Big Bowl

My wife had dinner at Big Bowl tonight with (mostly) fantastic results. First, an allergen menu online is no where to be found. She gave a call to the Roseville location to speak to a manager about what she could eat.

Here is the scoop:

Almost everything on the main menu is fine, except for the Pad Thai and a crispy chicken dish (as they both have MSG). Otherwise, it seemed that most other things were fine.

My wife had the kung pao chicken with jasmine rice.

During her visit, the manager, the server and the food runner checked in to let my wife know what had dairy and what did not. She was very impressed with the service.

So, the Roseville Big Bowl location is very accommodating.

Breadsmith Bakery

Breadsmith bakery is one of our favorite spots. Not just because most items are kosher (and therefore lactose free), but because the breads and muffins are fantastic.

I bet once a week we stop at the Breadsmith on Grand Ave. and Snelling Ave. in St. Paul to pick up a few banana chocolate chip muffins for the next day.

We always volunteer to bring the bread and buns to Thanksgiving and Christmas (a little ironic that we are pumped to bring kosher items to a Christmas party, huh?) because we know that all the baked goods will be sans milk. It is also a bonus that everyone asks us where we got the bread from.

I don't think we've come across any items at Breadsmith that have had milk in them.

Enjoy!

Longfellow Grill

The Longfellow Grill is on the corner of Lake St. and West River Parkway in Minneapolis. Or for those of you in St. Paul, it is just across the Mississippi from the Marshall Ave. bridge.

The Longfellow Grill is upscale American food with a decent beer selection and a great patio. While we haven't explored the vastness of the lactose free options, I can tell you that the hamburger buns are lactose free, the burgers are free of milk ingredients and the sweet potato are good and anti-dairy (as long as you stay away from the dipping sauce).

Appetizers will run $6 - $10 and dinner will run $10 - $17. There is a happy hour that runs M-F, 3-6 & 9-close, featuring 1/2 off apps and martinis and $2 rail or taps.

Potbelly Sandwiches

As Ms. Merchant pointed out in the comments section of the Jimmy John's post a few weeks ago, Potbelly (terrible name, delicious sandwiches) has one of the best allergen menus around. It is very easy to read (unlike McDonald's which uses the Dewey Decimal System for their allergen menu)

A quick glance of the Potbelly menu reveals that both bread options are free of hated lactose, as is nearly everything but the milkshakes and the baked goods. So, go wild for a chicken salad sandwich with the works and you should be fine.

Al Baker's in Eagan

I grew up in Eagan and as far back as I can remember Al Baker's has always been sitting high above it's perch looking over a Best Western and 35E. It says a lot that Al Baker's has been able to survive the onslaught of Applebee's, Chili's, Old Chicago and every other national franchise serving the same variations of bar food.

On top of longevity, the food isn't too bad either. They are also very accommodating for those who are anti-lactose. On a recent visit, my sisters (who are both lactose intolerant) were pleasantly surprised when the server didn't blink an eye at their requests for no butter or milk ingredients in their dinner choices.

Here is the full menu. Notice that they serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and pulltabs.

Ikea

Ikea is known more for it's inexpensive furniture, but they have a restaurant, too. On a recent visit we asked for an allergen menu, which was available in a three-ring binder from employees working on the food line.

The allergen menu is tough to sort through, since it is the full ingredient list for each item. We did learn that the Swedish Meatballs (without gravy) were lactose free, as were the french fries.

I'm sure there are more items, we just didn't have the time to page through everything.

I can't find an allergen menu online. If anyone comes across one, let me know.

Jimmy John's

Just found out yesterday, via an e-mail from Jimmy John's headquarters, that Jimmy John's bread is lactose free!

As long as you get no butter on your sandwich, you should be fine.

McDonald's

McDonald's allergen menu is tough to read. It is a full ingredient list, so you have to read through everything.

The basics:

• Egg McMuffins without cheese and butter are safe of lactose.
• A regular hamburger on a regular bun is fine.
• The fries are not OK, since they contain whey.

Everything else, you are on your own. Hopefully, someone at McDonald's stumbles across this humble blog and checks out their competitors' allergen menus.

Leann Chin's

So, Leann Chin's website is terrible for allergen information (meaning none to be found), but you can request information at the restaurant.

Here are the basics:

The white rice is fine (not sure about the fried rice)
Most entrees are fine, as long as the meat is not breaded

For sure the Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Peking Chicken and Sesame Chicken are all lactose free.

