offers menu items that are gluten-free or can be prepared that way.
Café Limbo (Larchmere, Cleveland): Vegetarian café with some vegan options.
Carrabba's Italian Grill (national chain): Offers a gluten-free menu.
Don Pablo's (Mexican food, national chain): Offers a gluten-free menu, which can be viewed online at www.donpablos.com.
Fire (Shaker Square, Cleveland): Although higher in price, the chefs are accessible and understanding.
Mustard Seed Café (Solon & Akron): Caters to many diet restrictions, plus includes organic, natural and free-range ingredients.
Mom's Diner (Orange Village): In addition to offering natural meats and dairy, they are very accommodating to specific diet restrictions.
Outback Steakhouse (national chain): Offers a gluten-free menu, which can be viewed online at www.outbacksteakhouse.com.
Parker's (Ohio City, Cleveland): Although higher in price, they focus on simple, fresh, unprocessed ingredients.
P.F. Chang's (Chinese, national chain): Offers a gluten-free menu, which can be viewed online at www.pfchangs.com. Note that they also serve a wheat-free soy sauce.
Phnom Penh (Vietnamese & Cambodian, Cleveland): Some of their dishes do not contain soy or other prepared sauces.
Web of Life (Westlake): Natural food store that contains a vegan café.
