Ted’s Montana Grill Goes Gluten-Free

Well, almost. Ted’s Montana Grill offers a limited gluten free menu. They are not part of the Gluten Free Restaurant Awareness Program (GFRAP), but they give diners a few options and they have locations across the country. They advise those with food allergies or Celiac to request that their dishes be prepared on a clean surface with new utensils etc. On my first trip to Ted’s I had mixed success.

I started with a simple garden salad with honey mustard dressing on the side. I confirmed with the waitress that it would be mixed in a clean bowl. The bacon was crispy and I enjoyed the dressing. A solid choice for a simple green starter.

While I was tempted by the bison burger without a bun, I had been eating out with such a frequency that I needed something a little lighter. I selected the Cedar Plank Salmon with asparagus and sliced tomatoes – double checking that it would be prepared on clean surfaces.

YIKES!

What is that on my plate??

It’s a big roll of gluten!!!!

Well, normally I would forgo any further food from such an establishment. In this case, the manager came up to me, apologized profusely and assured me that they would prepare a whole new plate (and all gluten would be banished from its vicinity).

Lucky me, since I was photographing my adventures, I was able to compare the plates and confirm that the new dish was indeed fresh.

I felt comfortable with the reparations and truly enjoyed my lunch. The asparagus was a touch too oily and the tomatoes were pretty plain, but the salmon had a wonderful smoky flavor. Salmon is not one of my favorites (except in sashimi), but I have actually found myself craving this since.

With one location in Manhattan and many in Atlanta, I will probably give them another chance soon.

(And they offer souvenirs! Though I’m not sure I want a mini-stuffed bison to remind me of how cute they were before they arrive on my plate. )