Reader feedback: do restaurants in France cater to gluten-free diets?

The Connexion asked readers to share their experiences of eating gluten-free in France, especially at restaurants or cafes. 

We take a look at some of your responses.

‘I have more restaurant options when in France than I do locally where I live in the UK’

“I have celiac disease and, having a second home in Burgundy, I am regularly eating out in France.

Most menus do not have it marked but it has been my experience that many restaurants are knowledgeable about which options are gluten-free. When I have enquired about the risk of cross-contamination they understand the dangers and are clear as to how to manage the risk. 

In my experience some of the smaller kitchens that have a menu with many items including gluten are the only ones unlikely to be able to accommodate you.

I have been pleasantly surprised by how easy it has been to dine out including impromptu meals where a chart can be produced to clearly mark which allergens are in each dish on the menu.” - S.B.

Read also: Allergy tracking app to ease shopping difficulties created by French students

‘Trying to find basics such as bread is like looking for gold dust’

“My daughter is coeliac and therefore must not eat gluten in any form. It is difficult to find interesting meal options in restaurants in France but also in supermarkets. It is disappointing and we have to bring our own food with us every time we travel. - P.R.

Read also: Which French supermarket has the best gluten-free range?

‘I very rarely have any problems’

“I have had a severe gluten intolerance for many years and find eating in restaurants in France to be generally much easier than in the UK. 

If going somewhere to eat that you do not know, first check the menu and then check with the serveur when ordering. Worry if a serveur asks if you can eat rice or potatoes - it generally means they have no idea. 

Learn the phrase ‘Je ne peux pas manger de gluten’ and the French names of the gluten-containing cereals and the gluten-free cereals.

Do not make a big deal of not having bread, it is rare for a restaurant to have this. However if you are lucky they will have delicious gluten-free bread made on site. On one occasion a chef actually made bread rolls especially for me. 

Things to be careful with are sauces - some are okay but for example commercial versions of Caesar sauce do contain gluten. Chinese Restaurants are a no go area as soy sauce usually contains gluten (tamari does not).

Desserts can usually be modified, sometimes just by removing a biscuit, but I usually have a choice of some that do not contain gluten.” - M.R. 

Read also: Common food additive used in France linked to coeliac disease

‘French Italian restaurants are the worst’

"The more upmarket the restaurant, the more likely it is that the chef will understand and use only fresh ingredients. Also, always tell them when you make the reservation and you are more likely to be accommodated well.

One [French Italian restaurant] actually told me recently that they loved customers ‘like me’ (heavy on the sarcasm)!

In tourist areas gluten-free bread is starting to be available but anywhere else, forget it." - C.F.

Read also: Can I be reimbursed for gluten-free diet products in France?

Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône) and Pézenas (Hérault), were highlighted as areas with a good selection of restaurants catering to gluten-free diets.

One reader recommended searching ‘restaurants sans gluten autour de moi’ on the internet to see a list of nearby establishments. “They are few and far between and the cities are better served than the country.”

Another reader said: “I haven’t found any places in Brittany that cater for coeliac disease. I’d love to hear from anyone that knows somewhere, especially in Côtes-d'Armor.”

If you have any further tips on eating gluten-free in France, please share your experiences by emailing us via feedback@connexionfrance.com