Looking for gluten-free options? Here are 38 spots to check out

Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·9 min read

Surprisingly, there aren't as many gluten-free restaurants as one would expect in an area so full of health-conscious diners (I'm still lamenting the loss of Good Choice Kitchen in Ossining, which closed last year). On the "plus" side, there are lots of places that have ramped up their gluten-free game.

Burger and sandwich shops now feature gluten-free bread, pizzerias are big into both cauliflower and gluten-free crust and many bakeries (and often, coffee shops) feature gluten-free baked goods. Many restaurants, too, especially those serving Asian food as well as South and Central American cuisines, often meet gluten-free requirements thanks to their use of corn- and rice-based products.

That's in addition to the no-brainer stalwarts that advertise their gluten-free menus like Scarsdale's PopoJito Med-Mex Kitchen, Pleasantville's Root2RiseNY, Stony Point's Rock's Kitchen and Rivertown Taphouse in Piermont.

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That said, gluten avoiders, especially those with serious allergies or sensitivities, should always double check on how places avoid cross-contamination before ordering.

Here is a guide to where you can find a sampling of gluten-free items, but it is by no means a definitive list:

Red Barn Bakery in Irvington features a host of gluten-free baked goods.
Red Barn Bakery in Irvington features a host of gluten-free baked goods.

Baked goods

  • Baked by Susan, Croton-on-Hudson: This ode to dessert porn overflows with regular and gluten-free goodies, including vegan gluten-free banana chocolate chip bread, and gluten-free cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies and brownies. 379 S. Riverside Ave., 914-862-0874, bakedbysusan.com

  • By the Way Bakery, Hastings-on-Hudson: Everything is gluten-free here, as well as kosher. Items include cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, granola and more. This reporter is partial to the lemony lemon cake, the coconut cloud and the lemon poppy swirl Bundt, which features the perfect balance of tart and sweet. 574 Warburton Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson, 914-478-0555, btwbakery.com

  • Dean's Coffee Co., Pearl River: Not only does Salmira Cecunjanin brew a mean latte but this coffee shop owner also makes a host of gluten-free baked goods, which can vary depending on the day you walk in. The "usuals" include muffins and her popular lemon blueberry explosion loaf but you'll also find carrot cake, pecan pie bars, vegan oat bars, cheesecake, key lime pie, cupcakes, brownies and doughnuts. If you ask, too, she'll happily try to accommodate your special requests. 39 E. Central Ave., Pearl River, 845-920-8043

  • Nutmeg Café, Tuckahoe: Cookies, muffins, pies and granola are among the gluten-free offerings at this cafe where you'll also find soups, quiches, chili and beef bourguignon. With St. Patrick's Day fast approaching, you can also find gluten-free Irish soda bread. 64 Main St. 914-779-1328, thenutmegcafe.com

  • Red Barn Bakery, Irvington: Organic and locally sourced is the motto at this bakery, where a large portion of products are also gluten-free and vegan. Choose from whoopie pies, carrot cake, brownies, cheesecake and the always popular breakfast cookie, made with rice flour and palm shortening. 4 S. Astor St., 914-231-7779, redbarn-bakery.com

  • Rising Above Bakery, Nyack: This bakery, which teaches young adults with special needs and learning differences the craft of baking, offers gluten-free sourdough bread, granola, oat biscuits and brownies. Just call ahead to order in advance. The bakery, which had been run out of the founder's Chestnut Ridge home, recently moved to a pop-up location at Rockland Community College's Hospitality and Culinary Arts Center in Nyack. Check hours and days before you go: They are presently open Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also order online and pick up from one of three locations. 5 N. Broadway, 646-541-4595, risingabovebakery.org

Gluten-free granola from Rising Above Bakery, which has a temporary pop-up in Nyack. Photographed March 1, 2023
Gluten-free granola from Rising Above Bakery, which has a temporary pop-up in Nyack. Photographed March 1, 2023

Entrees and more

  • Art Cafe, Nyack: Almond flour pancakes topped with seasonal berries are among the gluten-free offerings here where you'll also find plenty of salads, mezze and more. We're also partial to the avocado toast and, of course, the coffee. 65 S. Broadway, 845-353-4230, artcafenyack.com

  • Barely Vegans, New Rochelle: Staying healthy is key at this organic, plant-based eatery where gluten-free foodies will find menu items such as overnight oats, pancakes, waffle and pasta Bolognese in addition to a host of juices and smoothies. 2 Eastchester Road, 914-373-2746, barely-vegans.com

  • Brooklyn Organic Kitchen, Mahopac: Enjoy a little bit of everything at this plant-based vegan/vegetarian eatery that also caters heavily to those who are gluten-free. Want your burger on gluten-free bread? No problem. Crave a gluten-free blueberry lemon muffin along with your coffee? Get it to go! Prefer to sit in and enjoy gluten-free cinnamon French toast or a crêpe stuffed with caramelized bananas sautéed in a dark rum butter sauce? Grab a seat. The list of entrees, including salads, soups, and sandwiches, goes on, offering lots of options for those with various dietary restrictions. 890 South Lake Blvd., 845-621-2655, bokmahopac.com

