Before we started the AIP diet, Tom and I ate out just once a week or once every other week. But on AIP, eating out was seemingly IMPOSSIBLE. First, imagine telling the waitstaff this: no grains, no soy, no dairy, no corn, no nuts, no eggs, no seeds, no spices that come from the nightshade, no cooking oils other than olive oil or coconut oil. It just doesn't work. Even nicer restaurants where they cook things to order might not use olive oil for their cooking. But cooking every single meal from scratch (and remember on AIP, you have to make a lot of your own sauces/dips) can be exhausting and sometimes, you need a celebratory or relaxing night out on the town. On nights where I was just too tired to cook, we would go to the Whole Foods salad bar, but that can get old pretty quickly and a girl can only eat so many salads-- and trust me, this girl loves her greens and salads so for me to say that you know we were eating there a lot. Fortunately, there are some places you can eat and follow a Paleo/AIP protocol if you are living in the DFW area. These places are not specifically Paleo or AIP compliant, but they are very open to making dietary accommodations and they are very particular about where they source their food from. Every time I've been to one of the restaurants, the waitstaff has been incredibly accommodating on checking with the ingredients in each dish for me. In some cases, the chef has even come out to clarify my accommodations and make sure the dish I want is safe for me. If you do go to one of these places or you venture to any other restaurants, here's a few tips for dining out on Paleo/AIP: 1. Call ahead! If you are going to a new restaurant, call ahead and ask them a few key questions. What kind of oils do they use? This is key because even if they have Paleo/AIP compliant meats, but they cook using rice bran oil (Chipotle-sad face), you can't eat it. You want to make sure a restaurant has olive oil or coconut oil available to cook your dishes to order. I always look at the menu and get an idea of what I will order so I can ask about specific dishes when I call the restaurant. 2. Bring your own condiments Corn and soy sneak their way into EVERYTHING, but especially sauces and dips. Think cornstarch, corn syrup, soy sauce, dextrose-- basically every kind of binder or thickening agent. If you bring your own dressing or sauce, you can be assured of all of the ingredients. I will say that the restaurants I've recommended here are very transparent about all ingredients-- even sauces and dips-- so you can ask to see the ingredient list yourself. When I go to these places, I don't worry about bringing my own stuff. Just bringing your sauces can open up many other restaurants as possible dining options. 3. Ask to speak to the manager or chef I know this sounds so high maintenance, and it is. I have apologized profusely to waitstaff before because I feel so terrible about making special requests. But here's the deal: asking for accommodations is not about me being persnickety. It's a matter of me being able to use my hands for the next two weeks. So when I have to explain my allergies, I just try to be as straightforward as possible. Oftentimes, the waitstaff will volunteer to send a manager over. This is where the restaurant recommendations below are handy-- these staff at these places are usually very educated about ingredients, allergies, and making substitutions. 4. No dessert There are only one or two places I've been in my travels (more on those places in future posts) that have truly AIP compliant desserts. We used to love ordering desserts to complete our dining out experience, but with so many places using refined sugars and dairy, it is very risky to order dessert at a restaurant. I get REALLY SAD WITHOUT DESSERT. So I have a plan: dessert at home. When I'm just on Paleo, I love Nadamoo ice cream. On AIP, I usually make myself a banana carob coconut cream milkshake (yes, friends, that is a thing and it is GOOD). Now on to the restaurants: True Foods Kitchen I first visited True Foods in Denver and was super excited to learn they were opening a restaurant here in Dallas. The menu is based on Dr. