Top 6 Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Spots to Discover in Baton Rouge

Thomas D. Pearce

Brian the server and young architect: My wife and I have worked in fine dining, Ruth's Chris and Brennan's, New Orleans; most servers find a way to irk me and disappoint. Brian's service was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and friendly without getting in the way of our date. Food: You can scarcely complain about any of the creole and New Orleans fusion served at Eliza; we have been loyal in particular for the gluten free fried seafood. For such a high quality place, however, I was disappointed to learn they are still using the industrial biproduct, "vegetable" oil, in their fryer instead of beef tallow or at least refined peanut oil (which does *not* cause allergic reactions). I selfishly hope Eliza's can commit to clean oils in their kitchen, so they can once again be our go-to for fried seafood and perfect destination to show out of town friends a refined but casual experience of excellent south Louisiana fare.

Tracy Franks-Blanchard

Definitely will be back to try some of the other entrees on the menu. The pork tamale was so tender, the birria and cheese enchiladas were perfection. Hubby recommends the Mexican Stir-fry with the protein trio of chicken, shrimp, and steak. I did steal a shrimp to check for myself. The grill on it made the flavor pop. They can cater to just about any restrictions too. They have keto, vegetarian, and gluten free menus. When you go, ask for Dallas. He delivers top notch service!

James Snell

Oh dear. From outside, appears to be a very hip and with it addition to the B.R. restaurant scene as nurtured by the Perkins overpass locus. Interior reads of much the same, as though the quirky bric-a- brac interior design merchants of simulated culture eateries have cracked the hipster aesthetic a decade or two after the peak. Waitstaff with a knit beanie, another with a ever-so- carefully curled mustache; adorable. The menu is full of vegetarian and vegan and gluten free selections because OF COURSE IT IS. Words like "rustic" have been press- ganged into service for bread that is extremely not. I challenge new venues in southeastern Louisiana if they have the gusto to put something like shrimp creole on the menu. In this case, I led with some crab cakes. The side salad was the big winner of that course. The crab cakes were okay. Could have been more crab intensive for appetizer pricing. The shrimp creole had shrimp in it. I do not dispute that. But the creole was muted or missing entirely. It is possible that my expectations have been skewed by offerings by friends and family, but I feel confident in saying only the most timid or naive palate will endorse this dish completely. In all fairness, the green peas as a side were expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. A big plus for vegetables treated with respect. A great big star arrived to bump up the score here: the chocolate chunk cookie for a finisher was entirely legit. Definitely take a chance on a dessert if one strikes your fancy. Service was good. Interior ambiance is very improvisational restaurant furniture. The intentional lack of effort screams as loudly as possible: "We're a very hip and laid back eatery! We are a playful venue!" But the casual cool feels carefully posed. We visited on a Wednesday around early dinner time and I earnestly hope the sincere mediocre white guy with an acoustic guitar singing bloodless simulations of decades- old moderate rock was a one- time thing and the management recognizes their mistake and cancels that unnecessary intrusion that only distracts and detracts from what pleasantness there is to be had. I'm definitely up for another run at their menu in a few weeks or so. I suspect there are more gems to be found.

Jill Judy

Staff could not have been more pleasant. Wine menu was extensive with solid selections. Our mains were well made with fresh ingredients, unique flavors, and the menu took great care to provide top-notch options for vegans and gluten intolerant folks. While I’m not vegan, the chocolate vegan ice cream was incredibly decadent and delicious. The website pictures made me think seating was communal; it is not. We wish we could move this gem to our town.

Diana Reamer

I can see why Elsie’s has been a highly popular choice for locals and tourists alike! We stopped by for a hot lunch on our way to visit Mississippi. I chose Elsie’s bc they have gluten free options. I had the grilled chicken plate with red beans and rice, and broccoli. That chicken was SO dang good. I missed getting the crustless crab pie (sadly) but the chicken plate sure made up for it! Hubby had a fried shrimp platter that he said was just okay. Bathroom is a single seater but seems to have a very short wait time. Parking is behind the street and then you can pop right back out to the highway pretty easily. Our server, Mei/May, was super cute and helpful. I took home about 1/2 the red beans and rice with the remaining broccoli. It was a perfect dinner reheated! It’s got some charm and nice artwork (some even for sale). Kinda like popping in on your mom & them!

Martha Hancock

Excellent experience. Authentic Grerk, mediterranean food. Rack of lamb, potatoes with lemon, roasted, Greek salad, and a gluten free chocolate dessert with figs and cherries I think.