  • Grass Roots Kitchen, Tarrytown: There's a Southern California vibe to this fast casual spot, where the emphasis is on seasonal and approachable meals using sus­tain­ably grown pro­duce and eth­i­cally raised meats. Breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees range from an acai bowl to avocado toast to a falafel burger. 124 Wildey St., 914-909-5588, grassroots.kitchen

  • Jolo's Vegan Food Bar and Lounge, New Rochelle: This vegan restaurant has a host of gluten-free items including gluten-free Jerk falafel, curry stew, portobello mushrooms and mac and cheese. 49 Lawton St., 914-355-4928, jolosrestaurants.com

  • Pappous Greek Kitchen, Yorktown Heights: It's not everywhere you can find gluten-free pita bread but at this Greek restaurant, you can (it's made with cauliflower and low moisture mozzarella). The eatery is well versed in gluten-free products and has gotten a loyal following because of it. Popular items include their Chicken Souvlaki with rice, their gyro and chicken gyro in either a sandwich or platter and their avgolemeno soup, which can easily be made with rice instead of orzo pasta. 1983 Commerce St., 914-455-2111, pappousgreekkitchen.com

  • Peach Pit Bowl Shop & Kitchen, New City: Cauliflower pizza with a variety of toppings is one reason to come here; the others are the abundance of bowls and gluten-free granola. There are also lots of toasts, though call ahead to make sure they have gluten-free bread (last time this reporter was there, they ran out). 62 N. Main St., 845-708-5312, peachpitbowlshopkitchen.com

  • PopoJito Med-Mex Kitchen, Scarsdale: Everything on the menu is fair game as this restaurant is 100% gluten-free as well as paleo-friendly. You'll also find locally-sourced grass fed proteins, wild caught fish and seasonal vegetables. Choose from a burrito, enchiladas, skirt steak, tacos and more. 46 Christie Place, 914-713-8946, popojito.com

  • Rivertown Taphouse, Piermont: There's a dedicated gluten-free menu at this crowd-pleaser of a restaurant where dishes include Shrimp Scampi, mac and cheese, lemon chicken and penne vodka. 5 Roundhouse Road, 845-848-2923, rivertowntaphouse.com

  • Rock's Kitchen, Stony Point: From smoothies to pizza to bowls and gyros, this fast casual spot has you covered, with an emphasis on respecting your body. They even offer meal plans. 158 S. Liberty Dr., 845-558-8888, rockskitchen-rk.com

  • Root2RiseNY, Pleasantville: Open since June 2021, this full service café, bakery, and cold press juice bar can feed your breakfast, lunch, and dinner cravings without stressing about ingredients. Everything here is gluten-free, vegan and 100% plant-based. It's also locally sourced and organic. This reporter is partial to the smashed pea avocado toast, the wild blueberry cardamom scones and the mulligatawny (red lentil and coconut milk) soup. 359 Manville Road, 914-769-8460, root2riseny.com

  • Sweet Grass Grill, Tarrytown: The seasonal menu is always changing here but one thing you can count on is its fresh approach, thanks to relationships with local farms. Many items here are vegan as well as gluten-free and include such entrees as a veggie omelet, salmon burger, butternut squash soup and a variety of salads. 24 Main St., 914-631-0000, sweetgrassgrill.com

  • The Pureganic Cafe, Harrison: This fast casual spot offers a wide array of choices that span from breakfast to dinner. Options include pancakes, waffles, avocado toast, sweet potato nachos, pizzas, pastas, burgers and bowls. Everything here is also kosher. 305 Halstead Ave., 914-732-3092, pureganic-cafe.com

  • The Tasty Table, Ossining: Looking for some place willing to accommodate your gluten-free diet? Everything on the menu is clearly marked, giving you a range of choices from Chicken Tinga to chili-lime salmon to bowls to brunch, including a beyond delish stack of gluten-free pancakes and the always popular avocado toast. 21 Campwoods Road, 914-762-4000, thetastytableny.com

  • Zuppa, Yonkers: Gluten-free pasta, gluten-free pizza and and a tasty gluten-free fornarina (flatbread with olive oil, rosemary and sea salt) are among some of the dishes at this innovative Italian restaurant with a commitment to organic, farm-to-table ingredients and an extensive wine list. 59 Main St., 914-376-6500, zupparestaurant.com

The chicken gyro sandwich is gluten-free at Pappaous Greek Kitchen in Yorktown Heights. The restaurant does a lot of business catering to gluten-free diets and has gotten a loyal following for it.
The chicken gyro sandwich is gluten-free at Pappaous Greek Kitchen in Yorktown Heights. The restaurant does a lot of business catering to gluten-free diets and has gotten a loyal following for it.

Pizza

It's getting so you can find cauliflower crust and/or gluten-free pizza almost everywhere. This is a brief sampling of spots:

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Where to find gluten-free food in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam