One of the greatest adjustments from couple-hood to parenthood hands down has to be dining out. When two becomes three (and more), logistics and timing become even trickier than just picking up and heading out the door for a “quick meal.” Throw in some food allergies, and now we’ve really got a party here!
Long gone are the days of just ordering whatever you want off the menu without any second thought. Cue the endless grilling questions aimed at the server, the restaurant manager, the kitchen manager, and well, heck, the whole establishment if it means keeping your child safe from the food on the plate. Dining out with food allergies doesn’t need to be stressful, but it is especially important to be prepared (with an extra meal in a cooler just in case) and know before you go.
*Disclaimer: As a food allergy parent, you have the final say on whether or not you feel heard and accommodated for your child to dine safely at a restaurant. Over-explaining and checking ingredients will never be something you regret when it comes to the safety of your child. Our family has not personally dined at all of the locations on this list. These are suggestions crowdsourced from other local food allergy families.
Locally Owned Restaurants
CAPTAIN CONE’S ICE CREAM
Where: St. Augustine | Cuisine: desserts, sweets & treats | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, dairy, peanuts, and wheat
CASA MARIA
Where: Durbin Crossing | Cuisine: Mexican | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish
EPIK BURGER
Where: Atlantic Blvd. | Cuisine: burgers, fries & shakes | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish
EUROPEAN STREET CAFE
Where: Jax Beach, San Marco, Riverside | Cuisine: | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, dairy, egg, garlic.
FLORIDA JUICE & BOWL
Where: Jax Beach, San Marco | Cuisine: açaí bowls, poke bowls | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish
FLOATING SEA CAFE
Where: Baymeadows | Cuisine: clean eats, vegan option, catering, private events | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, corn
JADENKAWAII BETTER TR(EATS), LLC
Where: Downtown | Cuisine: sweets and treats | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: This is a brand new local allergy mama owned business and is aimed at fully accommodating those within the allergy community with orders available for pickup or delivery.
KAIROS
Where: Beach Blvd. | Cuisine: healthy food, juices, smoothies, coffee | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish
KATHY’S TABLE
Where: Riverside, Jax Beach, Southside | Cuisine: healthy food | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish
KAZU JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Where: San Jose | Cuisine: Japanese | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish
MAYDAY ICE CREAM
Where: 9 locations in Florida | Cuisine: ice cream | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: dairy, wheat, egg, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts
MOJO HOLDINGS, LLC
Where: Mojo Bar-B-Que (University), Mojo No.4 (Avondale), Mojo BBQ Old City (St. Augustine), Mojo Kitchen (Jax Beach), Mojo Smokehouse (Fleming Island) | Cuisine: American BBQ | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, kiwi
MOON DOG PIE HOUSE
Where: San Jose | Cuisine: pizza and Italian | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, eggs, dairy
NORTH BEACH FISH CAMP
Where: Neptune Beach, St. Augustine, Palm Valley, Julington Creek | Cuisine: seafood | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, wheat
SALENTO STEAKHOUSE
Where: Mandarin | Cuisine: Colombian steakhouse | Families have safely dined here with these allergies:, wheat, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish
SOUTHERN GROUNDS
Where: Neptune Beach, San Marco, Avondale, JAX Airport | Cuisine: coffee bar, American cafe | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: dairy, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts
SWEET THEORY BAKING CO.
Where: Riverside | Cuisine: bakery treats | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, dairy, tree nuts, soy, peanuts, fish, shellfish, wheat
TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA
Where: Jax Beach | Cuisine: bakery treats | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, egg, sesame, tree nuts
TEQUILA’S TOWN
Where: Harbour Village | Cuisine: Mexican | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, tree nuts, peanuts
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Chain Restaurants
BLAZE PIZZA
Where: St. Johns Town Center, River City | Cuisine: pizza | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: tree nuts, dairy, egg, garlic, peanuts
CHILI’S
Where: Regency, Baymeadows, River City Marketplace, Orange Park, Mandarin, Atlantic Beach, Oakleaf, Bartram Crossing, Fleming Island, Jax Beach, Yulee | Cuisine: American, Mexican | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, egg, garlic, and sesame
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL
Where: 10 Locations | Cuisine: Mexican – burritos, burrito bowls and salads | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, cashew, pistachio, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, kiwi
CHUY’S
Where: St. Johns Town Center | Cuisine: Tex-Mex | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: peanuts and tree nuts
CULVER’S
Where: Monument, Gate Parkway, Orange Park, Middleburg, St. Johns, Yulee | Cuisine: burgers & custards | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish
FIVE STAR PIZZA
Where: Orange Park, Mandarin, UNF Town Center, Avondale/Murray Hill, St. Augustine | Cuisine: pizza | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, kiwi
JEREMIAH’S ITALIAN ICE
Where: Mandarin, Orange Park, Jax Beach, Fleming Island, Durbin Park, St. Augustine (Coming Soon!) | Cuisine: frozen treats | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, fish, shellfish, wheat
LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE
Where: 10 Locations | Cuisine: American steakhouse | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: peanuts and tree nuts
THE LOOP
Where: Avondale, Amelia Island, Deerwood, St. Johns Town Center, San Marco, Orange Park, San Pablo, Mandarin, Fleming Island, Julington Creek, Nocatee | Cuisine: burgers, pizza, salads, hand-spun shakes | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish
MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY
Where: St. Johns Town Center | Cuisine: Italian | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: dairy, egg, garlic, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, shellfish
MELLOW MUSHROOM
Where: Avondale, Town Center, River City, Jax Beach, Fleming Island, Durbin Park | Cuisine: stone-baked pizza | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts
MOD PIZZA
Where: Bartram Village | Cuisine: individual artisan-style pizzas and salads | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, sesame, fish, shellfish
OLIVE GARDEN
Where: Regency, River City Marketplace, Orange Park, Avenues Mall | Cuisine: Italian | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, wheat, dairy, shellfish
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
Where: San Jose, Northside, Orange Park, Baymeadows, Queens Harbor, Jax Beach | Cuisine: | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, pea protein, shellfish – Gluten Free/Nut Free/Egg Free grill lines available
PELICAN’S SNOBALLS
Where: Jax Beach, Green Cove Springs | Cuisine: frozen treats | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, wheat
RED ROBIN
Where: St. Johns Town Center | Cuisine: American | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: dairy, egg, garlic, peanuts, wheat, tree nuts, shellfish
SUGARFIRE SMOKEHOUSE
Where: West Beaches | Cuisine: BBQ | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, dairy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts
SWEET FROG
Where: University, St. Johns Town Center, Fleming Island | Cuisine: frozen yogurt | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish
TED’S MONTANA GRILL
Where: St. Johns Town Center, Orange Park | Cuisine: American | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: wheat, peanuts, tree nuts
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN
Where: St. Johns Town Center | Cuisine: seasonal restaurant & scratch bar | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: egg, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, wheat
YOUR PIE
Where: Fleming Island, Durbin, St. Augustine | Cuisine: | Families have safely dined here with these allergies: dairy, egg, garlic, peanuts, tree nuts
What food allergy-friendly restaurants have you successfully visited?
