Gluten Free Cincinnati / NKY – Bellevue, Covington, & Newport Addition

Welcome to my first gluten free Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky restaurant post!

I’ve been delaying writing a greater Cincinnati restaurant post and figured out this is for two reasons: 1) I want to do this thriving, exciting restaurant scene justice; and 2) This area has an embarrassment of gluten free riches. There are so many fantastic restaurants serving delicious gluten free food to talk about! 

This is the first of what will be most likely be five (5) posts about eating gluten free in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area:

1. This post focusing on the Northern Kentucky areas of Bellevue, Covington, and Newport, Kentucky. 
2. A post about downtown Cincy, including Over the Rhine, and Findlay Market. 
3. Restaurants out in the “burbs” on the Ohio side of the river. 
4. Restaurants further south on the Kentucky side of the river. 
5. Brunch restaurants!!! 

Maybe not necessarily in that order, we’ll see!

I also look forward to writing a post about the awesome local gluten free bakeries on both sides of the river as there are so many of these as well.

What’s your favorite restaurant you’d like me to talk about in upcoming posts? Let me know in the comments!

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Now that you’ve had a taste of what’s to come, let’s get started with Bellevue (and technically Dayton, KY), Covington, and Newport! These are such fun neighborhoods with tons of history and character. It’s hard not to get swept up by the cool old architecture of many of these restaurants, both inside and out. 

What’s even better is that Bellevue, Covington, and Newport are also gluten free hotspots with some gluten free Cincinnati/NKY area favorites. 

There are a great mix of types of restaurants serving GF in the area—from fun and family-oriented, to date night, to farm-to-table, to THREE of the best pizza places for gluten free around.  

If you are out and about in surrounding Cincy/NKY areas at the Newport Aquarium, Cincinnati Museum Center, Krohn Conservatory, or a matinee at the Taft, and looking for a great and accessible gluten free lunch, many of these options are open for lunch and less than a 10 minute drive away from these popular area attractions. 

Without further ado, here are the best restaurants for gluten free in Bellevue, Covington, Dayton, and Newport, KY (in no particular order, because it’s like comparing apples to oranges in many cases, folks).

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

Bouquet – A Lovely Farm to Table Date Night Option in Covington

Go ahead and add Bouquet to your GF date or friends’ night list right now. As it is farm to table, their menu may change to reflect fresh/local ingredients, but as of Summer ‘24 everything on the menu is gluten free except for the pasta and some desserts!

We went for our anniversary before I started this blog so I do not have pictures unfortunately. I do very much look forward to going back. They have a very nice website with videos of their beautiful food if you want to take a peek!

I remember we got the charcuterie board, the wagyu meatballs (the current description looks different from what I remember though), and the flourless chocolate cake. I remember getting even more food than that, but nothing else on the current menu rings a bell.

Their menu features a range of “boards,” including a vegan board, yummy/fancy salads, and entree options such as Smoked Tandoori Salmon with saffron risotto, Black Hawk Farms Baseball Steak with a truffle cream sauce, and Costa Rican Mahi with sunchoke purée, among other items.

If you are interested in sustainability and locals farms, their website has a lot of info about where their food comes from as well!

Fessler’s – They Have My Fav Hoagie Buns & is GFG Mom Approved

It’s always nice when you find a stellar place with gluten free offerings that other members of your family enjoy as well! We went here with my mom after taking the girls to Krohn Conservatory one day and she loved it.

Fessler’s, family owned and operated since 1963, is located in the heart of Bellevue, which is just the cutest little area on the Ohio River.

Fessler’s is awesome because they offer hoagies on Sonny Marie buns! If you have not had a Sonny Marie bun yet, you are REALLY missing out. I will always go out of my way for a restaurant in the NKY/Cincy area that offers hoagies or burgers on a Sonny Marie bun.  

Fessler’s offers a wide range of hoagies, the majority of them which being gluten free—stay away from the meatballs and breaded chicken. 

I have not tried the pizza yet, but I’ve also heard their gluten free pizza is delicious as well!

