After a long day in Newcastle hiking up a castle (?!?!), we were starving for dinner. The streets of Newcastle were lined with Christmas lights so we took our time walking along the main streets to find dinner. I had a list of places that were coeliac accredited and I stopped by each one before settling on Carluccio’s.
To start, I am SO glad we chose Carluccio’s. Not only is this restaurant accredited by Coeliac UK & they are happy to discuss their precautions for preventing cross contact, but they had so many gluten free menu options. AN ENTIRE GIANT MENU! Gluten free and vegetarian? No worries, tons of options for you too. The gluten free menu is clearly marked for vegetarian and vegan options so everyone can enjoy 🙂
SO MANY OPTIONS. Have I repeated myself enough yet? I had a hard time choosing a single starter, but finally settled on tomato bruschetta. It was a large portion and delicious. The bread was surprisingly not crumbling unlike a lot of gluten free breads and the toppings were generous.
I immediately knew what I wanted as a main course. The slow cooked shoulder lamb ragu pasta dish was calling my name. Like the appetizer, it was a good size. I was worried about not getting enough lamb, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The dish was loaded with lamb that was super tender and flavorful. I stand by my choice to order this and would do so again in a heartbeat.
Of course, I sort of saved room for dessert, but barely. Honestly, I could have done without trying to cram in dessert, but I couldn’t say no. There were lots of gluten free dessert options and it felt like a crime to NOT try one. I went with the flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Chocolate cake is always one of my favorite desserts and this one did not disappoint.
Would I return? 100% yes! So happy to hear that Carluccio’s has locations all over the UK. I had such a filling delicious meal + appetizer + dessert. It was the perfect end to a very full day in Newcastle!
PS Can we just talk about how awesome it is that Coeliac UK accredits restaurants? Why can’t we have a single unifying celiac body in the US that does that?? Just saying….
**Please note that this review solely reflects my own honest opinion. I was neither paid nor given a complimentary meal for my visit here. Also, kitchen protocols and menus can change at any time. Make sure to speak to the staff at any restaurant before eating to make sure that they can accommodate your dietary restriction.**