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory diet so they are very conscientious about ingredients and sourcing. Their food is fresh and delicious, but they don't have don't specifically cater to vegetarians, paleo, or AIP'ers. There are options for people with restrictions and for people who just like yummy food. But the most important aspect of True Foods is that they will make accommodations for you. I usually order the veggie crudite and then a salad with grilled chicken. If you are just trying to avoid gluten, they do have gluten free pizza and bread options. They also have some dairy free dessert options (although not Paleo or AIP friendly). Hgsplyco This is the Paleo place to be!! My only complaint is that they don't have grass fed beef (if they do, it isn't listed). My favorite appetizer is the hummus-- it comes with bacon chips (and veggies). If you can't find an entree that fits your needs, the veggie side dishes are delicious. I always over-order because I can't decide between the sweet potatoes, the brussels sprouts, the parsnips, or the cauliflower-cashew grits. And if you need something more substantial, you can use two veggies options to build a bowl. Add protein and guacamole or another sauce, and top with a fried egg. If I could eat at HG every night, I would. Like all other options listed, this place is super allergy friendly. The waitstaff has always been incredibly helpful and willing to check on dish ingredients for me. If there is an ingredient in a dish that I can't eat, they always suggest substitutions. As if the delicious food wasn't enough, this place offers some beautiful non-alcoholic AIP friendly drinks. One of the big things about Whole30 and AIP is no alcohol so if you are someone who enjoys a glass of wine on a Friday night when you go out (or two or three--hey, no judgement here), then you can definitely feel left out when it comes to treating yourself at a restaurant. If you want to be super healthy, order the Garden State--- a mixture of carrot, apple, lemon, and ginger. If you want something sweeter, The Finish Line-- a mixture of watermelon, pineapple, and honey-- will meet your criteria. (Sidenote on HG: this is not the place for a quiet, intimate conversation. The restaurant is located on lower Greenville and quite the Paleo/hipster/flannel-wearing/beard-sporting crowd. I think I counted no less than 12 J. Crew slim-fit checkered shirts in there one time. The roof top seating is beautiful, but loud. Honestly the evening scene is a little overwhelming for me now that I'm not 22, but if you can go on an off- hour, the food is worth it.) Mudhen Now for the newest addition to the Dallas Paleo scene, Mudhen. Having only been there once, my review is limited. What I can say is this: the ambience is to die for. It is located at the Dallas Farmers' Market. There is an expansive shaded patio with a view of downtown Dallas and tree lights and greenery surround the tables. For a cool spring evening, there is no better place to relax with a glass of kombucha (which they serve!). Unfortunately, this place uses rice bran oil for a lot of their cooking, but if you ask they can use olive oil or coconut oil. We ordered a few appetizers and I wanted the collard wraps, but the dressing had soy. No problem- the chef came out and asked if I was ok with a substitute AIP compliant sauce and she changed the dish for me. I also ordered the LocoMoco-- a grass fed burger over cauliflower rice with bacon and a fried egg. And I had some mashed parsnips and then half of what Tom ordered. From our trip (and who knows, this restaurant is still getting its grounding) the food is not as tasty as HG, but the menu is more expansive and the ambiance (in my opinion) is much better. If you are under the age of 21, you may not agree with me on this-- but that's because age brings wisdom, young'uns. yummy spread from Mudhen's dinner.
Anyway, that wraps up my top three places to eat in Dallas. I wish there were more places I could add here. Of course, you can always go to Whole Foods' prepared food bar and search for something on the fly, but they rotate dishes as well and as some of my more sensitive friends who follow AIP have found, cross-contamination is a big thing and it can cause symptoms to reappear. Another easy option is to visit somewhere like Hopdoddy's or The Twisted Root and order grassfed burgers without the buns. Steer clear of the fries though:( If you try any of these places, let me know what you think. And of course if you visit any of these places and need a foodie companion, definitely let me know! I'll be there with my homemade dressing!!
2 Comments
Michael
6/7/2017 09:17:16 pm
Thanks so much for posting! This is very helpful. My wife and I will be in Dallas over our anniversary and would love to be able to eat out. :) this is just what we needed.
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Gretchen
11/12/2018 06:48:25 am
Hello, I am wondering if you know of any AIP friendly employers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area? My husband and I eat AIP, and one of our main concerns is finding an employer where junk food is not readily available in the break room, during meetings, from co-workers, vending machines, etc. We would really appreciate any ideas/leads you may have to offer. Thank you!!!
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