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Defensive Dining – San Antonio – North Central

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oneBeto's Comida Latina

Beto's famous empanadas are off-limits for celiacs because they are prepared with a wheat pastry, but there is plenty to choose from the taco and handmade quesadilla menu. Owners Albert and Cheryl Mijangos strive hard to accommodate special dietary needs and have printed their own gluten-free menu. Not all ingredients used for the items on this menu have been verified by the Defensive Dining team. The safest bets include the Chips and Salsa, Grilled Fish Taco, Chicken Fajita Taco, and Chicken Tomatillo Quesadilla. more

Beto's famous empanadas are off-limits for celiacs because they are prepared with a wheat pastry, but there is plenty to choose from the taco and handmade quesadilla menu. Owners Albert and Cheryl Mijangos strive hard to accommodate special dietary needs and have printed their own gluten-free menu. Not all ingredients used for the items on this menu have been verified by the Defensive Dining team. The safest bets include the Chips and Salsa, Grilled Fish Taco, Chicken Fajita Taco, and Chicken Tomatillo Quesadilla. Review: http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddsancbetos.html

twoBistro Vatel

Bistro Vatel is a traditional French café with traditional French fare, complete with a blackboard listing of the Plats du Jour. Chef Damien is also quite skilled with adapting his kitchen masterpieces to the needs of the celiac diet. If possible, celiacs should make reservations and indicate an entrée preference, such as chicken, duck, beef, veal, pork, rabbit, liver, sweetbreads, or seafood. Also, save room for dessert. Specialties include Crème Brulee, Mousse au Chocolat, and Ile Flottante. more

Bistro Vatel is a traditional French café with traditional French fare, complete with a blackboard listing of the Plats du Jour. Chef Damien is also quite skilled with adapting his kitchen masterpieces to the needs of the celiac diet. If possible, celiacs should make reservations and indicate an entrée preference, such as chicken, duck, beef, veal, pork, rabbit, liver, sweetbreads, or seafood. Also, save room for dessert. Specialties include Crème Brulee, Mousse au Chocolat, and Ile Flottante. Review: http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddsancbistrovatel.html

threeChipotle Mexican Grill – Alamo Heights

fourChipotle Mexican Grill – Quarry

A taco and burrito chain restaurant that uses fresh ingredients, takes time to prepare them just so, and then quickly combines these ingredients to the specifications of each customer. Though they do not have a gluten-free menu, numerous items are safe for celiacs. Best bets are the burrito bol, fajita bol, and crispy corn tacos. Choices of meats include carnitas, barbacoa, chicken, and steak. Other safe selections are the fajita vegetables, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, pinto beans, and all four salsas. Be cautious about the chopped lettuce and shredded cheese only because servers use their hands to scoop these items, and the same server could have handled the flour tortillas. In general, Chipotle gets high marks from the celiac list. more

A taco and burrito chain restaurant that uses fresh ingredients, takes time to prepare them just so, and then quickly combines these ingredients to the specifications of each customer. Though they do not have a gluten-free menu, numerous items are safe for celiacs. Best bets are the burrito bol, fajita bol, and crispy corn tacos. Choices of meats include carnitas, barbacoa, chicken, and steak. Other safe selections are the fajita vegetables, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, pinto beans, and all four salsas. Be cautious about the chopped lettuce and shredded cheese only because servers use their hands to scoop these items, and the same server could have handled the flour tortillas. In general, Chipotle gets high marks from the celiac list. Review: http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddsancchipotle.html

fivePaloma Blanca

An all-time favorite for Mexican food, with a newly expanded celiac menu. The chips are not gluten free, but ask for some soft corn tortillas and your own bowl of salsa to enjoy while waiting for your entrée. Gluten free choices include soups, salads, a spicy vegetable chili relleno, chicken dishes, chicken and shrimp fajitas, rice, frijoles borrachos, and flan. more

