As a person with restricting allergies, I know what it’s like to struggle to find restaurants where you can order more than one thing. In this article, I will be shining the spotlight on some local Athens restaurants that cater to vegan, halal, and gluten-free diets.
Vegan
Slutty vegan
This is the most obvious and popular vegan spot in Athens and maybe in the state of Georgia. They have vegan burgers, sandwiches, and sides. There is no sitting room, but I think everyone should give this restaurant a try just for the new experience. Because of slutty vegan, I could try my first shrimp po boy regardless of my fish and shellfish allergy. The vibe is hit or miss, but nobody can deny that its unique.
Automatic pizza
Automatic pizza is a small pizza place next to Piedmont Hospital. This is not an inherently vegan place, but it does have vegan cheese available that one can use when making their own pizza. I think places like these are the best because meat lovers and vegans alike can commune and all get what they want.
Halal
Mediterranean grill
Mediterranean Grill is located next to Grindhouse and Cali and Titos. According to their website, all of their menu items are halal, with the exception of their gyros. As a lover of Mediterranean food, Mediterranean Grill does what it seeks out to do. Whenever I want to remind myself of Egypt, I’ll be sure to go here.
Paleo/ Gluten Free
Maepole
Maepole is no stranger to UGA students as they cater/donate food to many on-campus events. I, myself, love Maepole – specifically their pork and sweet potatoes. Even before thinking of this article, I noticed how paleo friendly Maepole is. This makes sense as it is one of the more nutritious bowl places, opposed to Surcheros, Chipotle, or Moes. 90% of the reviews mentioned it’s celiac friendly, but I would still ask.
The National
The National specializes in “Mediterranean-style dishes created with seasonal, Southern influences”. A lot of dishes contain bread, but some of these dishes, like their flatbread, have gluten-free alternatives. It also seems like the staff is knowledgeable about cross-contamination and keep celiac disease and those following gluten-free diets in mind. The menu options are also. When looking up the menu online, the term gluten-free came up 16 times. So that must be a good sign.