University of Illinois
The University of Illinois offers dining options for students managing food allergies. University Housing’s Inclusive Solutions program includes the Inclusive Solutions Kitchen, an allergen-friendly micro-restaurant with two campus locations. Meals are prepared in a separate allergen-friendly space.
I did not personally use these dining halls because I lived in Bromley Hall, rather than University Housing, so I ate exclusively at Bromley’s dining hall. For me, managing peanut and fish allergies was generally not difficult at Bromley. Meals mostly did not contain nuts, although some baked goods did, pesto, and there was occasionally peanut butter soft serve or Reese’s candy as a soft serve topping available. Fish was only served once or twice during my time there, and there were always alternative options.
Bromley allows residents with dietary restrictions to complete a meal request sheet each Sunday. Staff would then prepare meals the student selected for the upcoming week. My sister, who has celiac disease, used this option for gluten-free meals. I would recommend this approach because there was a fair amount of cross-contamination in the regular dining area, making specially prepared meals a much safer choice. Bromley rooms also include a refrigerator and microwave, which makes it easy to store and prepare additional safe foods. Overall, I found peanut and fish allergies relatively easy to manage at Bromley.
Forage Kitchen
“Forage Kitchen is a good option for a quick meal for people with allergies. Just make sure to tell the staff about your specific allergies and ask them to change their gloves, especially as staff members handle slices of bread which are included with each order. Forage is very accommodating and they will also grab ingredients from the back when needed. They do have a lot of nut based toppings and some salads that contain fish. I order the “build your own bowl” option, so it is easier to avoid allergens.”
Papa Del’s
“Papa Del’s has amazing deep dish pizza and also has a really good gluten free thin crust pizza. You have to order online ahead of time, and gluten free orders usually take about 35 minutes, which is important to know before arriving. I stick to ordering pizza off their vast menu which has always worked well for me. Luckily nuts have never been an issue there. The only fish products on the menu are items like Caesar salad with anchovies and calamari. If I had to choose my favorite food on campus, Papa Del’s would definitely be my favorite place to eat.”
Ko Fusion
“I got the veggie stir-fry with rice, and although many of the menu items contain fish, I let the staff know about my fish and nut allergies, and they were very accommodating in preparing my meal safely and making it with a vegetarian sauce.”
POKE LAB CHAMPAIGN
“PokeLab is one of my favorite places to eat on campus! I get tofu instead of fish, and even though they serve many variations of fish, I’ve always felt comfortable eating there with their clean preparation. It’s super customizable which makes it really easy for allergies. Just make sure to write your allergies on your order sheet and tell them so they can be extra careful!”
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
“I always order the spaghetti marinara and feel safe doing so with my nut and fish allergies. My sister is gluten free and they are very accommodating and will bring out gluten free bread, which is essentially like a plain pizza crust. She likes their gluten free pasta and salads.”
Alpha Epsilon Phi – Sorority
“I am in AEPhi at the University of Illinois, and I have had an excellent experience managing my allergies there. The kitchen staff are incredibly accommodating and will customize meals for any allergy. They do not cook with nuts, and whenever fish is served, there is always an alternative option available. Since I am vegetarian, they always provide a tofu-based option that works for me. They also offer both a gluten-free and dairy-free option of every meal. They prepare the main dish and then make modified versions for different dietary needs and allergens so that everyone can enjoy the same meal! Allergy-friendly meals are kept separate, and ingredients and allergens are clearly labeled. Overall, AEPhi has made managing dietary restrictions incredibly easy!”
Just BEE Açaí UIUC
“Just Bee Açaí is the best refreshing treat! While they do have nut butters and nut based toppings, they are very accommodating with allergies and will make substitutions when asked. I definitely recommend telling them about a nut allergy so they can take extra care. They also have a gluten free granola option!”