An all-time favorite for Mexican food, with a newly expanded celiac menu. The chips are not gluten free, but ask for some soft corn tortillas and your own bowl of salsa to enjoy while waiting for your entrée. Gluten free choices include soups, salads, a spicy vegetable chili relleno, chicken dishes, chicken and shrimp fajitas, rice, frijoles borrachos, and flan. Review: http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddsancpalomablanca.html

sixP.F. Chang's China Bistro – Quarry Market

A gluten-free menu provides numerous choices of both traditional and innovative Chinese cuisine. Try the Shanghai Cucumber Appetizer, or the Oriental Chicken Salad. Chang's Spicy Chicken and Singapore Street Noodles are also recommended. Other dishes include Cantonese Scallops or Shrimp, Ginger Chicken with Broccoli, Philip's Better Lemon Chicken, Chang's Lemon Scallops, and Cantonese Chow Fun made with rice noodles. more

A gluten-free menu provides numerous choices of both traditional and innovative Chinese cuisine. Try the Shanghai Cucumber Appetizer, or the Oriental Chicken Salad. Chang's Spicy Chicken and Singapore Street Noodles are also recommended. Other dishes include Cantonese Scallops or Shrimp, Ginger Chicken with Broccoli, Philip's Better Lemon Chicken, Chang's Lemon Scallops, and Cantonese Chow Fun made with rice noodles. Review: http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddsancpfchangs.html

sevenShiraz Persian Cuisine

Familiar, yet exotic. That's how best to describe a dining experience at Shiraz. The mainstays of Persian cooking are found here – grilled meats, slow-cooked stews, and rice – mixed with vegetables, fruits, and spices such as saffron, mint, and cardamom. Personal favorites include lamb kabob, Ghaimeh Bedemjan (eggplant in a zesty tomato sauce), and Tachin (layers of baked chicken and rice in a saffron yogurt sauce). Most menu items are naturally prepared gluten free, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about each dish's ingredients and preparation. more

Familiar, yet exotic. That's how best to describe a dining experience at Shiraz. The mainstays of Persian cooking are found here – grilled meats, slow-cooked stews, and rice – mixed with vegetables, fruits, and spices such as saffron, mint, and cardamom. Personal favorites include lamb kabob, Ghaimeh Bedemjan (eggplant in a zesty tomato sauce), and Tachin (layers of baked chicken and rice in a saffron yogurt sauce). Most menu items are naturally prepared gluten free, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about each dish's ingredients and preparation. Review: http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddsancshiraz.html

eightThe Little Aussie Bakery and Cafè

Every morsel of food that is cooked at Little Aussie Bakery and Cafè is made with gluten-free, fresh, whole ingredients. Rita Sturzbecher takes no shortcuts and does not use anything artificial. Rita and her husband, John, emigrated to the US from Australia a few years ago, and Rita has recently retired from the nursing field to pursue her passion. Her experience with US-made gluten-free breads and baked goods was very disappointing, so she began the planning necessary to satisfy her desire for fantastic, slow-cooked, homemade food that has excellent flavor and is healthy. Little Aussie Bakery offers daily breads, desserts, sandwiches, plate lunches, and a special menu in the evenings. It is tucked away near the Witte Museum, one block off Broadway. more

Every morsel of food that is cooked at Little Aussie Bakery and Cafè is made with gluten-free, fresh, whole ingredients. Rita Sturzbecher takes no shortcuts and does not use anything artificial. Rita and her husband, John, emigrated to the US from Australia a few years ago, and Rita has recently retired from the nursing field to pursue her passion. Her experience with US-made gluten-free breads and baked goods was very disappointing, so she began the planning necessary to satisfy her desire for fantastic, slow-cooked, homemade food that has excellent flavor and is healthy. Little Aussie Bakery offers daily breads, desserts, sandwiches, plate lunches, and a special menu in the evenings. It is tucked away near the Witte Museum, one block off Broadway. Review: http://www.alamoceliac.org/acddsanclab.html

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