Taco John's

Just went to Taco John's and found out the regular Crispy Taco (without cheese) is dairy free. The Potato Ole's are also dairy-free. This has now solved our drunken food run problems.

Coconut Milk

Just found out today that coconut milk is safe from lactose. This has opened up a ton of restaurant options....

Pringles Chips

According to people in the know, the BBQ and Original Pringles chips are milk-free. But remember, once you pop, you can't stop.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell has a super easy to read nutrition menu, which will come in handy after a night of drinking. Because, who doesn't want to run for the border for milk-free tacos, right?

Anyway, while most items at Taco Bell come standard with cheese and/or sour cream a little substitution can go a long way.

According to the Taco Bell allergen page:

"When ordered Fresco Style (cheese and sauces are substituted for Fiesta Salsa) most items can fit into a dairy-free diet."

So, as long as you say, "No Cheese", the tacos and burritos are safe.

For dessert, the Cinnamon Twists are dairy-free.

Burger King

Burger King has a great allergen menu. According to the menu, Burger King's buns and hamburgers are dairy free. Their french fries are dairy free, but the onion rings are cooked with other stuff that may have dairy. So, Whoppers are fine as long as you skip the cheese. The Spicy Chicken Crisp sandwich and TenderGrill chicken sandwich are also dairy free.

The Dutch Apple Pie for dessert is also safe.

Breakfast is a bit tricky, but the French Toast Sticks and Hashbrowns are generally safe, except they are cooked next to other foods that contain dairy.

Pizza Luce

If you are looking for lactose-free pizza, the best spot in the Twin Cities is probably Pizza Luce.
They have four Twin Cities locations (Seward, Dowtown Minneapolis, Uptown and St. Paul on Selby) and one location in Duluth.

There are a ton of vegan options on their menu (pizzas, sandwiches, desserts). My wife's favorite is the Pizza Athena which is a Greek pizza with soy cheese. The nice thing about Pizza Luce is the small pizza is perfect for one person, so those who are not lactose intolerant have plenty of dairy-filled options.

If you go, don't forget dessert. Pizza Luce offers a vegan peanut butter Rice Crispy bar with chocolate on top that everyone will like.

The St. Paul location also has glueten-free menu items on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Vienna Fingers Cookies

Just found out that Vienna Fingers cookies are milk-free.

Don Pablo's

We had dinner at Don Pablo's in Roseville this evening. The staff was very accomodating to our requests. As for publishing allergen information on their website, Don Pablo's leaves something to be desired.

Their website has this disclaimer:

Don Pablo's recently had a number of product changes and can not provide allergen-free listings at this time. We are currently working with our manufacturers to obtain and develop allergen-free listings. Unfortunately, this is a lengthy process and we do not anticipate availability of this information in the near future.

We asked our server about milk products and he was extremely helpful. After checking with the manager and kitchen staff, he told us that the tortillas are safe, as are the refried beans. You have to ask for the beef and chicken to be grilled without seasoning, as their seasoning contains whey. The margarine that the vegetables are sauteed in is questionable, but you can ask for steamed vegetables.

Hopefully, Don Pablo's will get allergen information available on their website soon.

Wendy's

Wendy's hamburgers and buns are lactose-free, as long as you order without cheese. Wendy's french fries are OK. Some fast-food restaurants use whey as a filler in their fries, which contains milk in it.

Wendy's has a good list of allergen information on their website. Click on the nutrition guide and a PDF will pop-up with the list.

The Ultimate Grill Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Homestyle Chicken Filet Sandwich are all dairy-free, too.

The Crispy Chicken Sandwich is cooked in the fryer with other items that contain milk, but the sandwich itself is dairy-free. The chili has no milk products in it, either.

Punch Pizza

There are several Punch Pizzas around the Twin Cities and each seems to have a slightly different menu. We ate at the Highland Punch this evening. Their staff was super helpful with recommending milk-free options.

Most of Punch's pizza is milk-free without the cheese. Their crust is milk-free, as is almost all of their ingredients. The pizza was good without the cheese, though I did feel like I was missing something.

I would recommend this as a safe spot with lots of options.

Red Robin

You have to e-mail Red Robin to get a list of milk-free options, but it is well worth it. They have a surprising amount of items on their menu. The only problem is that ordering requires you to be specific as to what they have omit.

