Hailed as one of the hottest new restaurants of 2014, All’onda graces Union Square with modern Italian cuisine. The vibe at All’onda is cozy, yet trendy, and the perfect addition to Union Square’s lackluster dining scene. The food is delicious, but more importantly, the restaurant caters to diners with dietary restrictions, and each time I have been to the restaurant I have been incredibly impressed by my waitress’ knowledge of the menu as well as to which items were gluten free…
Italian cuisine that includes Japanese infused dishes, All’onda’s menu at first glance seems nobread unfriendly, but it turns out there are plenty of options for the nobread crowd. For appetizers, I recommend the polenta chips, razor clams (no miso), scallop crudi, carrots, roast artichoke, and tuna. I love roasted carrots and artichokes… they are two of my favorite vegetable dishes… and the two are absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, no gluten free pasta or bread is served, which eliminates the pasta section of the menu (the restaurant’s forte). The risotto, however, IS gluten free, so I highly recommend the risotto for my fellow nobreaders. All of the main dishes can be prepared gluten free, if they are not already done so. For example, the popular short rib for two can be gluten free if you ask for it with no tomato mostarda. On one occasion, the dorade was served with a chickpea side that was pre-dressed in soy, so unfortunately it could not be made gluten free, but on a second occasion, the dorade was served with grilled lemon, so it was 100% gluten free (and delicious if I may add)! The striped bass is an excellent gluten free option, as is the monkfish and veal chop. For dessert, although you cannot have the popular olive oil cake, both the panna cotta and gelato/sorbeti options are gluten free.
All’onda has a cool vibe and delicious food, and I highly recommend checking it out. When in doubt about a menu item, ask your server… they are well versed in gluten allergies and food sensitivities. Nobread friendly food and a great vibe… All’onda is the perfect addition to the Union Square restaurant scene!