12 Allergy-Friendly Eateries In Boston And Beyond

Sometimes having a food allergy can feel like a special punishment from the universe. Luckily, more and more restaurants and cafes are going out of their way to cater to clientele that are allergic to The Big Eight. Check out the delicious menus at these allergy-friendly restaurants that could make your next night out a little easier.*

1. Myers + Chang (South End, Boston)

Myers + Chang / Via myersandchang.com

Myers + Chang serves up stunning food inspired by the cuisines of China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Their moody and modern atmosphere will reel you in, but it's the food choices that will make you cry tears of joy. They boast extensive separate menus for those who are allergic to gluten, nuts, and shellfish. They can even accommodate those allergies during their dim sum brunch on the weekend. Vegetarians and vegans will also rejoice as the restaurant has a separate vegetarian menu as well. Yes, even their dim sum has a crispy tofu bao!

2. Blue Ginger (Wellesley, MA)

The Phantom Gourmet / Via phantomgourmet.com

Blue Ginger is an upscale restaurant that has been serving up great "East-West cuisine" for almost twenty years. Restaurant owner and chef, Ming Tsai, has written the literal book on allergen safety in the industrial kitchen. Every patron who comes to dine at his restaurant can look up each item on his menu to plainly view its ingredients and discern whether the meal they desire is free of their allergen or not. Alongside their regular dinner menu, Blue Ginger has an entire gluten-free menu.

3. Toro (South End, Boston)

Toro Restaurant / Via toro-restaurant.com

Toro is a small, Spanish tapas restaurant. Traditional and modern Barcelona-based small plates are served up for lunch and dinner during the week, and even for brunch on Sundays. Another great draw of their Sunday brunch is that they serve up wicked mimosas, Bloody Marys, and sangrias by the pitcher. You know, if you're into that sort of thing. Most importantly, at your request, your server can provide you with menus that are vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, or gluten-free.

4. Nebo (North End, Boston)

Nebo Restaurant / Via neborestaurant.com

Putting the words 'pizza' and 'gluten-free' together tends to make people cringe. Not at Nebo. This classic Italian eatery in the North End offers up an extensive separate gluten-free menu full of hearty pastas and comforting, flavorful pizzas. From a classic margherita, to a divine combination of prosciutto, fig jam, gorgonzola, and mozzarella, every gluten-free pizza fanatic will find their true love here.

5. Scampo (Beacon Hill, Boston)

The Boston Globe / Via bostonglobe.com

Scampo is an trendy Italian establishment located within The Liberty Hotel (the location was a jailhouse back in the day). Their prices may give your wallet some serious side-eye but if avoiding gluten is your aim, Scampo has you covered. The restaurant has gluten-free menus for brunch, lunch, and dinner. For lunch and dinner enjoy insalata, antipasti, and mains like wild rapini risotto, or pink swordfish with grilled octopus. Craving pasta? You can order it six different ways with their delicious gluten-free spaghetti.

6. My Thai Vegan Cafe (Chinatown, Boston)

World Tour Stories / Via worldtourstories.com

As their name cleverly states, My Thai Vegan Cafe caters primarily to vegans and vegetarians. However, a happy side effect of this is that those with shellfish allergies can comfortably get their hands on delicious Thai flavors again! Normally, a Thai menu doubles as a minefield for someone trying to avoid even traces of shellfish in their food. At a vegan restaurant that doesn't use animal byproducts this is what you might call a non-issue. Personally, this makes me want to weep sweet, sweet tears of joy. You'll find all your favorites from summer rolls, to pad Thai, and everything in between. Tofu and faux meat sub in for shellfish, fish, and other animal products. Did I mention they also serve desserts and bubble tea? No? Well now I have and it's all I'll be thinking about for the next week.

