b. good gluten-free burger

Yet another place to buy a burger with a gluten-free bun!   b.good, where food is made “by people not factories” emphasizes fresh foods that are free of chemicals.  Burgers and  turkey burgers are made with meat that is ground in-house. 

There are six signature burgers to choose from, or you can build your own.  The buns are made of a tapioca and rice flour base and are free of dairy (contain soy, egg and yeast).

The  potato and sweet potato “fries” are actually baked and are gluten-free. They are hand-cut on-site and coated with olive oil and baked till crispy.  Salad and seasonal vegetables are available too and are sourced from local, organic growers.   Even the milkshakes are made with your choice of locally grown ice cream or non-fat yogurt.  Fruit shakes (contain dairy) are offered as well.

We had a fun experience at this casual, family-friendly burger joint and appreciated the quick service and the fact that the kitchen is open to viewing so we could see the server change his gloves when preparing our order. We’ll definitely be back!

Most of the vegetarian dishes can be easily modified to vegan and there are raw food choices here too. For a small additional charge, one can order gluten-free bread (contains dairy) or vegan cheese to go with any of the dishes. I’m glad to see the gluten-free, vegan Baked Macaroni and Cheese is offered on both the lunch and dinner menu!

Everyday a gluten-free baked good is offered. This could be one of many cookies such as the Coconut Almond cookies or the Chocolate Chip cookies.  Often the featured dessert is both vegan and gluten-free.  Some of these include the Kahlua Chocolate Layer Cake, Rice Crispy Treats or the Chocolate Macadamia Pie which is made with a raw almond date crust. Obviously, there are a lot of nuts offered here to take into consideration, if that is a concern of yours.

It’s best to call ahead to discover the featured desserts and daily specials. On our planned visit they were offering gluten-free lasagna (we had to postone our trip).  And Tuesday nights are ‘Raw Nights” where a raw entree and dessert are offered.

All of the gluten-free foods are prepared in a special area of the kitchen with designated pots and utensils and they even have a dedicated refrigerator/freezer and fryer.  The pizza crust is also dairy-free and if you’d rather customize your own toppings, that is an option too.  Gluten-free pasta is available to substitute for any pasta dish as is a fresh tomato basil sauce, if that’s what you prefer.

Though desserts are not listed on the menu, there is a good chance that on any visit you might be tempted by gluten-free versions of Tiramisu, Lemon Tart or a 4-Layer Chocolate Cake as well as naturally gluten-free desserts such as the Mango Panna Cotta (contains dairy and nuts).  Call ahead to see what awaits you.  Gluten-free beer is availabe too.

Closed Sundays

The chef certaintly doesn’t impair the integrity of any dish with these modifcations. Dishes are not stripped of  flavor.  For instance, the signature appetizer, Thai Nachos (contains shellfish), is modified by substituting root vegetable chips in place of crispy wonton strips, and herb risotto replaces the farro in the Long Island Duck entree.  

Also worth noting is that someone living with celiac disease is on staff. Besides catering to the needs of gluten-free customers, this establishment strives to please all customers and will work with you to devise an enjoyable meal despite any dietary restrictions.  

I suggest making a reservation to increase the chances that you’ll have some warm gluten-free bread waiting on your table! 

Eggplant Parmesan

No longer do you have to pine for the days when your Nonna presented you with delectable platters of homemade Italian food. You can easily head over to  Lola’s Natick Italian Sub shop  to indulge in a gluten-free version!  They have an incredible selection of Italian favorites that include Baked Ziti, Arancini (rice balls), Stuffed Peppers and Chicken Marsala.  This is only a partial listing. There are more than a dozen other entrees available. 

A relatively new addition to the list is the cannoli.  Yes, a gluten-free version!  These are sold four to a pack and are next on our list to try.  We have had the Eggplant Parmesan which we found delicious.  It was breaded, like the traditional version, and was covered in a simple yet flavorful marinara sauce and sprinkled with cheese.  Our gluten tolerant friends had no idea they were eating gluten-free food.  The Veal, Eggplant and Chicken Parm and the Meatballs with Sauce are available in a dairy-free version as well. 

