I am looking for some suggestions. My son has Celiac, we were new to this last summer when we went to Universal. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations of Gluten free restaurants we might have missed on our last trip? Any food recommendations that are gluten free?
I'm gluten-free too! Not celiac, but gluten-free due to a different autoimmune reason.
First of all, make sure to email
food.allergy@universalorlando.com to get a list of what places have gluten-free fryers at UO, IoA, Citywalk, and Volcano Bay. It'll also list gluten free options for each restaurants at those locations. Thunder Falls Terrace at Jurassic Park is completely gluten-free. Also good dining options at 3 Broomsticks in Hogsmede. Both Harry Potter restaurants have gluten free pancakes as an option for breakfast.
Margaritaville has an excellent separate gluten-free menu and even a gluten-free dessert, which is a rarity at restaurants! It's a gluten free brownie sundae with heath topping and we split it as a family. Our waiter said it was his favorite dessert, and just happened to also be gluten-free!
Other hits? Cowfish has good gluten-free options, including a gluten free bun for burgers and gluten-free soy sauce. Bigfire had excellent steaks with included sides that were also gluten-free. Hard Rock also has a separate gluten-free menu, we didn't eat there but have reservations for our November trip. The tater tots at Green Eggs and Ham are typically gluten-free and delicious. I've heard fantastic things about "The Kitchen" at Hard Rock. If they have the same chef that was there a year ago, he is actually celiac and can modify anything for gluten free (even makes gf mac and cheese made-to-order) and they have an extensive menu that is gluten-free. We also have reservations there in November.
Also, the buffet breakfast at Royal Pacific was fantastic, as was their stir-fry night-- the chef cooking is savvy on gluten-free options. We all did the breakfast buffet, and you can find out specifics on what is gluten-free from the chef there, and I put in an order for gluten-free pancakes when we were seated and they were made to order and brought out to me and were included in the buffet price.