To get the list from Red Robin go here.

Here is what they e-mailed me:

Appetizers:
None Available

Soups:
None Available

Sandwiches & Wraps:
**Refer to sides for available side options

Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap

• No cheddar cheese or other cheese
• No ranch dressing
• No tortilla strips

Salad Dressings:

• Oriental
• Honey Mustard
• Poppyseed
• Dijon Vinaigrette

Salads:
**Dressings not included – see list of acceptable salad dressings

Apple Harvest Chicken Salad

• No candied walnuts
• No goat cheese

Asian Chicken Salad

• No dry coleslaw mix
• No garlic bread

Dinner Salad

• No tortilla strips
• No cheddar cheese or other cheese

Crispy Chicken Tender Salad

• No fried chicken tenders
• Grilled chicken breast may be used as a substitute with no garlic-parmesan spread on grilled chicken breast
• No cheddar cheese or other cheese
• No garlic bread

Cobb Salad

• No garlic-parmesan spread on chicken breast
• No blue cheese crumbles or other cheeses
• No black olives
• No garlic bread

Classic Gourmet Burgers:
**Refer to sides for available side options

Whiskey River BBQ Burger

• No onion straws
• Raw onions may be used as a substitute
• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
  
• No cheddar cheese or other cheese
  

Monster Burger

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patties
• No American cheese or other cheese

Guacamole Bacon Burger

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
• No swiss cheese or other cheese

5 Alarm Burger

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
• No pepper-jack cheese or other cheese
• No chipotle mayo
• No jalapeno peppers

A.1. Peppercorn Burger

• No pepper-jack cheese or other cheese
• No onion straws
• Raw onions may be used as a substitute
• No Red Robin Seasoning on the beef patty

RR Bacon Cheeseburger

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
• No American cheese or other cheese

The Banzai Burger

• No cheddar cheese or other cheese

RR Gourmet Cheeseburger

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
• No American cheese or other cheese

Sicilian Burger

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
• No provolone cheese or other cheese
• No balsamic-marinated tomatoes
• Regular tomato slices may be used as a substitute

Insanely Delicious:
**Refer to sides for available side options

Honky Tonk BBQ Pork Burger

• No banana peppers

Chicken Burgers:
**Refer to sides for available side options

California Chicken Burger

• No monterey jack cheese or other cheeses
• No garlic-parmesan spread on chicken breast

Teriyaki Chicken Burger

• No swiss cheese or other cheese

Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Burger

• No onion straws
• Raw onions may be used as a substitute
• No cheddar cheese or other cheese

Lighten Up Burgers:
**Refer to sides for available side options

Grilled Salmon Burger (available without changes)

Grilled Turkey Burger

• No chipotle mayo

Lettuce-Wrapped Protein Burger

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
• No cheddar cheese or other cheese

Entrees:

Red’s Rice Bowl (with or without chicken)

• No sauteed mushrooms

Available Sides (Adult & Kids):

• White Rice
• Steamed Veggies
• Linguini Pasta
• Cavatappi Pasta
• Melon Wedges
• Mandarin Oranges
• Celery Sticks
• Dinner Salad (no cheese or tortilla strips)
• Coleslaw
• Plain Red Robin Steak Fries (without the Red Robin Seasoning or Garlic Parmesan Seasoning) do not contain any allergens; however, there is a risk they might be fried in a common fryer with the allergens you want to avoid.

Desserts:

Hot Apple Crisp

• No ice cream
• No caramel

Kid’s Menu:

Rad Burger with beef patty

• No Red Robin Seasoning on beef patty
• No cheese

Rad Burger with grilled chicken breast

• No garlic-parmesan spread on chicken breast
• No cheese

Rad Burger with turkey patty

• No cheese

Oreo's

Surprisingly, Reduced Fat Oreo's are milk-free, but regular Oreo's are not. The Golden Oreo's are also milk-free. Paul Newman sells Newman O's that are also lactose free.

Chipotle

Most items at Chipotle are milk-free, except the obvious cheese, sour cream, etc. Their rice and meats are safe (meaning not soaked in butter). The Pinto Beans do have dairy in them.

First Blog

My wife is lactose intolerate, which makes it difficult to eat-out at restaurants. This blog is an attempt to coordinate and list places that are milk-free or vegan in the Twin Cities. I hope you find this helpful. I'll also add regular grocery store products that are milk-free, too.