7. FoMu (Allston, MA)

Somerby Jones for FoMu / Via fomuicecream.com

If you're dairy-free or vegan, FoMu is for you. The company specializes in making ice cream and baked goods that are entirely free of animal byproducts. FoMu is also certified kosher and carries many soy-free and gluten-free ice cream options as well. Their ice cream bases are made of coconut or an almond/cashew blend. They even sell ice cream cakes in flavors such as Peanut Butter Cup, Caramel Macchiato, or my preferred method of going to meet my maker, Death by Chocolate. They have another storefront located in Jamaica Plain, and you can even buy pints of their ice cream online via their website.

8. Red Lentil (Watertown, MA)

Red Lentil for TripAdvisor / Via tripadvisor.com

Red Lentil boasts an entirely vegetarian menu, with any item available to be prepared vegan at request. Their menu notes which items contain nuts, which are gluten-free, soy-free, and of course, vegan and dairy-free. With their main dishes clocking in at (mostly) under $15, Red Lentil is also quite affordable. Their menu spans a wide range of food options. Dishes like nachos, Thai salads, hummus platters, pizzas, and paellas are just a sampling of their offerings. They also offer a beverage menu that is overflowing with a variety of juices and delicious vegan smoothies. If lactose is your enemy, definitely consider making Red Lentil your close friend. Those who are shellfish-free can also breathe easy here.

9. OTTO Pizza (Cambridge, MA)

Roosevelt Dime Music / Via rooseveltdimemusic.com

OTTO started as a small pizza parlor in Portland, ME and has since sidled down to Cambridge to bask in more love and praise. Simply put, OTTO is weird pizza paradise. Sure, you'll find good old cheese and margherita pizzas here, but the real stars of the show are unique OTTO toppings like three-cheese tortellini, meatloaf + mashed potato + herb, and pulled pork + mango. All of the toppings OTTO offers (with the exception of the tortellini, sorry!) can be ordered on a 10" gluten-free crust. They also serve up salads if you want to pretend that you're going to eat a nutritionally balanced meal. Their pizzas are also free of shellfish toppings.

10. Blacker's Bakeshop (Newton, MA)

Blacker's Bakeshop / Via youtube.com

This kosher bakery opened in 2008 in Newton. The Blackers sell traditional Jewish goodies and everything in their bakery is nut-free. You'll start drooling as soon as you see their assortment of babkahs, pies, tarts, kichel, whoopie pies, brownies, and challah (chocolate chip!). For those who are egg-free, they also bake a variety of vegan treats such as cupcakes, ruglach, sticky cinnamon bread, and birthday cakes. They also run a bread bakery (that is also nut-free and dairy-free) called Blacker's Bread Basket.

11. True Bistro (Somerville, MA)

The Somerville Beat / Via somervillebeat.com

True Bistro is a fully vegan and dairy-free restaurant located in Somerville. They serve brunch on weekends as well as dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Typical vegetarian fare such as seitan skewers, Thai green curry, and soba noodles are featured. A full vegan dessert menu also offers delicious items such as chai infused pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, banana bread, and ice cream. True Bistro also offers a "Gluten Light" menu that offers both gluten-free and low-gluten items like tofu scramble, homefries, smoked tofu, salads, and various gluten-free desserts. Once again, lovely vegan options also mean no worries for those who are shellfish-free.

12. cake. (Lexington, MA)

cake. / Via cakeperiod.com

cake. is a tiny but talented bakery located in downtown Lexington. They operate as a nut-free facility, rolling out gorgeous cakes and cupcakes made from scratch everyday. Their flavors have sweet and adorable names like Midnight Delight, Berries and Gold, Karat Topped, and Red Carpet. Come pick out an everyday cupcake, or have custom-made a decadent and artistic birthday or wedding cake. The bakery also offers gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan cakes by special order.

*Even restaurants that create menus that cater to your allergy may have traces of it from pre-packaged goods. As always, before ordering ask your server (or the chef) about the possibility of cross-contamination. Don't hesitate to call before you plan on dining if you have a severe or life-threatening allergy to make sure the restaurant can accommodate your needs. If you have an allergy that may require an auto-injector (such as an EpiPen), make sure you bring it with you when dining out. It's better safe than sorry. Happy eating folks!