University of Georgia
“I was very scared before college about what I would eat but UGA has just blown me away. Never in my life have it been so easy to walk into the same place as my friends and eat with them regardless of the dining hall. Georgia uses Nutrislice, which it tells everyone what is being served at the dining hall that day. You can insert your food allergies and then it highlights in yellow what you can eat from what is being served that day You can also look ahead several days and read the ingredients on each food item. This has been by far one of the most helpful tools for my freshman year navigating my food allergies. The dietitian, Dr Katherine Ingerson, is so kind and gave me numerous food allergy tours in which she took me to each station and told me what I could and couldn’t eat—and what to stay away from, such as the Bolton grill, where everything in made on a shared grill with the cheese and stuff. I get to eat so much. You have to go through her to gain access to the gluten-free pantry where there is gluten free bread, of course, but also oatmeal, brownies, cookies, mac and cheese, and more. Most of the snacks I can’t eat because they contain egg and milk, but are very helpful to those who are just gluten-free. They are very strict about the pantry which I like—such as you can’t bring a friend in and no outside food inside. They will yell. My favorite is the gluten-free waffles. Overall I have had a great experience and I am so grateful for a school that accommodates me so well.”
CAVA
“This CAVA is always super busy but a staple for me!! I love CAVA so much and this one is a close drive to the freshman dorms. I always get saffron rice, traditional hummus, red pepper hummus, and roasted eggplant hummus, with chicken, and lots of toppings! I ask for olives from the back, and although sometimes the workers have a little attitude, I think it’s fine!!”
Chick-fil-A
“This Chick-fil-A is also super close to campus and I love just stopping by for fries!! They are also open super late! I always order an 8-count grilled chicken nugget meal with fries and sauce! My favorites are Polynesian, honey mustard, and ketchup.”
Snelling Dining Commons
“Snelling is so yummy!! I always get a power bowl, which comes with rice, meat, and toppings such as a cabbage and parsley salad, or chili-roasted cauliflower, and avocado! I always get the tahini sauce on top. I also love snelling breakfast—potatoes and sausage. “
Bolton Dining Commons
“I have had some magnificent eats at my college’s main dining hall!! I think Bolton has the most variety. They have a top 9 free section that is so yummy, it always has a meat, veggie, and rice. I can also eat from most of the other stations here too like Classic Cuisine! They have delicious food like red Thai chicken coconut curry, ribs, broccoli, potatoes, a variety of yummy food. I can also make myself tacos and sandwiches using the gluten-free pantry. I can eat the fries upstairs, which Bolton is the only dining hall with a dedicated fryer for the fries. I can also pre-order meals called “chef meals,” where I decide what I want ahead of time! This way I can eat things such as pasta and such. “
Chipotle Mexican Grill
“This new Chipotle has been great with my food allergies, and it is super walkable to UGA campus!! I love getting a Chipotle pick-me-up after class. I usually get cilantro lime rice, steak, black beans, pico, corn, and I ask for guacamole from the back!”
Arden’s Garden Juice Bar & Smoothies Athens
“Arden’s Garden has a separate allergen-free blender! I felt very safe getting my smoothie. My smoothie had pineapple, banana, and mango!! It was delicious and it’s only a couple steps from the Arch!!”
Starbucks
“The Tate Student Center Starbucks is my favorite!! It is so easy and the line always goes by quick. Sometimes I find that some Starbucks workers are not super allergy friendly, but these ones are always super kind and go over the moon to make sure my drinks are safe. They tell me how they are made and what needs to be done so that cross-contamination is decreased!!”
Taco Mama – Athens
“I love Taco Mama!!! They are very allergy-friendly. I found their allergen menu online, and it is very helpful. I get a bowl with cilantro lime rice, steak, and toppings like onions, black beans, and avocado! I can also have the cilantro lime vinaigrette and it’s so yummy!! The only thing to consider is that they cook the shellfish on the same grill as everything else, so I ask for it to be cooked separately. I have eaten here a lot and it is my favorite downtown!!”
Oglethorpe House
“O house is definitely one of my favorite dining halls!! There is O’Hacienda that is a chipotle-style line where the staff makes your bowl behind the counter while decreasing the risk for cross-contamination. They put so much food in the bowl, and there are so many options!! I usually get rice, beans, birria meat, and all kinds of toppings like lettuce, pico, guacamole, and limes. I can also eat the O House chips, which recently just switched to being made in a facility that processes wheat, but when this switch occurred, they have big signs around the chips letting the celiac’s and gluten allergy people know. My all-time favorite though is my pho. I ask for the pork and vegetable broth, and add all my toppings—green onions, sugar snap peas, shredded carrots, chili oil, corn, and rice. They also have the chef’s choice corner with some healthy options, such as steamed broccoli and potatoes. I love O house!!”
Joe Frank Harris Dining Commons
“I like to have my chicken sandwiches here!! They also have smoothies, but I would stay away from them because they also make nut smoothies. Pretty good dining hall, I love the Greek peppers and sausage that they have sometimes!!!”
Maepole Epps Bridge
“I went when it was empty and it was so yummy!!! The staff were really nice and accommodating and told me everything I could and couldn’t eat. It was amazing because I could have almost everything!!! Everything is gluten-free except for the Mac and cheese. It was so yummy!!”
el Barrio tacos & tequila
“I had the pork tacos and I can also have the steak tacos! The chips and guac are also safe. Tacos served with two corn tortillas. This was sooo yummy!!! The line can get really long but they appreciate my allergy slip and take it back to the kitchen!”
