Guide to Madison-Area, Kid AND Allergy-Friendly Restaurants

At last, a few places where Food Allergy Parents can have a good meal, AND relax. 

If you’re a food allergy parent, you know that eating in restaurants can be a struggle. A typical dining experience consists of interviewing the server, manager, or even owner of the restaurant about the allergens in menu items until we have enough assurance that we can make our order with confidence.

All this rigmarole because even for as prevalent as food allergies are (1 in 13 children in the U.S. have food allergies today), most restaurant menus still don’t provide allergen transparency. Seems a little silly if you ask me; especially when you consider that 40% of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one of the 9 allergens that cause the majority of allergic reactions. 

Fortunately, there are a few restaurants out there who are starting to get it, and are now  making an effort to tailor to “people like us.” While the list may still be short, my hope is that with your help, it will continue to grow. For now, we will simply rejoice in the fact that, there are at least enough to call it “a list.” 

Guide to Madison-Area Kid AND Allergy-Friendly Restaurants

Before we get started, let’s first clarify what we mean by “Kid-Friendly” and “Allergy-Friendly.” 

Allergy-Friendly (adj.): A food establishment where guests impacted by the most common allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, shellfish, fish and sesame) can quickly and easily identify which allergens are contained in the locale’s menu items.

Kid-Friendly (adj.): This is a place where families with small children can comfortably dine without having to make too many accommodations. If someone yells out “I gotta pee, Mom!”, it won’t be the end of the world.

1. bartaco: Located in Hilldale Mall, bartaco utilizes contactless ordering to achieve its allergy-friendly status. That’s right, no menus; place your own order, from your own phone directly thru their app. Their paperless system reduces the exchange of germs; and it allows individuals with dietary restrictions to personally indicate which allergens they need to avoid. And since the orders are sent directly to the kitchen, the message isn’t changed or lost in the game of telephone that often occurs with traditional dining experiences. 
2. Short Stack Eatery: Located 3 blocks off the Capitol Square, Short Stack Eatery boasts a delicious breakfast menu 7am to 10pm, Thursday thru Sunday. Their Vegan Hack Menu is inclusive of anyone on a plant-based diet, and their allergen menu provides immediate transparency for menu items containing the most common allergens. Both menus are readily available in printed form at the host stand. SSE recommends parking at the State Street Capitol Garage on Carroll St. (only a few blocks away) or, the Overture Center Garage on Mifflin Street.
3. Culver’s: As my 9-year-old attests, “Culver’s has the best burgers in the WORLD!” Even more important to food allergy parents however, is that they put their money where their mouth is when they say that “Food safety is a top priority.” Their easy-to-read allergen grids are comprehensive of the “top 8” allergens, and are readily available in paper format regardless of which one of their locations you may be dining at. 
4. Blended: Also located in Hilldale Mall, Blended is a guilt-free haven for any families in need of a healthy, but fun snack. Since 99% of their ingredients naturally consist of fruits and veggies, their smoothie bowls make for a cool treat on a hot day, with a whole lot less sugar than the ice cream alternative. Their facility is 100% free from 7 of the top 9 most common allergens (wheat, milk, eggs, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish) that cause a majority of allergic reactions; and any menu items that include peanuts or tree nuts are denoted on their in-store menu.   

Fellow Food Allergy Parents, I need your help! Any other restaurants we can add to the list?