Hanging out with Chelsey over the past few days really made me see how challenging it can be to have a gluten-free lifestyle. I never realized how many foods have gluten or corn in them! Even raw or vegan restaurants can be difficult to navigate. So for her last meal in the city last night, Chelsey and I had dinner at Risotteria, a small Italian restaurant in the West Village that specializes in gluten-free foods- mainly risotto!

The restaurant itself is pretty tiny, but cute on the inside and usually packed.
Along with the stuff on the menu, they also have homemade gluten-free breads, pastas and desserts for sale.
I actually used to walk by this place several times a day when I lived in the NYU dorms, but never checked it out. I remember it always smelled delicious passing by.
When they brought us gluten-free parmesan breadsticks to start our meal, I instantly realized that they were what smelled so good. 
The texture was a cross between a cheese stick and a donut…it sounds weird, but they were incredible. Fortunately, they give refills on them.
I loved how the drinks menu was printed on an empty bottle that doubled as the centerpiece. 
After liking my gluten-free ale so much at Monday’s dinner, I decided to try a Redbridge beer. 
Meh, not my favorite. It wasn’t too bad, but I’ll stick to wheat beers for the most part.
In addition to the expected risotto selections, Risotteria’s menu has a variety of salads, pizzas, paninis and pastas to choose from, most of which already are or can be made gluten-free. Chelsey was in heaven.
Initially I was going to go for a vegetable risotto, but once I saw calamari on the menu I changed my mind. I ordered a dish of arborio risotti with calamari, olives and roasted red peppers.
Even when I’ve made risotto myself, I’m always seriously impressed by how creamy it is. This stuff was above and beyond the usual- the texture would have made you think it was smothered in cheese. Amazing, especially when you add chewy calamari.
Chelsey went with the roasted garlic, arugula and oven dried tomato risotto that I almost ordered, so I got to try that as well. The texture was just as amazing, but the flavor was completely different and full of fresh vegetables.
Risotteria does have desserts, but we ended up passing on them since we were so full from our carb-heavy dinner. Plus, we had a musical to go to: Jersey Boys! We bought discount tickets for it and ended up with great seats. It was a really funny, entertaining show. I never realized how many oldies hits the Four Seasons were responsible for.
Chelsey left to go home to Chicago this morning :( I’ll miss having her here- she’s just as sweet and fun in person as she is on her blog, and it’s nowhere as fun to eat vegan cupcakes alone…
Do you have any dietary restrictions, whether because of allergies or health/ethical reasons? If so, what’s the hardest aspect of it? I’m lucky in that I don’t have any allergies or intolerances, and while I don’t eat much dairy on a daily basis, I’ll at least try (and usually like) anything that doesn’t contain meat.
PS- Don’t forget to enter my 1,000th post giveaway if you haven’t yet!