Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar

Orzo is our favorite place to dine in Charlottesville, both before and after my celiac diagnosis. Just last evening, our waitress was able to quickly point out all of the gluten free items (and swaps to make dishes gluten free) since the menu changes often. I was going to order the pork, but she very quickly noted that this month's iteration was marinated in soy sauce. I was so appreciative of her recognizing soy sauce has gluten, and she went on to say that the chefs test the wait staff whenever there is a menu change so that all wait staff is versed on the allergens associated with each menu item. This made me feel so safe dining here and I am happy to report that I didn't experience any issues. You will find multiple gf options for starters, entrees and desserts. Enjoy!

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?

— No gluten-free information on the 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 dairy-free
• Good for dinner
• Good with other allergies
• Reservations recommended

They brought my husband the complimentary bread-and-hummus "teaser"--and they brought ME the same hummus with cucumber slices. It was so nice not to feel left out (and the hummus was good).

The dedicated gluten-free menu was extensive, there are two GF desserts, and everyone seemed to be aware of how to handle things.

All the food tasted great.

We set outside in the balmy air, and had just the right amount of attention from staff.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Wonderful place! They have a good understanding of allergy precautions and cross-contamination. I called ahead and spoke with someone and also talked to our server when we arrived. Both were very reassuring and respectful of dietary restrictions. The food was excellent and I didn't get sick. They do have a separate gluten-free menu, but it's a dinner menu and we were there for lunch, so I just looked at the regular menu & discussed my options with our server. I am both gluten-free (celiac) and dairy-free, and I had the grilled Atlantic shrimp salad. It was quite possibly the best salad of my life. The shrimp were large, plentiful and perfectly cooked. The lettuce was crisp & fresh and the dressing was delicious. All the food was so fresh and carefully prepared. I'm looking forward to going again the next time I visit Charlottesville!

Celiac friendly?

Yes