Gluten Free in Baton Rouge Series- Bonefish Grill Review

I’ve always loved to eat out and try new foods, but it’s been tricky since I’ve given up gluten. I’m always so happy when I find a new restaurant that has great food and really knows about gluten safety and cross contamination. After my dinner there on Tuesday, Bonefish Grill is now at the top of my “Favorite Places to Eat in Baton Rouge” list.

 

 

I’m always so nervous when I go to a new restaurant

I actually talked to the manager of Bonefish Grill in the freezer section of Whole Foods a few weeks ago. He was looking for a dessert for a guest who had come in with a special dietary need. He actually went to a grocery store, while the guest was having dinner, to get that guest a special dessert. Holy cow. That’s service! I talked to him a little bit about gluten free options at Bonefish and he knew all about celiac disease. His wife was gluten free. His advice was to ask to see a manager as soon as you arrive and let him or her know that you have celiac disease and are gluten free. The managers are all trained in gluten free procedures. I was so impressed with this manager that I went for dinner on Tuesday! Now I’m just sorry I didn’t go earlier.

 

Honestly, I get really stressed out when eating somewhere new. I try to go to restaurants that celiac friends have already been to. So when we pulled into the parking lot, I was overcome with my usual pre-restaurant paranoia. If you’ve got gluten issues you know what I’m talking about. That feeling that you’re absolutely sure that everyone on the other side of that door is going to try to kill you with crumbs. But, the memory of my conversation in Whole Foods helped me get to the door. Right away the hostess inspired confidence in Bonefish Grill’s gluten-safety. When I asked for a gluten free menu, she let me know that they had a gluten free menu, but because there was a misprint, (the menu mistakenly included a gluten item) they had to order new ones. I was impressed, instead of giving out a menu that could cause confusion and possibly endanger someone’s health, they chose to order all new menus. The hostess let me know that my server would be able to help me with gluten free options. 

 

Our Angler and the Manager gave me confidence

And she did! Our Angler was Tina, and she knew her stuff. She very slowly and carefully reviewed the gluten free items and made some recommendations. There was one seasonal dish that she wasn’t sure of, so she went to find the manager. Will, the manager, was also fantastically helpful. He confirmed the info that Tina had given me, and cleared up the confusion about the dish in question. Super nice guy, he also let me know that he’d be watching my order to avoid any cross contamination. 

The rest of the service was excellent and the whole time I felt absolutely confident in the safety of my meal. I saw bread brought to a couple of other tables, but none came to ours. None was even offered. Yay! That’s a huge win in my books. (My confidence in a restaurant dips a little bit if I go through the whole gluten-free spiel and then they offer me bread.)  I’m not sure if Bonefish brings free bread to the tables, or if those tables ordered it, but I was glad not to have to deal with the bread issue. 

 

The gluten-free selection on the menu was amazing! There were four appetizers to choose from, and then many of the entrees, almost all the sauces and FOUR DESSERTS were all gluten free. I think Bonefish Grill may have the largest gluten free dessert menu of any regular restaurant I’ve visited. 

 

The Food was Amazing! 

We had Saucy Shrimp and Scallops as an appetizer. Shrimp and scallops with sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese and olives in a creamy tomato sauce. Really good. Sometimes sauce on seafood can be overpowering, but this was done really well. The sun dried tomatoes were an excellent accompaniment. I laughed when Tina first brought the dish and I saw it had a spoon alongside the seafood fork. Um, then I used the spoon to make sure I got more sauce. Yup. It was that good.

 

Our salads were really nice. Very small, just a side salad, but very crisp and served on cold plates. (and NO croutons!!)

 

For my entree I had the lobster tail dinner. It was very nice. I had the steamed broccoli as a side and it was good. Just cooked enough. (I always order steamed broccoli because I’ve never gotten contaminated from eating steamed broccoli).

 

For dessert I had the choice of Creme Brulee, Ice Cream, a Macadamia Nut Brownie, and Chocolate Creme Brulee. Honestly, I could have ordered all four. I tried to get Scott to order the brownie, so we could “share” (so I could have two desserts without feeling guilty), but no go, so I got the Chocolate Creme Brulee. It was amazing. First, it was twice as big as a creme brulee should be. So, a plus. And it was surprisingly rich. Like eating straight up creamy chocolate. Not the mild flavor that I was expecting. It was fantastic. Next time, I may just get it as an appetizer. And maybe an entree. And then have the brownie for dessert.

 

Want More Info?

The Bonefish Grill website has information about their gluten free selections (including gluten free beer and desserts!) and an online gluten free menu. 

Find the information here: http://www.bonefishgrill.com/Content/our-menu-wellness

 

Find the menu here: http://bloominbrandscms.blob.core.windows.net/bfglocations-menus/gluten_free.pdf

 

You can visit the Bonefish Grill in Baton Rouge at 7415 Corporate Boulevard right by Towne Center