These 1-2 person sized dinners are sold frozen so you can eat them at your leisure.   Larger sized orders are available with 48 hours advance notice.  Catering is also offered. 

Lola’s Gluten-Free items are also sold at select stores in Massachusetts. These include:

A New Leaf, Tilly & Salvy’s and Natural Food Exchange.

This menu includes the popular Hummus & Tzatziki appetizer (contains dairy), which is served with fresh cut vegetables.   Soups and salads as well as fish, chicken and steak tip entrees are offered too.  There is even a children’s menu comprised of the typical favorites-hamburgers and hotdogs. However, these must be ordered without a bun. Maybe the kids would be happier with the Grilled Chicken which can be left plain or coated in a teriyaki glaze.  Sides include baked potato, mashed potato, coleslaw, steamed broccoli or chilled vegetables.    

It is somewhat disappointing to see there is no bun substitution for the gluten intolerant customers,  but possibly just as disappointing and even surprising is the lack of a gluten-free beer. After all, it is a brewery!

Salads, soups, entrees, sides, desserts and smoothies as well as a selection of childrens’ dishes are featured on this menu.  Pasta dishes are made with zucchini noodles and often include nut cheese.  There are also sandwiches and wraps available.  If you want something crunchy to go along with your  BLT (consists of eggplant bacon, lettuce, tomato and almond herb cheese on onion bread), why not consider the kale or apple chips?  For dessert, there are over six selections to choose from including a traditional Brownie or a Cayenne Brownie!

I wish I lived closer to enjoy some of the events that take place monthly. They include bi-weekly pot luck dinners, food tastings and lectures.

Local free delivery is available ($15 minimum), and, I’ve heard, is appreciated by the area college students. Thankfully, for the rest of us, their products can be shipped nationwide by using the website or by calling 860-455-EATS.

 

 The Wok, located on Route 9 in Wellesley Hills, is a great place to indulge in Chinese cuisine, especially if you are living gluten-free!  As stated on their website “ All food is made to order and can be customized to meet your needs.”  

With the exception of the appetizers, most of the dishes can be modified to be gluten-free by altering the sauce.  They use their own ’special sauce’ which is made with gluten-free soy sauce.  The menu offers an abundant selection of items including  soups, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, seafood, vegetarian and tofu dishes as well as a Healthy Heart section filled with steamed and stir fried creations. 

On visits we have tried many dishes including the naturally gluten-free Vegetarian’s Delight, the modified Fried Rice, the modified General Gau’s Chicken and Crispy Spicy Chicken. Both of these chicken entrees were coated in corn starch.  All food is free of trans fats and MSG.  I applaud the staff which presented themselves exceptionally knowledgeable of their menu and the gluten-free diet.  We have never had a problem meeting our dietary needs here.

They also have a sister restaurant, Harbor Wok , which is operated seasonally and located within Jared Coffin House on Nantucket.

The cupcakes are made fresh each day using only trans fat-free ingredients.  The gluten-free items utilize the same oven as the regular ones but are always baked at a separate time and kept in a separate area .  Nuts are present in the bakery which prompts the warning “All cupcakes may contain traces of nuts.”

Special orders are welcome with the stipulation that orders greater than one hundred must be placed at least four days in advance. If you just need a dozen or so, 24 hours advance notice is fine.  Be sure to check out some of the incredible designs that make some of these cupcakes almost too pretty to consume.  Delivery is available to the towns of Wellesley, Natick, Sherborn, Weston and Wayland. 

Closed Sunday & Monday.

Naturally gluten-free items can be chosen from the menu like the Cheese Plate, Olive Cup and Fresh Caprese appetizers as well as the salads. For entrees, there are many grilled meats and dishes that can be modified to meet your needs.  And for dessert there is always the home-made ice cream and sorbets.

This North End of Boston born and bred chef along with his business partner, Chef Gayle, are available to cater your next special event.  Maybe he’ll sing for that occassion too!

Open year round for dinner Wednesday through Sunday.