Bearcat Cafe Uptown

Excellent service and knowledge. Felt safe. Amazing eggs, bacon and potatoes were sooooo good. Gluten free hot chocolate. Only thing that was average was the pancakes which were heavy on the banana flavor which isn’t my preference but is better w blueberries and blueberry syrup! Total find.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Very nice cafe near Tulane. Lots of gf choices and the food is great. They were very careful, bringing out my son’s meal separately to avoid cross contamination. Nice atmosphere and friendly service.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

I'm so happy I found Bearcat Cafe. They take celiac disease very seriously and were very careful to not cross-contaminate. There were plenty of options for me and the food is so delicious. I would definitely recommend!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

love this place, great food and coffee! always stop here when i’m visiting nola :)

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Delicious food, but a bit of a wait. They do offer to text when your table is ready so you don’t have to sit there while waiting which is nice. I had the BearCat Breakfast with the gf pancake added. The pancakes taste like banana bread and have a slightly eggy texture. They’re paleo friendly so I think there was cottage cheese or extra egg in them as a binder. They were tasty, but the real star of the show was the potatoes which were amazingly delicious. The server took note that I was celiac and I was sitting at the counter so I actually watched as they made sure to cook my food separately from the other dishes. My friend who is non-celiac enjoyed his food as well, so it’s a great choice for mixed parties.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Such a good breakfast spot! GF and vegan options marked on the menu. We had pancakes (plain and blueberry), grits, yogurt with fruit, sausage, eggs, and potatoes! Lots of food. They have fresh pressed juices and a lot of different coffee choices! Absolutely recommend and would def come back!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

High end fabulous. Perfect oj, crab and eggs, gluten free pancakes.. all🙌🏽

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Great food, items marked gf or could be made gf, knowledgeable servers, separate fryers. Tight quarters in the open kitchen so if you are truly celiac this might not be the perfect safe situation.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Amazing food, great choices, helpful server

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Not my kind of food. A lot going on at once. Also the ‘gluten free’ pancakes are essentially round banana bread. Not really pancakes.

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

Had such a great brunch here. Items clearly marked, lots of options, busy, popular place on a Saturday. Friendly staff. I have celiac and had no problem.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Menu labeled well! Food and service was great!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Many items on the menu are gluten free. I ordered the 2 egg breakfast, potatoes, grits, and the paleo pancakes.

I did not get sick but the coffee was Luke warm and the food, especially the potatoes were VERY salty. The paleo pancakes were banana flavored, which I didn't know but didn't mind. They were tasty but a little mushy inside.

Overall, I would say they do a great job with allergens and the service was good but I wouldn't return, based on the food there.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Dedicated gluten-free fryer
• Other dedicated kitchen equipment (oven, toaster, pots, pans, utensils, etc.)
• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Summer of 2019 I’ve eaten here three times in two weeks. Everything has tasted GREAT, and I’ve always felt fine afterwards. I highly recommend the shrimp and grits, the brisket hash (no toast) and the Bearcat breakfast with gf pancakes. Their gf pancakes are their paleo pancakes. I wasn’t sure I’d like them, but my server said that they were great. He was right. They use banana, ground almonds and eggs. They did not taste eggy and were so tasty that they didn’t need syrup. Also I was reluctant to try the potatoes after reading about concerns on this app, but I tried them and had no problems. This place is a New Orleans gem.

I’m adding this 3 years later: Whenever I’m in NOLA I eat at Bearcat. I love it here. I’ve even bought their pottery from MM Clay to remind me of my experience. I’ve never gotten sick from cross contamination, and I’m sensitive. I have sat at the counter in the pre-Covid era and watched them like a hawk while they’ve prepared my food. They know what they’re doing, and they don’t want me to get sick either.

August 2022 I recently sat at the counter again and saw that there does seem to be a greater risk of cross-contamination than I remembered. I will still eat here but I will be very careful to let my server know that I have celiac and that I need to eat whatever is the safest from cross-contamination. That being said I have never gotten sick from eating here. On this visit I had the fried potatoes and poached eggs.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Everything taste like bananas

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor

I got the Bearcat Breakfast and added GF pancakes with blueberries. The flavor was okay, but the consistency was mushy.

Is ALL the food in this establishment gluten-free?

— Yes, the establishment is dedicated gluten-free

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Such a cute place, and the menu had the gluten free or gluten free available items listed. It was helpful and one of the few places I found in New Orleans that had anything marked.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

There are some options — you can definitely find something here. But be careful, server told me potatoes are cross contaminated despite being marked GF on the menu. The worst kind of GF place that does things like that :(

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

I truly can't say enough good things about Bearcat. We ordered takeout and there's a whole section to mark restrictions and allergies, including celiac! I called ahead of time to ask my usual questions and they assured me they took celiac very seriously and warned me ahead of time about the button for online orders. We had some trouble with the online interface, so one person from our party went in and ordered it at the counter. After we got our food and left, I realized I'd totally forgotten to check if my restrictions were communicated to the person at the counter. I called the restaurant in a panic and even though they were absolutely packed, they took the time to reprint the ticket to check if it was marked AND asked the kitchen staff to double check. I will 100% go back next time in town and recommend it to anyone with GF needs.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Dedicated gluten-free space in the kitchen

