Gluten-Free Eating in Destin
If you or someone you love has celiac disease or a severe food allergy, you know firsthand how difficult traveling can be. In addition to the normal challenges and stressors of having to make sure you have everything packed and all the travel plans squared away, you have to figure out where you can possibly find safe food you can trust in a place to which you’ve never traveled. Traveling involves a lot of research and planning for those of us with celiac disease; it’s dangerous to just wing it. We’re here to help. We hope you enjoy our gluten-free travel guide to the beautiful Destin, Florida.
Merlin’s Pizza
My first night in Destin, I ordered from Merlin’s and was amazed at their selection. I searched gluten-free reviews of their food and most of those that said they had celiac disease and had eaten there had been fine with everything but the grilled chicken.
I ordered ham, onion, and garlic on my gluten-free pizza and had no problems at all. They also offer crustless pizza, if you’d prefer to pass on the carbs altogether.
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
I was thoroughly impressed by the care Margaritaville’s staff took with the food ordered by those with severe allergies. The party with which I was dining had two major allergy to consider: shrimp and (of course) gluten. They had different, designated employees carry out the allergy-free dishes.
They offered a chicken substitute for the gumbo to accommodate the shrimp problem and they even had a gluten-free fryer so I could eat french fries. The meal was delicious and I had no problems whatsoever.
Tailfin’s
Tailfin’s, located on the boardwalk, offers an excellent atmosphere, huge drink selection, and pretty large gluten-free selection.
This place is definitely worth a stop, even if only for the drinks and the view.
LuLu’s
From what I could tell online, this a local favorite as well as a crowd-pleaser for tourists. They offer all sorts of allergy-free menus and take great care of their patrons with allergies. They have a wonderful atmosphere, including a man-made beach with water access. You can see this restaurant from the bridge on the way in and out of Destin.
Louisiana Lagniappe
I didn’t eat at this restaurant, as it’s a bit out of my price range. The menu boasts several gluten-free options, but this restaurant is on the pricey side. It’s delicious food and a wonderful fine dining experience,according to reviews.
Joe’s Crab Shack
I haven’t been to a Joe’s since I was diagnosed with celiac disease, but their menu boasts a lot of gluten-free. I’m typically wary of chain restaurants, but steamed fish is most always save; just be sure to inform your server of your allergy.
A Word of Advice
Unfortunately, I was greatly disheartened by a lot of my research containing misinformation. For example, several places online claim the famous Donut Hole has gluten-free options available, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Similarly, The Breakfast Table is often listed as celiac safe, which is also incorrect. Their online menu clearly states that they aren’t celiac safe and don’t have a gluten-free kitchen.
One place I would strongly warn against if you have celiac disease is Dewey Destin’s. This place is very confused about gluten and celiac disease. For instance, their menu claims the hushpuppies are gluten-free. Ignoring the simple fact that they don’t have a dedicated fryer and no addendum making that even remotely clear, their hushpuppies aren’t gluten-free. Concerned about the fact that the hushpuppies were on the gluten-free menu, even though the entire staff insisted the hushpuppies had never been gluten-free, I asked to speak to the manager about my options. He was completely clueless as to the necessary precautions and seemed to be completely unaware that his gluten-free menu contained clearly gluten items. If you don’t have celiac disease, I’m sure this place is great, but if you do, stay far away.
Destin is a beautiful vacation destination that is truly worth a visit. However, we recommend that, if you have celiac disease, you take the time to do your research and plan your meals and restaurants in advance. While you’re there, you should definitely check out the boardwalk. If you’re a coffee fanatic like me, you have to go to Capriccio Café. This amazing coffee place is a hidden gem; it’s ran by a very kind Italian man that remembered us every time we came in and we were only their five days. Enjoy your Destin vacation and eat safely, friends.