Top 10: Gluten-Free Sandwiches in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
Being a Coeliac doesn’t mean you should miss out on possibly the greatest lunchtime dish of all time: the sandwich. If you find yourself heading to the same lunch time spot or you’ve somehow tripped and landed in the food to go aisle, choosing between the two gluten-free sandwich choices sold at your local supermarket. We say put down that wrap that has seen better days and take a look at our list, you won’t be disappointed.
1. Best Gluten-Free Baguette: Beyond Bread
What: Prosciutto, minted goat’s cheese, fresh rocket & tomato chilli jam on baguette
Where: Beyond Bread, 2 Charlotte Place, London W1T 1SB
Gluten-Free Win: Beyond Bread Bakery opened in Fitzrovia in January to rave reviews. Behind the scenes are expert bakers with years of experience, who constantly challenge expectations with new ways to use gluten-free ingredients. Come for fresh baguettes, morning pastries and delicious cakes – all gluten-free, of course! Gluten-free banana bread? Go on, then.
2. Best Gluten-Free Burger: Honest Burgers
What: Beef, smoked bacon, swiss cheese, honest guacamole and harissa mayonnaise (£12.50)
Where: Honest Burgers – Soho and Oxford Circus
Gluten-Free Win: You can add on a gluten-free bun for £1 onto any of the delicious burgers at Honest Burgers. Try the epic cheese burger with mature cheddar stilton, and veggies can enjoy the cauliflower and sweetcorn fritter burger. We love this special burger for its plentiful and spicy condiments, and the crisp smoky bacon. The stuff dreams are made of.
3. Best Gluten-Free Bakery: Romeo’s Gluten-Free Bakery
What: Caramelised onion bread with chicken and salad (£5)
Where: Romeo’s Gluten-Free Bakery, 167 Upper Street, London, N1 1US
Gluten-Free Win: Romeo’s Gluten Free bakery is North London’s first gluten free café & bakery. Open for breakfast, lunch & tea serving drinks, sweet treats & savoury dishes. Think: Easter specials like homemade gluten-free cherry and marzipan Easter biscuits. They’ve also got a great range of savoury sandwiches; they have a selection of 15 gluten-free breads, choose from Caramelised Onion, Jalapeno and Cheese and Chive.
4. Best Gluten-Free Finger Sandwiches: Fortnum & Mason
What: Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea with scones and finger sandwiches (£40 per person)
Where: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER
Gluten-Free Win: Having sold tea for more than 300 years, the tea makers at Fortnum & Mason known as ‘Tearistas’ know a thing or two about a cup of rosy lee. They have an entire menu dedicated to gluten-free items, there is also menus catering for vegetarians, vegans and diabetics – so no one goes hungry. Afternoon tea favourites including fruit scones with clotted cream, egg and cress finger sandwiches and a berry almond loaf all appear on the menu – gluten-free, obviously.
5. Best Gluten-Free Toast: Tanya’s
What: Avocado un-toast: Soft onion bread with squashed avocado and pepper flakes (£8.60)
Where: myhotel Chelsea, 35 Ixworth Place, London SW3 3QX
Gluten-Free Win: All the food from Tanya’s is plant based and is free from gluten, refined sugar and is organically grown. The best bit, it still tastes ridiculously good. The restaurant has a cracking brekkie menu and the smoothies and juices are killer. The lunch menu is even better with hearty main dishes such as the buckwheat gnocchi and the Thai curry noodles our favourites. Stick around as they serve a dessert sharing platter for two, we know it’s good as we’ve had it a fair few times.
6. Best Gluten-Free Bap: The Lido Cafe
What: Free Range Gloucester old spot bacon bap (£4.85)
Where: The Lido Cafe, Dulwich Road, Brockwell Lido, London SE24 0PA
Gluten-Free Win: Opened in 2009, the cafe has been cooking up award winning breakfast, lunch and dinner overlooking Brockwell Lido, snazzy. Most of their breakfast options can be gluten-free if you ask to change the bread or bap. They use seasonal produce and are constantly changing their lunch and dinner menu monthly. It doesn’t stop there, they have recently launched a craft beer menu with all beers featured, lovingly brewed in London.
7. Best Gluten-Free Flatbread: FlatPlanet
What: Chickpea falafel, on a garlic and tomato base with cumin and yogurt sauce. Topped with rocket, mint and coriander.
Where: FlatPlanet, 39 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7JG
Gluten-Free Win: Middle Eastern restaurant FlatPlanet serves all their flatbreads on spelt bases. Although spelt bread is not gluten-free, it is wheat-free. Their lunchtime menu is the stuff of dreams, with choices such as beef meatballs in tomato sauce, garlic chicken and their cheese and tomato all delicious options.If you need a sweet fix all their cakes are gluten-free, their brownie is the one. Their dinner menu is a hearty affair, offering tapas dishes and desserts.
8. Best Gluten-Free Wrap: The Gallery Cafe
What: Halloumi wrap with hummus and salad
Where: St. Margaret’s House Settlement,21 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PL
Gluten-Free Win: Serving up vegan and vegetarian nosh, The Gallery Cafe also offers gluten-free options. They source all their food from local suppliers and they regularly have themed menus nights including Diner Night on Tuesdays and Chip Shop Night on the last Thursday of every month.If that doesn’t sway you, they were awarded ‘Best Cafe in Bethnal Green’ by Timeout in 2014.
9. Best Gluten-Free Open Sandwich: Drink, Shop & Do
What: Beetroot hummus & pickled carrot (£5.90) and Avocado, jalapeno & lime-pickled onions (£7.50)
Where: 9 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX
10. Best Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea: 108 Brasserie
What: Homemade gluten-free scones, finger sandwiches and clotted cream (£28)
Where: 108 Marylebone Lane, London, W1U 2QE
Gluten-Free Win: 108 Pantry serves amazing pastries, home-made breads and tiered cakes – for afternoon tea, they’ve got gluten-free and low-sugar offerings, ideal for people who may have just come from the nearby gym. You can also opt for the luxurious version with rosé champagne and strawberries, and loose leaves from the Rare Tea Company. Heaven.