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for breakfast/brunch
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

Absolutely fabulous! Worth the wait!! Very busy which is a good sign!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for breakfast/brunch
• Good for dairy-free
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options
• Good with other allergies
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

A must if you’re gf and in Nola

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked
• Food comes out flagged or marked gluten-free

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for breakfast/brunch
• Good for dairy-free
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options
• Good with other allergies
• Offers outdoor seating

So many delicious and well marked gluten free options. Don’t skip on the crispy potatoes!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for breakfast/brunch
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options
• Good with other allergies
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

We ate at the CBD location twice on our last trip to NOLA. My daughter got the steak breakfast burrito with GF tortilla both times and LOVED it. They were knowledgeable about celiac and very friendly. The food was absolutely delicious!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

I’ve been going here for years. It is always delicious and I have never gotten sick. We need more restaurants like this one in the world.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for breakfast/brunch
• Good for dairy-free
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options
• Good with other allergies
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

Love the vibe and the GF/Paleo options

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Menu is marked and waiter was knowledgeable about what could be made safely

Many options that all looked great

Our food was amazing and did not get sick!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

SO yummy and they definitely use every precaution to ensure your food is GF. Highly recommend

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Great food and service. They take good care with celiac and other allergies.

Staff was knowledgeable and food was delicious.

Owners mother has celiac! Everything is well marked and the staff is super well informed. And the food: delicious.

Very good food and staff knowledgeable of Celiac. Interesting menu and friendly service. Husband has Celiac and did not have any issues after eating here.

SIDE NOTE: Please take Nima results with a grain of salt. The Nima is NOT a fully validated ELISA.There is a significant risk for BOTH false positives and false negatives with this device. I understand how helpful it feels to have this technology available, but try to remember that it is a guide - not gospel. (And before ya get your panties in a twist, I am a biochemist. ;-) )

Celiac friendly?

Yes

We waited a while to eat but it was well worth it. Our waiter was friendly and knew was Celiac was. I ordered the Crab Scramble, but was very nervous to try the potatoes. I haven’t had anything fried in almost a decade. I trusted the previous positive reviews and all I can say is wow!! They were great and I haven’t experienced any negative reactions. Highly recommend Bearcat!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

This place is a MUST whenever you’re in New Orleans. Everything is very clearly marked on the menu and the waiters/chef even know what it means to be celiac safe. I’ve eaten here several times and recommend it to anyone who asks. Their pancakes are amazing and so are their potatoes in mornay sauce

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Food was really good....! Except for the Paleo pancakes which had a weird fish taste to them? Both my husband and I found that to be really odd, but everything else was fantastic.

Eaten there twice no reaction. Super attentive staff. GF and gluten free adaptable listed on menu. Great shrimp and grits.

Yes, yes, yes! Best meal I’ve had, including pre-celiac meals! The owners mom is celiac so they get the safety part. But, they also get the amazing food part! They have meat options, but my 22 year old daughter is a gluten free vegetarian & the options for her were amazing & delicious! Eat here!!!!! UPDATE: still awesome!!!!! UPDATE 2: Continued awesomeness!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Staff was knowledgeable. Menu clearly marked on GF and GF Available. Paleo pancakes and GF bison sausage. Yum. Food was amazing.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

GF marked items are not GF per our Nima sensor!! Not safe if you are celiac. Staff wasn’t well trained. Assured us all items marked GF would be safe bc owner’s mother was celiac, and all fryers were dedicated. So thankful for our Nima sensor - we tested the GF chips and queso, which came back with gluten detected. I showed our test to the the waiter who was surprised and didn’t know why. I asked if maybe CC from fryer? After asking around, he admitted that the fryers were just vegetarian dedicated (meat in one fryer, and no meat in the other fryers) but not gluten free dedicated. Hope it was a learning experience for the staff. Please don’t have a false sense of security of eating here, our Nima test definitely proved that wrong.

Celiac friendly?

No

Excellent GF food, including paleo pancakes!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Amazing. Loved it. Loud and casual place with great food and celiac friendly.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Yes! Absolutely delicious and safe! Just tell your server that you have celiac disease. The chef has a family member with celiac, and all the kitchen staff is trained to not contaminate anything of notified. Eggs, Paleo pancakes, grits, hashbrowns, fruit... wish I could eat here every day.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Menu is clearly labeled. Delicious food! Great fresh lemonades!

The menu was labeled well and they were able to substitute bread for a sweet potato tortilla! So delicious

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I had one of the best meals in New Orleans here, we went to Bearcat for breakfast. I ordered the eggs, bacon, fried potatoes and Paleo pancakes...I ate every single bite. Celiac safe, the staff is very friendly and well educated

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Many gf options, although no gf bread...which was disappointing. I’m df as well, and the cashew queso was amazing!