When I was 16, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder where your body basically tells you that you can't eat gluten. Gluten, unfortunately, is in all of the most wonderful foods on the planet, such as cake, pie, cookies, pasta, and pizza. Going to restaurants is a challenge because you never know if their food is 100% safe to eat, and options tend to be minimal. After learning that I had this disorder, I was so sad that I had to say goodbye to these delicious foods. However, 2 years later, I have found some awesome and wonderful alternatives to my former favorite foods. And luckily, since I am now living in New York City, I have access to some of the best gluten-free options in the world. There are so many gluten-free restaurants and bakeries that I have been dying to try since coming here. So here is list of the places that I believe would make all of my gluten-free wishes come true.

1. Senza Gluten

I have followed this restaurant on Instagram for such a long time, and it's crazy that I haven't eaten here yet. This Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village has a 100% gluten-free menu (so zero cross-contamination!) , which spans from pasta dishes, to pizza, to steak and chicken dishes, to delectable desserts. They even have brunch on the weekends, so I know I have to make at least two trips here!

2. Lilli and Loo

Though this restaurant isn't strictly gluten-free, it has a very extensive gluten-free menu. Normally, when going to a Chinese restaurant, I can only get simple things like fried rice made with a gluten-free soy sauce or chow mein without sauce. However, here, gluten-free eaters can get everything ranging from spring rolls, to a variety of soups, to pasta and friend rices, and desserts. The photo above is definitely what I will order, GF sesame chicken. I am so excited about this food, which is located in the Upper East Side on Lexington Avenue.

3. S'Mac (Sarita's Macaroni and Cheese)

One of my floor mates and gluten-free friends, Maggie, swears by this East Village mac and cheese joint. Though I am not the biggest fan of mac and cheese, I will certainly eat it. Every mac and cheese dish that this restaurant makes is available with GF pasta. There are so many yummy options to consider trying such as a 4-cheese mac and cheese, a Mediterranean mac and cheese, and even a cheeseburger mac and cheese. There are even dairy-free vegan options here, so I definitely want to go here with my friend Erin.

4. The Meltshop

http://glutenfreecarolinagirl.com

Staying on the topic of cheese, the Meltshop, located in various places around the city, prides itself on fantastic grilled cheese sandwiches. I personally love Grilled Cheese so I am so excited to try this place.

5. Tompkins Square Bagels

My friend Maggie also raves about Tompkins Square Bagels, located in the East Village. Bagels are definitely in the top 3 glutenous things that I miss the most, so I am so amped to try their bagels!

6. Tu Lu's Bakery

Tu lu's bakery is a place I've been yearning to go to satisfy my huge sweet tooth. Also in the East Village, it is a 100% gluten-free bakery, so there isn't a chance of cross-contamination. They have everything from cupcakes, to muffins, to cookies, to paninis. Yum!

7. By the Way Bakery

By the Way has a dedicated GF kitchen, so there is also no cross-contamination risk here. They have a variety of gluten-free and dairy-free sweets, and they even make custom GF cakes for special events. There are multiple locations to pick up and enjoy some of their treats: in the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, Westchester, and Greenwich Connecticut.

I am so ecstatic to try all of these places. They all seem to be so delicious, and a definite change to what I normally eat on my college campus. They also prove that if you're gluten-free it doesn't have to mean that you have to eat salad all of the time! Also, little disclaimer, not all of the above venues are completely GF, so make sure if you have celiac, an allergy, or a sensitivity to gluten, you talk to your server about cleaning their cooking supplies to minimize cross-contamination. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope that if you are ever in the New York area and you are GF you have the opportunity to try one of these places.