Fessler’s also has some plant-based meat options, including the Beyond Burger, and vegan cheese. 

When asking about cross-contamination, a Fessler’s employee told me that there is not a designated gluten free area in the kitchen, but they will change gloves and utensils for you, and “do as much as they can, but there is no guarantee.” With that said, I have not seen anything on local GF Facebook sites about people being glutened here.

Also, know that the fryer is not safe for GF.

Lastly, don’t try to go on a Sunday and Monday, because they are closed then! We’ve made that mistake before. Check out Fessler’s site here.

Galactic Fried Chicken – You Aren’t Living the GF Good Life If You Haven’t had Galactic

Galactic has to be the number one restaurant recommended by Cincy area locals to gluten free travelers visiting the area. I can’t think of another gluten free experience like it.

Galactic is a key component of the Cinci/NKY gluten free scene. As it is primarily fried food and primarily gluten free, it’s in a category all its own. 

It’s a kitschy, hole-in-the-wall, 80’s outer space, diner vibe, which is…interesting. Kids love it!

The gluten free fried chicken would be ultra exciting in itself, but the loaded fries and fried pickles are just as excellent, if not better! I definitely recommend getting all three. Also, the CHICKEN TENDERS ARE HUGE. My husband and I typically get a three or four piece chicken tender order, order of loaded fries, and an order or two of the fried pickles.

Chances are if you’re on a gluten free diet, you’ve missed out on your fair share of fried food. So go ahead, indulge! Holey moley, what a treat.

Don’t forget some Galactic Sauce, and if you like deviled eggs, those are delicious too.

Also, the Owner’s mother has Celiac and eats there, and the only three menu items that have gluten are handled in a separate part of the kitchen. 

It’s located in Dayton, KY, just down the street from the cute little river town of Bellevue, KY. 

Bourbon House Pizza – Crispy GF Cauliflower Crust at One of the City’s Best Pizzerias

This casual, family-vibe, Chicago-style centered Pizzeria is sure to please the whole family—GF family included. This is the first pizza we ever ate in KY and what we serve when we want to impress for birthday parties.

Bourbon House has really blown up in recent years as they now have a prime spot on the Newport Levee. We always knew they were that good, I’m glad everyone else knows it too. 

Bourbon House has THREE different types of gluten free pizza crust.

• Gluten Free Pizza Crust
• Gluten Free Cauliflower Pizza Crust (KETO approved)
• Gluten Free Vegan Pizza Crust (with non-dairy mozzarella and on-dairy Parmesan)

Pizza from Bourbon House has a very homey, classic pizza feel to it which is hard to deny.

Jot India

Indian food is highly underrated when it comes to eating gluten free and Jot is no exception.  Indian is typically a great choice for gluten free as the majority of Indian dishes are naturally gluten free—with the exception of breads.

This holds true for Jot India as all of the entrees are gluten free except for Malai Kofta and Saag Kofta (vegetable balls).    

Some of my very favorite dishes are the Saag Aloo and Chicken Tikka Masala. I especially enjoy when I get the Saag and my husband gets the Tikka Masala and I snag some of his sauce :).

Jot India is located in Newport, KY, as well as Florence, KY. Check them out here.

Olla Cov – Authentic Mexican Food in Covington

According to their website, Olla Cov AKA Olla Taqueria Gutierrez “is more than just a Mexican restaurant; it’s a cultural haven where the soul of Mexico’s street food comes alive.” Sounds good to me!

Full-disclosure, I have not yet tried Olla Cov (located in Covington, KY), but I’ve heard that people really enjoy it and it looks amazing.

Much of the menu is gluten free—stay away from items made with flour tortillas and the churros. You might also want to stay away from fried items… When I checked with Olla Cov they said that the chips and fries go in the same fryer with the churros. The Olla Cov employee also said that GF people seem to do fine with the chips and fries…… I’d still steer clear from the fried items if you are celiac and/or sensitive to cross contamination.   

Olla Cov serves brunch and has vegan options! Check out their full menu here.

