We went on a mini family vacation to Washington D.C. for a few days. Since I have so many food allergies, I had to try to plan out every meal ahead of time so that I knew I would definitely be eating something. I figure I can't be the only one who has this problem, so I wanted to write a post about my food experiences. A lot of this information can be used in other cities and towns, too, though. Here's a breakdown of what and where I ate each day around Washington D.C., along with a list other food suggestions in the area.
Just a few things to note - The first day was a bit unplanned. We ended up going a day early spur of the moment, so I didn't have time to find a place to eat around our hotel. Also, I made some food at home, and packed a cooler to bring with us.
Snack Day #1: Packed From Home
Pear slices.
Dinner Day #1: Packed From Home
A rice paper wrap with turkey and unpasteurized cheddar cheese.
Some watermelon and snickerdoodle bread on the side.
Breakfast Day #2: Packed From Home
{My hubby and son had breakfast at the hotel, but I had to bring my own.}
Honey flavored lactose-free yogurt with strawberries.
Lunch Day #2: Packed From Home
A rice paper wrap with turkey and unpasteurized cheddar cheese.
A rice cake and some apple slices dipped in cinnamon raisin peanut butter.
Snack Day #2: Packed From Home
Grapes.
Dinner Day #2: Austin Grill in Silver Spring, MD {Also located in Alexandria, VA and Washington D.C. in the center of Gallery Place/China Town, Judiciary Square, and the Archives}
This place is fantastic and I would highly recommend it to anyone with or without food allergies. It's Tex-Mex, but even with my tomato allergy I was able to find something I could eat. They have a gluten-free menu, which I didn't really use, but it was nice knowing they had it available. I got the Chopped Salad with only the lettuce, black beans, and bacon, and asked for avocado added to it. They do have gluten-free salad dressing choices, but because of my soy and corn allergies, I always have to bring my own. So, I packed with me a homemade red wine vinaigrette dressing to go with my salad. My meal was delicious! The best part was the server actually cared about my food allergies (I have found that a lot do not show much concern.) She made sure my food was prepared with clean utensils and separate from the other food in the kitchen. She told the head chef about my allergies. He actually came out to verify my order and told me he was going to prepare it personally! This was the first time I left a restaurant without having an allergic reaction.
*I have read that the chips, among many other food choices are gluten-free as well.*
Breakfast Day #3: Packed From Home
{My hubby and son had breakfast at the hotel, but I had to bring my own.}
Bacon strips, strawberries, and a rice cake with goat cheese.
Lunch Day #3: Uno Chicago Grill in Union Station, Washington D.C.
On their site, they list every ingredient and allergen in each menu item. They even have a gluten-free menu which contains gluten-free pizza. I can't have gluten-free pizza because of other allergens, but I did find a salad I could eat if I modified it a bit. I got the Classic Cobb Salad with just the lettuce, bacon, and avocado, and added on red peppers. And again, I brought my own dressing. I was sadly disappointed with my experience at Uno. The waitress didn't seem to care about my food allergies. At first she didn't even write anything down. I tried to ask her to make sure my food was prepared separately, etc, but she kind of brushed me off. My salad came with carrots (which I am allergic to). They were not listed as an ingredient on the menu. My husband and I had to pick each tiny piece out. I had a small allergic reaction to my meal, nothing major, but I was still disappointed.
Snack Day #3: Packed From Home
Some strawberries and pear slices.
Other Restaurant Options Around Washington D.C.:
Z-Pizza - They are located in both downtown D.C. just north of Gallery Place/Chinatown and Silver Spring, MD. They use organic ingredients and make gluten-free pizza, in addition to having salads.
Open City - They are located near Woodley Park and the Zoo. They are gluten-friendly, and make salads, seafood, chicken, and much more.
Lilit Cafe - They are located in Bethesda, MD. They have a gluten-free menu that features salads, gf bread, gf pizza, meat, seafood, etc.
Atrium Cafe - They are located in the Smithsonian National Museum Of Natural History near the National Mall. They serve organic food and are allergen-friendly.
Java Green/Cafe Green - They have locations near Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle. One is vegan, and both are organic and allergen-friendly.
