When I first started out on a gluten-free diet, I would have never guessed that one day I would be able to eat at chain restaurants with my new dietary restrictions. 


One by one, chain restaurants have introduced and updated their gluten-free offerings, and have proven that they can serve up gluten-free fare right alongside more gluten-laden offerings. What’s really nice about chains is that they provide consistency across city and state lines, making travel easy and worry-free. In my last week in Orlando, my dad, sister and I decided to dine at Bonefish Grill to take advantage of weekday specials and check out the gluten-free menu. While I have long known that Bonefish has gluten-free offerings, it was time to see for myself what exactly they were.


Once seated, I requested a gluten-free menu, and the waiter brought it over. See that in its entirety over on this post. The offerings are pretty extensive, and even include dessert- a rarity when dining out with food allergies. 


Do note that Bonefish does not have a dedicated kitchen. When an allergy order comes in, it is flagged so that the kitchen is aware of protocols, but it’s up to you to communicate with a waiter or manager before placing the order.


Dairy does complicate the gluten-free menu. Obvious sources such as cheese on a salad can be avoided, but it also hides in more benign places such as the fish sauces (only mango salsa is safe), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other side items cooked with butter. Unfortunately, both desserts are also off limits for the dairy-free.

I decided to order the shrimp and scallops. For the two included sides, I opted for french green beans and inquired about the sweet potato mash. Because the latter contained dairy, I opted for a double order of green beans instead.


I’ll admit right off the bat that I was a scallop newbie going in to the dinner. Without any prior experience with them, I was in love at first bite with Bonefish’s simple, yet tasty take on the shellfish. Chewy and tender, the scallops’ flavor paired well with the accompanying shrimp, both benefiting from a squeeze of lemon and the seasoning. Though the portioning was a bit small, I relished every bite. 


The french green beans on the other hand left little to be desired. They were rather flavorless and dry- most likely a result of unsafe dairy or gluten seasoning or flavor enhancers. A drizzle of lemon juice spruced them up nicely, but overall I regretted ordering a double portion of the vegetable. 

My sister ordered of the “Hooked on Tuesday” menu which included both a salad, entree and dessert for around $15. One of the included desserts in the special is the flourless brownie, which happens to be gluten-free. While laden with butter and topped with dairy whipped cream and ice cream, she loved the rich chocolate flavor and pure decadence of the dessert 

Overall the shrimp and scallops stole the show and left me thinking of them long after the dinner was over. Limited by dairy, the expansive menu is a little limited with options, but overall Bonefish is a good choice for a nicer night out. Prices are expensive, but if you catch them on a night with specials, you do get your bang for the buck with food. 

The Basics