Pompilios – Take In the History & Gluten Free Pasta

I love the charm and history of Pompilios located in Newport, KY—It’s been around since 1933 after all. Pompilios is an old family favorite, it’s also where the toothpick scene is Rain Man was filmed!

We used to go there every year around Christmas until our service was bad one night and three meals came out LONG after the others. In Pompilios defense, we had a party of 17 and they were packed. I’d definitely be willing to forgive and forget, and continue the tradition. 

Anyway! Pompilios typically has gluten free penne pasta. But, I’d still call and check before you go! The one time we went and they were out of GF pasta, they served my meal over vegetables instead, and I actually really enjoyed it.

Maybe my favorite pasta in the whole world is Pompilio’s Ronaldo Pasta. The Ronaldo has either chicken or shrimp with oil and garlic, sun-dried tomato, feta cheese, black olives, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes. 

They also have a really good Antipasti Platter with an array of meat, cheeses, peppers, and olives, and the Prince Edward Island Mussels are gluten free as well.

Importantly, Pompilios uses separate water and pots for their gluten free pasta. Unlike some places…I’m looking at you, Brio!

See what Pompilios is all about here.

Cork N Crust – Last But Surely Not Least (I Could Live Here)

I’d been wanting to try Cork N Crust (in Bellevue) for soo long and finally went with my husband for our anniversary a few months ago. I was not disappointed! It was my choice to go here again for my Mother’s Day lunch—and believe me, it’s a hard choice between Cork N Crust and Galactic down the street, even though they are so completely different.

It’s so cool to have such amazing gluten free restaurants so close to each other!

This gourmet pizza restaurant has an atmosphere that is perfectly balanced between trendy and old-charm with its exposed brick and wood work details in the main dining room.

Cork N Crust certainly makes good use of its space as their is dining room, bar area, back patio, and front sidewalk all have seating.

A charcuterie board is a definite must! You can even get charcuterie with gluten free crackers instead of the usual bread. I love how the charcuterie boards come with hot honey! Cork N Crust is responsible for starting my hot honey fascination. I recommend getting the pick 5 charcuterie, so you get a large variety of cheese and meat. We’ve gotten the prosciutto, chorizo, salami fino, sharp cheddar, goat cheese, smoked Gouda, and manchego before, and they were all very good!  

I also recommend getting the goat cheese, you get a ton and it pairs so well with the hot honey. They give you so much goat cheese that you’ll most likely have some leftover to put on your pizza with the honey honey. Can’t wait, and want to try some Hot Honey from home? It’s making me so hungry thinking about it! 

The gluten free pizza is also wonderful as it is thin, crispy, and filled with delicious topping combinations—exactly how I like it! We’ve tried the Chardonnay, Squawking Buffalo, and Mediterranean specialty pizzas on the GF crust, and they were all very superb, I’d have trouble picking a favorite. 

Cork N Crust also has a gluten free (and vegan) “cheesecake”—Tickety Boo Cheesecakes. Tickety Boo is Cincy local and a favorite of mine. The Mexican Hot Chocolate flavor is the best in my opinion, though Lemon wild Blueberry is awesome as well. 

Cork N Crust has vegan options available too! Even vegan charcuterie boards. Check out their menu here.

Looking for Brunch?!

I have not had pleasure of brunching at any of these places other than Press on Monmouth, but I’ve read good things about them and can’t wait to visit some and fill you in next time!

• Coppins at Hotel Covington
• Bellevue Bistro
• Mokka in Newport 
• Press in Newport

If you are ok with going outside of the Bellevue, Covington, Newport areas that we’ve been discussing so far, The Hive in Erlanger is excellent. Their Gluten Free Bavarian Crème French Toast is one of my favorite things I ever eaten, and their omelettes and sandwiches are delicious too. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to the owner who also has celiac and says she works hard with her staff to make sure that those with celiac/gluten intolerance are safe to eat at The Hive.

Want Ideas for Eating Gluten Free at Home Too?

Check out Thrive Market! The variety, ease of finding products, and convenient delivery make gluten free life a lot easier, and more enjoyable. I know from experience.

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