New York City is one of my favorite spots to eat at amazing gluten-free restaurants! Here are the options I was able to find that were also nightshade-free during my short trip.

Linguini and clams on a plate with a fork pulling up the pasta.

Gluten-free & nightshade-free NYC

Growing up on Long Island, NY, will always mean that I’ll have a soft spot for NYC in my heart. However, I grew up being able to eat essentially whatever I wanted, including NY-style pizza, bagels, hot dogs, black and white cookies, Carvel cakes, you name it.

After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and discovering my food intolerances, travel became 100x harder. But NYC is one of those spots where I can always find something.

My case is a bit unique in the sense that I’m not just gluten-free, I’m also nightshade-free, so I have to dance around potato starch in all of the gluten-free options. But that also means that I get to share all of my findings here with you!

Headshot of Michelle Hoover, a brunette woman with pigtails in a pink sweater.

Table of contents

Spring Bone Kitchen

  • Locations: Several locations around NYC and in Jersey
  • Price range: $
  • What they serve: Bowls, soup, bone broth, and baked goods!
  • What I got: I called ahead about the chicken and wild rice soup to confirm it was nightshade-free, and it is! My friend Jordan of Jz Eats ordered it via DoorDash.

Sushi Counter

A hand holding a bag that says "sushi counter" with the side walk in the background
A hand holding a salmon and avocado hand roll
  • Location: West Village
  • Price range: $ (3 handrolls for $12?! An Amazing deal)
  • What they serve: Quick service sushi hand rolls like salmon avocado, chicken tempura, etc. Everything is gluten-free!
  • What I got: Salmon and avocado roll & cucumber and avocado roll.

Senza Gluten

Linguini and clams in a bowl with a fork pulling up the pasta
Buffalo mozarella and proscuitto on a plate in a restaurant.

I reached out to Senza Gluten about nightshade-free options, and not only did they provide me with the answers, but they also offered to host my friend Jordan and me! So, our meal was hosted, but I would EASILY pay for this meal over and over again.

  • Locations: Greenwich Village
  • What they serve: This is a fully gluten-free sit-down Italian restaurant that feels like the real deal! They have everything that a fine Italian restaurant would have!
  • What I got: Buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto, linguine and clams (also dairy-free), and mango sorbet!

Vinny’s Gluten Free Kitchen

A slice of white pizza being held up.

I reached out to Vinny’s because we wanted a good pizza spot near the theatre district that we could walk to after we saw Chicago. They have a very extensive menu and several GF crust options. They shared with me that both their sorghum crust and their rice crust are free of potato starch.

  • Locations: Hell’s kitchen
  • What they serve: Pizza, fried foods like mozzarella sticks, desserts, and more!
  • What I got: White pizza with a sorghum flour crust. So good!!

Spots that I didn’t get a chance to try that are gluten & nightshade free

  • Joe’s Pizza. I messaged Joe’s and did hear back that they have a rice flour crust! Obviously, you would need to order a white pizza.

Gluten-free (but not nightshade-free) options

If you don’t have to dance around potato starch as I do, here are spots that came highly recommended, but didn’t have nightshade-free options…

  • Pizzeria Kiesta. Their crust has potato starch, but I hear nothing but good things!
  • Modern Bread & Bagel. This is THE GF bagel spot that I sadly had to skip out on due to potato starch.
  • Bub’s Bakery. Their cinnamon rolls are all the rage, but sadly have potato starch so I had to skip it, but I wish I could try it!