Peter’s Gourmet Diner

Posted by A Gluten-Free Guide on February 9th, 2007


Peter’s Gourmet Diner and Restaurant is yet another gluten free dining wonderland located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The location on First Ave is not as convenient as some other restaurants in the Gluten Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP), but the menu offerings more than make up for it.

Peter’s is a cute diner; the menu and walls are adorned with photos of famous Peter’s real and fictional, from “Peter Sellers to Peter Parker and Peter Pan.” After enjoying the entertainment on the outside of the menu, the gluten free patron will feel a wave of joy as they see a little red star indicating the few items on the menu that CAN’T be prepared gluten free. That’s right the rest of the 8+ pages of choices can all be made for you! This includes toast (they use Sterk’s gluten free bread from Canada), salads, main dishes and dessert. Where else can you enjoy real gluten free eggs benedict!?!?


Even though I was eating dinner at Peter’s this visit, there is something about eating at a diner that elicits cravings for breakfast fare. I selected the egg white frittata with turkey and broccoli – I also requested that they add avocado. The creaminess of the avocado was the perfect accompaniment to the turkey and broccoli.

The gluten free toast tasted great. I’ve never had Sterk’s bread un-toasted, but as toast I would definitely recommend it.
I also ordered a side of steamed veggies. (If you are a regular reader, you may be noticing a pattern in my eating habits…)

My friend Melanie, ordered a chicken pesto salad. Luckily it was also gluten free so I got to taste it. I have never had a pesto salad before that wasn’t pasta based. I have to say, it was quite scrumptious. It definitely made me think about some other ways I could integrate pesto into my home cooking. I may have to order this on my next trip.


I really wanted to try the gluten free cheesecake but I was too full and Melanie was unwilling to help me eat it! If you’ve tried it, let me know what you think.

PS – The waiter at Peter’s recognizes me by now, but it was the first time I had taken photos of all of my food. Everyone is so nice at Peter’s; he came over and offered to take a picture of me with the food. When I declined, he seemed a little confused about why I would be taking photos of just my food. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my family and friends for being so patient with me. Not only do they come to the restaurants I can safely eat at, but then they sit back and smile as I have a photo shoot before they are allowed to eat…

Peter’s Gourmet Diner and Bar 1606 1st Ave, New York 10021 Btwn 83rd & 84th St Phone: 212-734-9600

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New York, Restaurants 10 Comments

David Marc Fischer said,

February 8, 2007 @ 3:22 pm

I think the waiter was puzzled because you hadn’t put googly eyes on your food.

Catherine said,

February 8, 2007 @ 4:03 pm

Next time, though I might not be as entertaining as Amy Sedaris…

Erin S. said,

February 8, 2007 @ 7:17 pm

When I went to Peter’s I had gluten-free pancakes and beer. It was the first time I ever had pancakes in a restaurant in my life and I also took pictures of my food. It’s just something us celiacs do.

Lynn Barry said,

February 9, 2007 @ 12:23 pm

I need to take notes so that when we get to the city to see Pat I will have places to try. THANKS!

Ellen said,

February 9, 2007 @ 2:47 pm

I will definitely add this diner to my list of “must try” places in NYC. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Mike Eberhart said,

February 9, 2007 @ 4:16 pm

Once again, I’m experiencing restaurant envy. Everything looks quite wonderful.

Catherine said,

February 11, 2007 @ 3:51 pm

Everything was delicious – we should arrange a gluten free “bloggers” dinner :)

Anonymous said,

August 3, 2007 @ 2:26 am

This is an amazing place to go for any one who can’t eat gluten, i took my brother with me who hates my diet and he loved it, the menu is got us and everything that they can’t make for us has a little star, so in short we are the normal ones, no need to bug anyone if you can eat this or that, of does this have flour in it(cuz people look at you nuts if you say gluten) deff try the pancakes, and the blt and anything else you might like cuz they have it all!! yumm

» Lucky in Lucca - the start of my Italian gluten-free adventures | A Gluten Free Guide said,

March 10, 2008 @ 9:10 pm

[…] and Katie is one of my best gluten-free adventurers. When she lived in NY we took many trips to Peter’s Gourmet diner, Candle 79, Rice, Asia de Cuba and […]

Ilene said,

August 3, 2010 @ 5:15 pm

My husband and I took my daughter and her son, who does not have celiac but can not have gluten because it adversely affects his behavior. (He is 2. Diet recommended by developmental pediatrician.) It’s the first time inover a year she has ventured out with him. On top of the glutin he is soooo picky. They could not have been more accomodating or nicer. Ordered his food immediately and even had apple juice for him. The 3 of us each had different entrees and were impressed with the quality of food. Because of the great weather that day we were able to eat outside. The inside was kind of plain but we would drfinitely go again. They even had gluten free pancakes and waffles for breakfast. A definite winner!

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