Eating Gluten-Free in Utah

Because it is so important to keep your energy up when you are out exploring we are going to kick start this section with our gluten-free experience.  We’ll start with our experience around Zion National Park and work our way to Salt Lake City.

La Verkin

VRBO:  Since we waited too long to reserve Zion National Park Lodge, we opted to stay a few miles away at a VRBO.  This allowed us to start our day out with a fresh homemade breakfast.  The VRBO supplied us with eggs and bread (not gluten-free); luckily, Terry still had some leftover baked goods from the gluten-free bakery in Las Vegas.  Seeing as it was Memorial Weekend, we decided to grab some things to grill and just hang out outside after an early morning of hiking.

River Rock Roasting Company:  On our way to our VRBO, we discovered our first choice, an Indian restaurant, was closed.  Looking for alternatives, I quickly searched the FindMe GlutenFree App and found this place.  There weren’t many reviews to go off of but when you are in a hurry and in a more rural area it is all you’ve got.   A few mentioned gluten-free pizza crust (couldn’t find on the menu) and “wheat free” buns.  We opted to try it.  They were very busy, but low-and-behold they did have gluten-free pizza crust, buns and a tortilla option.  They also have gf muffins and granola bars.  The outdoor seating over-looking the edge of a basalt canyon is fantastic and the food was great.

Red Fort Cuisine:  Advertised as the best Indian Food in Utah, we were really hoping to try it.  Unfortunately, it was not in the cards for us.  When looking online the reviews were very positive and their menu is clearly labeled which items are gluten-free.

Springdale

Bumbleberry Gift Shop and Bakery:  We stopped here initially for the gift shop because everywhere I go I find a Christmas Ornament to hang on our Christmas tree each year.  After perusing the store we decided to get some ice cream and coffee.  The coffee was not that great.  But we did notice they had a few gf baked goods so if you are in need of some sugar make sure to stop by.

• Porter’s at Zion Park:  Attached to the Bumbleberry Inn.  While we did not eat here we glanced at their menu and noticed they have gluten-free pizza and a few other options.  Terry really wasn’t wanting pizza again and wasn’t feeling fish or salad so we opted for Thai food.

Thai Sapa:  This really hit the spot for us after a day of hiking.  It wasn’t overly heavy, which was nice because it seemed like most restaurants served more bar style food.  The menu was not labeled but our hostess let our waiter know and he was able to tell us what was gluten-free.  Terry was excited they could make the Pad Thai gluten-free since not every place can do that due to the variation of sauces they may use.  Of course, we clarified it was gf when they brought it out.  He had no issues and was very pleased with the Pad Thai.  The rest of us had curries, which were fantastic as well.

Panguitch

Cowboy Smokehouse:  This rustic smokehouse welcomes you with an aroma or slow-smoked meats that gets your mouth watering after a day of hiking.  It is about a half hour drive from Bryce Canyon National Park which is a downside but there are a few quaint shops and an ice cream parlor to meander through after you fill yourself up with meat.  While it wasn’t Terry’s favorite, Kansas City BBQ, it was still very filling and we ate more than we came for.  Our waitress was new to the job, so she had to double check everything that Terry questioned with the chef, but that was okay with us.  We would rather be certain, even if it takes more time.  Otherwise, if she says yes and then Terry has an issue, or if she says no and limits his options (which are already limited), it could make his meal bleak.

Bryce Canyon City

Ruby’s Inn:  We did not stay here but stopped in for breakfast each morning.  It was buffet style, so you must be very careful with what you eat.  Make sure you ask for separate serve-ware or use your own CLEAN silverware to serve yourself.  The risk of cross-contamination is high.  If you tell the waitstaff you are gf, they will bring you a tiny little menu showing which things are gf.  It was not much, but they did have toast.  Although there seemed to be some disagreement as to whether that could be made safe for gf since other bread is put in the toaster.  Either they had separate toasters or Terry got lucky and didn’t react, but he did not have an issue either time we ate there.  Definitely clarify with them about the toaster if you are really sensitive or maybe use a toaster bag to help prevent cross-contamination.

Arriba Mexican Grill:  There was not much information about this restaurant anywhere, but it was a 1/4 mile from our hotel so we decided to give it a try.  When we arrived the menu wasn’t extensive but we saw they had corn tortillas and felt like we could make this work.  It was not the greatest Mexican food we have ever had, but we are in the middle of a desert…

Bryce Canyon Coffee Company:  As suggested by the name, we visited this cozy café several times for coffee and enjoyed smoothies following our hikes. Although the gluten-free menu is not extensive, it does accommodate those with dietary restrictions by offering gluten-free muffins and other baked goods, subject to availability.

Park City

Five Guys:  I know we don’t normally mention fast food restaurants on our list of places we eat, but outside of Wisconsin this is our go to.  At home, we usually visit Culver’s because they offer a gluten-free bun option and frozen custard.  While Five Guys doesn’t provide gluten-free bun options, we have found suitable alternatives for Terry.  He enjoys their hot dog without the bun, topped with sautéed onions and mushrooms.  His favorite part about Five Guys is, unlike other fast food joints, they only deep fry their fries so he can enjoy some delicious salty fries alongside his meal.

Riverhorse:  Time to turn things back up a notch.  While it was not as steep in price as the Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Las Vegas, I doubt many others will ever reach that, it wasn’t too far off.  Reservations are recommended and you can indicate allergies while making the reservation.  This helped our waitress come over prepped and ready to go.  Almost everything was able to be made gluten-free.  Terry even ventured outside his box and tried Buffalo tartare.  Then continued his meal of wild game with more buffalo, venison and elk.  All were cooked to perfection.  The rest of us enjoyed our meals too but I think Terry’s stole the show.

Breakfast

The Bridge Café and Grill:  This was our breakfast joint before we headed back home.  It had many good reviews on Google, so I had to check it out.  When I pulled up the menu, they had many options labeled gf or could be made gf if requested.  This was fantastic because they had a nice outdoor patio area overlooking Main Street, which actually had a street market going on.  The waiter was well versed in gf and Terry was able to get a spin-off of a Monte Christo sandwich, which he devoured.

Hugo Coffee Shop:  Our coffee pick me up after our 5k race in Salt Lake City.  We finally cooled down and were ready for a light breakfast and some coffee.  Similar to all the other coffee shops, the gluten-free menu was not extensive but they did have options.  Terry settled for a nice and “small” piece of coffee cake.  It was gone by the time we received our coffees.

That concludes the list of restaurants we tried while out and about exploring Utah.  We hope to get back to Park City and explore that area a little more because we really like the vibe.  Hopefully there will be more to come!!