A gluten-free diet need not mean an empty plate.
Rockford, Illinois, has a large community of gluten-free residents, organized in part through the Rockford Area Celiac Sprue Association. The group provides information on gluten-free awareness and local establishments with gluten-free menus. The city does not have many restaurants with gluten-free offerings, but the eateries that do supply an alternative menu offer a pleasing variety of items for those who have this diet restriction.
Chili's
Chili's offers a wide variety of menu options, including one soup and several gluten-free salads: the Caribbean chicken (with Honey Lime dressing), chicken Caesar, grilled bbq chicken and house salads and the chicken & green chile soup. Several regular and low-fat dressings are available. Among the burgers, the ground peppercorn (without bleu cheese dressing), the mushroom-swiss, oldtimer, rojo and ultimate stacked burgers can be made gluten-free, if selected without fries, onion strings or a bun. Entrees range from the classic sirloin and flame-grilled ribeye to the grilled salmon with garlic and herbs and Margarita grilled chicken. These must be ordered without garlic toast or tortilla strips. Those ordering the Monterey chicken with mashed potatoes should opt out of the gravy and vegetables. The many available sides range from black beans to corn on the cob, loaded mashed potatoes or mashed potatoes without gravy, Mandarin oranges, seasonal vegetables and spicy coleslaw.
Chili's
6330 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108-2517
815-227-0188
chilis.com
Olive Garden
Olive Garden offers fewer total gluten-free menu items, but provides full entree selections and features gluten-free pasta. The Penine Rigate with marinara blends tomatoes, herbs and peppers. Steak Toscano, herb grilled salmon, chicken or chicken and steak mixed grill are gluten-free alternatives to regular menu items. They feature Italian herbs and extra-virgin olive oil as seasoning and come with grilled vegetables. The garden fresh salad and Caesar salad (without croutons) are lighter options.
Olive Garden
6367 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-399-3176
olivegarden.com
Red Robin
At Red Robin---winner of Zagat's 2009 Best Burger award---none of the appetizers, soups, sandwiches or wraps are suitable for those on a gluten-free diet, but a wide selection of other items can be made gluten-free. The Apple Harvest chicken salad, cobb salad, the Mighty Caesar salad and side Caesar salad, house salad and grilled chicken salad do not contain gluten. Several dressings are among the safe menu options. The guacamole burger, Royal Red Robin burger, Red Robin bacon cheeseburger, gourmet cheeseburger, California chicken, simply grilled chicken and chicken Caprese sandwiches can be rendered acceptable if the burgers are ordered without Red Robin seasoning and all sandwiches made without a bun. The grilled turkey burger (if no chipotle mayonaise is used), bruschetta chicken sandwich (with plain salsa substitution) and grilled salmon sandwich (with no country dijon sauce) must also be ordered without a bun. The Ensenada chicken platter is gluten-free if the diner opts out of the Baja ranch dressing, Ancho marinade and tortilla strips and cups. Gluten-free sides include celery sticks, white rice, steamed vegetables, melon wedges and Mandarin oranges.
Red Robin
7029 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-399-7582
redrobin.com
Tags: grilled chicken, Caesar salad, grilled salmon, mashed potatoes, Olive Garden, ordered without, State Rockford