Navigating Beantown: Peanut-Free Dining and Allergy-Friendly Businesses in Boston
Among our favourite cities to visit, is one of America’s oldest and most vibrant: Boston. Known for its rich history, diverse culture, and mouthwatering cuisine, Boston also offers a wide range of peanut-free options.
One of our favourite things about Boston is just how walkable it is (which is a good thing because it isn’t so much fun to drive there!). We find it so enjoyable to explore a city that seamlessly blends the old with the new. We love walking along the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long path that leads you through the city’s historical landmarks, and recently did it with a downloadable city walking tour, which was nice. Since we have visited on several occasions, we have had the opportunity to explore much of what the city has to offer. Over the years, some of our other favourite places to visit have included Boston Common and public gardens, The Boston Aquarium, The Museum of Science, Harvard, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, shopping in Copley and along Newbury, and exploring Faneuil Hall/Quincy Marketplace.
I’ve also strayed from the rest of my family when the opportunity presented itself and took in a Red Sox game and toured Fenway Park and the Samuel Adams Brewery.
*A note about the Red Sox and Fenway Park; As we all know, baseball and peanuts go hand in hand, and they were certainly everywhere each time I visited. However, as with most MLB teams, the Red Sox do offer about five games a year that have dedicated peanut-free sections. We’ve not done this, however, if you are interested, you can find more information about that by visiting the team’s website.
During our visits to Boston, we have safely dined at a variety of restaurants. Here are some of the ones that stand out or that we have frequented most often;
Greco:
Rated as one of Boston’s best “quick food” restaurants, Greco offers the flavors of the Mediterranean, a peanut-free restaurant offering a menu of Greek specialties. From savory gyro wraps to fresh bowls and souvlaki, Greco was a satisfying find on our most recent trip.
The Tipping Cow:
No trip to Boston is complete for us without at least one visit to the award-winning Tipping Cow, a local ice cream parlor that takes allergies very seriously. They offer a variety of mouthwatering, peanut-free ice cream flavors, crafted with high-quality ingredients and a commitment to allergen safety. As a bonus, they are also completely tree nut and sesame free as well. We tend to have a hard time choosing from the variety of flavours offered, so we are always appreciative of the sample bowl, which allows you to choose three different kinds. It says the sample bowl is three mini scoops, however, there is nothing small about the amount of ice cream you receive in your bowl.
Parm:
Dive into the flavors of Italian-American comfort food at Parm, a peanut-free restaurant chain with classic dishes and a welcoming atmosphere. From chicken parmigiana to satisfying pasta, Parm ensures that your dining experience is both safe and satisfying. Conveniently located in Copley Place, it is a good place to go after a day of shopping or walking around Boston Common and the Freedom Trail.
Eataly:
Our first experience with this chain of Italian gourmet marketplaces was actually in Munich, just before heading to Rome. Half grocery store, half food market, Eataly offers an array of peanut-free options, including fresh pasta dishes, and artisanal pizzas, but is also a good place to pick up fresh fruit, packaged meats, cheeses, and crackers. From the bustling market to the cozy restaurants within, Eataly provides a safe haven for peanut-free foodies. A note however that not all areas are nut free. We avoid the gelato and bakery sections.
Legal Seafood:
For seafood lovers, Legal Seafood is an iconic Boston institution. This allergy-aware seafood restaurant prioritizes the quality and freshness of their catch, serving up delectable dishes like lobster rolls, fresh fish, and flavorful chowder—all without compromising on food safety. We were originally drawn to Legals after reading comments on another national allergy resource where people with shellfish allergies were discussing how they dined safely and comfortably here.
Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakeshop:
Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakeshop is a delightful bakery specializing in allergy-friendly treats, offering a wide selection of peanut-free and gluten-free options. From irresistible cookies to beautifully crafted cakes, Jennifer Lee’s ensures that everyone can enjoy a sweet indulgence without worry.
Chipotle:
What will become pretty much a standard entry in any of my north american posts is a safe place for a quick and customizable meal, Chipotle. A well-known Mexican fast food stop that caters to various dietary needs. With their transparent ingredient lists and allergy-aware protocols, you can enjoy a delicious and peanut-free burrito bowl, taco, or salad while customizing it to suit your preferences, which for me, unlike the two ladies in my life, is free from hot sauce!
Läderach Swiss Chocolatier
Located in the Prudential Center shopping mall, is a retail outlet for one of the world’s best chocolate makers. All options are completely safe for peanut allergies, however, this is certainly not the case for tree nuts. Even though it is on the pricey side, it is completely worth it. From truffles to bark, absolutely everything we tried was simply wonderful. Stumbling across this shop while cutting through the mall was quite fortuitous since we had only just learned of this safe option a few months before when researching an upcoming trip to Switzerland later this summer. Needless to say, we left Boston with a big bag of Chocolate and did a quick Google search to confirm the closest location in Zurich and Geneva!
Conclusion:
Boston’s diverse culinary landscape provides a haven for peanut-free families and food enthusiasts alike. With restaurants like Greco, Eataly, The Tipping Cow, Parm, Legal Seafood, and Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakeshop, your taste buds are in for a treat. So, embark on this peanut-free adventure, savor the flavors of Boston, and create unforgettable memories while exploring one of our favourite places to visit.
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Came across this and want to share that yesterday we brought our toddler to Legal Seafood at the Long Wharf location in Boston, which my family has been going to for years. As we always do, i out a note i put a note in the reservation that we had a toddler with egg and peanut allergies, and told our server upfront, who assured us they had a procedure and would also confirm with the chef on every dish. I saw a dish with all ingredients she liked, but saw it had peanuts. The server assured me it was not cooked in with the rest of the dish but was added at the end and they would simply leave it off. We got our food and I didn’t see any peanuts on top and gave her a portion. Later, after she’d eaten a good amount, I tried some, and to my horror I saw an entire peanut in the bottom. I immediately checked her now nearly empty plate and saw a peanut there too, and we immediately checked her over for rashes/hives/other reactions (none at that point) and then flagged down the server and manager who took the peanut and plate back to the kitchen. It all happened so fast and in hindsight I wish I’d taken photos. The manager apologized and said her plate must have been mixed up with another order which is absolutely no excuse for something as serious as peanut allergies and anaphylaxis. To make things worse, the manager said the dish was supposed to have peanuts added on top as a garnish and not entire peanuts buried throughout the dish, so he said the chef didn’t even follow the recipe. He also said had he checked the plate before it had gone out he would have noticed it wasn’t according to recipe but whoever was responsible for checking did not. So it wasn’t just a simple mixup, but a failure at every step of the process. Our toddler had a reaction about 40 minutes later and we spent the night in the ER. I strongly encourage you to NOT list Legal Seafood as a safe place for peanut allergies. Not only do plates get mixed, but their chefs are not trained and don’t even follow recipes so there’s apparently no quality control, and an easily visible and avoidable peanut garnish becomes disguised and incorporated into entire dish, which indicates their staff and chefs are not educated about how dangerous peanuts can be. It wasn’t just one thing that went wrong, it was several. I specifically picked Legal Seafood because it was across from the aquarium and we’ve dined there countless times pre-toddler and I felt it was a trusted brand as a national chain and would have safety procedures in place. We will never go back again and will tell everyone with a peanut allergy—or any food allergy—to stay away. Since this website serves as a resource for parents of kiddos with peanut allergies, I really hope you can warn other parents of how negligent this restaurant is.