The best part about finishing that midterm/assignment/essay is leaving the house for the first time in 3 days, and eating that wonderful, freshly baked pizza. Go ahead and treat yourself to that beautiful restaurant dish that isn’t Kraft Dinner or gluten-free pizza.
It can be a struggle living gluten-free. If you are, you get relegated to the two dishes the restaurant makes that you can actually eat, never mind the amazing smell coming from your friend’s plate. Thankfully, there are a few dishes in Kingston that made us forget we were even gluten-free in the first place.
Windmills
Photo by Irvin Mai
Most people at Queen’s know of Windmills as the quintessential brunch spot in Kingston. Not only do they serve an amazing eggs benny, but the restaurant also caters to a variety of dietary restrictions.
Pro tip: They also have a great patio outside for summer days.
Windmills is located at Princess street and Montreal street, and is, thankfully, open for those pre 8:30 mornings where you can’t even remember what a toaster is (try this recipe for breakfast oats if you don’t feel like leaving your house).
Photo by Irvin Mai
We tried their gluten-free eggs Benedict with gluten-free hollandaise sauce and their gluten-free cranberry raisin French toast with maple butter. To upgrade to gluten-free English muffins or bread, there’s about an extra 2 dollar charge, and with the prices already very reasonable, that’s not too bad.
The Windmills staff know a ton about their gluten free options, and although they take precautions to ensure minimal contact with gluten, there’s no guarantee. Unfortunate for the celiac sufferers reading this, but for those with gluten sensitivities, I definitely recommend this place.
The food was delicious, and the staff took great care in reassuring us that none of the food we ordered contained any gluten.
Megalos
Megalos also comes with a variety of gluten-free options, and if you ask nicely, the staff will provide you with a separate menu detailing which items are gluten free. We loved the homemade gluten-free pizza, but the surcharge of 4.50 was a little steep.
We also had the chance to try the honey dijon chicken with mashed potatoes, sautéed kale and honey dijon sauce (which by the way, is the best gluten-free meal I’ve ever tasted).
Photo by Irvin Mai
We also had the salmon, which was a close second to the chicken dish. But, to be honest, I don’t think anything could beat that chicken.
Photo by Irvin Mai
Megalos was pretty pricey for the typical student, but definitely worth it. They also have a variety of gluten-free desserts, which I have yet to find in many restaurants. We tried the “Grand Finale,” which really was the grand finale because I went into a food coma after eating it.
Photo by Irvin Mai
Pro Tip: Do NOT attempt to eat this masterpiece by yourself. You will not succeed.
We talked to the chef at Megalos, who walked us through their process for ensuring the minimization of gluten cross-contamination. They advertise themselves as suitable for all types of gluten-free people, so people with celiac disease can rejoice.
If you’re extremely allergic to gluten (contact allergy), the staff at Megalos would recommend certain dishes. For example, anything with fries would not be recommended to someone with celiac disease. The staff are all very informed and the kitchen takes your dietary restrictions into consideration, and are very willing to change up their dishes for you.
We loved the welcoming atmosphere of Megalos, and the staff are incredibly flexible. If you’re willing to shell out a little bit more for dinner (or if your parents are in town), Megalos is a great choice. Keep a few hours open after for the impending food coma though.