The 10 Best Gluten-Free Dishes in Saratoga

Gluten-free doesn't have to mean flavor-free, and Saratogian Maura Postlethwait can prove it.

Every week, I make a conscious effort not to spam Saratoga Living After Hours readers with vegan propaganda. I’ve already published a list of where to get vegan food in the Spa City as well as an opus on my favorite plant-based cafe in the 518…so I try to keep SLAH’s day-to-day restaurant coverage fairly omnivore-friendly.

One realm of dietary restrictions into which SLAH hasn’t yet ventured? Gluten-free fare. Lately, it feels like every other day I hear about someone new being diagnosed with a gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease. So, I called in GF goddess and food fanatic Maura Postlethwait, aka @maurathehypegirl, to fill us in on the best ways to be gluten-free in Saratoga. Want more GF recs? Follow Maura on Instagram and Substack.

—Natalie

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The gluten-free roast chicken at Familiar Creature

If I had a dollar for every time someone handed me a bun-less burger and called it a meal—or said, “our salads are gluten-free,” I’d probably have enough to buy one of everything on this list.

Getting diagnosed with Celiac Disease means asking more questions, reading every label, and doing extra research anytime you want to dine out. So I’m here to make your life a little easier with 10 of my top Celiac-safe bites in downtown Saratoga.

maurathehypegirl

A post shared by @maurathehypegirl

I refuse to believe gluten-free has to mean flavor-free. And honestly? There’s never been a better time for GF guys and gals to go out to eat in Saratoga. From restaurants with dedicated gluten-free menus to chefs serving up complex, crave-worthy dishes, the options keep getting better. Think nachos from a dedicated fryer, unexpectedly great gluten-free pizza, and a lemon polenta cake that might just knock your socks off.

Here are my current top 10 Saratoga bites—plus a few drink pairings to take things up a notch. Let’s eat!

1. Cantina - Nachos
   The nachos at Cantina are one of my guilty pleasures. If I can’t decide what I want to eat, it’s highly likely I’ll wind up at Cantina, which has the best gluten-free happy hour lineup. Their gluten-free fryer now produces all their GF-marked items, aside from the fried ice cream. On the happy hour menu, the nachos are $5 and the margs are BOGO. You can’t beat it! My suggestion: Ask for a margarita, but sub Cointreau for triple sec.