Gluten-Free at Bearcat Cafe Uptown

Bearcat Cafe Uptown

21 recent ratings
$$ • Cafe, Breakfast & Brunch
Reported to have a gluten-free menu
Popular gluten-free menu items: Pancakes, Acai Bowls
Safety Rating
20 ratings

As rated by the community

2521 Jena St
New Orleans, LA 70115

Most Recent Reviews


Celiac
2 months ago

Super gluten free! All staff members are very knowledgeable

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Pancakes
Safety Features
  • — Dedicated fryer
3 months ago

Love this spot! Went a few times on our trip. They were great with their celiac protocol! I got chia pudding which was so good and the granola was even certified GF (they make it in house)! Got the bearcat breakfast with GF pancakes! The potatoes were so good, very crispy! Did not get sick.

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Pancakes
Celiac
3 months ago

I have celiac and get mild symptoms if exposed. I can’t say enough good things about Bearcat. I would not give it top safety ratings only because they don’t have a GF kitchen. But I was very impressed with what the server described as their process for avoiding cross-contamination. The gluten-free fryer is a huge plus. Server also told me that the owner's mother (or wife?) has celiac. This doesn’t always mean much, but overall I was impressed. I’ve eaten here a few times and every single thing has been delicious. High marks!

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Pancakes
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety Features
  • — Dedicated fryer
Other
  • — Healthy options
  • — Outdoor seating
  • — Brunch
  • — Breakfast

Important

This establishment is NOT a dedicated gluten-free facility and may not be safe for those with celiac disease. Please contact the establishment directly to inquire about safety precautions.
Information contained in this listing is based on reports by the community. Please verify all information directly with the establishment.

Reported safety features

Other

Collections
In 4 Public Collections

Photos


Delicious potatoes bacon and eggs.
Ok pancakes. Heavy on banana flavor.
GF pancake with chai toppings
Mushroom Scramble
Paleo pancake (gf) with Chai toppings
Yummy gluten free pancakes!
Gluten-Free at Bearcat Cafe Uptown
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More Reviews


Symptomatic Celiac
4 months ago

Delicious gf options! No gf bread, but my waiter said they’re working on having some within the next few weeks (I was here June 2024). They offer keto pancakes that are naturally gf. Super careful with cross contamination — I had no issues. Would highly recommend!

Safety
Taste
Variety
5 months ago

Another great find in NOLA! They have items marked GF and want to know if you are celiac. They make the kitchen aware and prepare safely. Excellent for a traditional breakfast. Felt safe and enjoyed the food!

Safety
Taste
Variety
GF Menu Items
  • — Pancakes, Acai Bowls
Safety Features
  • — Dedicated fryer
Other
  • — Good for dairy-free
Celiac
7 months ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Delicious potatoes bacon and eggs.
Ok pancakes. Heavy on banana flavor.
Celiac
8 months ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
9 months ago

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!

Safety
Taste
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety Features
  • — Knowledgeable staff
11 months ago

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

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Celiac
1 year ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
1 year ago

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!

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Symptomatic Celiac
1 year ago

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

Safety
Taste
Variety
Celiac
1 year ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Symptomatic Celiac
1 year ago

Amazing food, great choices, helpful server

Safety
Taste
Variety
Celiac
1 year ago

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

Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Celiac
1 year ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Gluten Intolerant
2 years ago

Menu labeled well! Food and service was great!

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Celiac
2 years ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
2 years ago
Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety Features
  • — Knowledgeable staff
  • — Dedicated fryer
  • — Other dedicated equipment
  • — Staff accommodates
Symptomatic Celiac
2 years ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
GF pancake with chai toppings
Mushroom Scramble
Paleo pancake (gf) with Chai toppings
Celiac
2 years ago

Everything taste like bananas

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
2 years ago

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

dedicated gluten-free badge Dedicated GF
Safety
Taste
2 years ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
2 years ago

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 :(

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
2 years ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety Features
  • — Dedicated kitchen space
Other
  • — Outdoor seating
  • — Online ordering
  • — Lunch
  • — Breakfast/Brunch
Celiac
3 years ago

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

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Other
  • — Healthy options
  • — Outdoor seating
  • — Online ordering
  • — Good with other allergies
Celiac
3 years ago

A must if you’re gf and in Nola

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety Features
  • — Food flagged
  • — Knowledgeable staff
  • — Staff accommodates
Other
  • — Outdoor seating
  • — Healthy options
  • — Good with other allergies
  • — Vegan options
Symptomatic Celiac
3 years ago

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

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Other
  • — Healthy options
  • — Outdoor seating
  • — Online ordering
  • — Good with other allergies
Celiac
4 years ago

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!

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Celiac
4 years ago

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.

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Other
  • — Healthy options
  • — Outdoor seating
  • — Online ordering
  • — Good with other allergies
4 years ago

Love the vibe and the GF/Paleo options

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Symptomatic Celiac
4 years ago
Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Safety Features
  • — Knowledgeable staff
  • — Staff accommodates
Celiac
4 years ago

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!

Safety
Taste
Variety
Is there a gluten-free menu?
  • — Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
Celiac
4 years ago

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

Safety
5 years ago

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

5 years ago

Staff was knowledgeable and food was delicious.

Celiac
5 years ago

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

5 years ago

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. ;-) )

Safety
Celiac
5 years ago

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!

Safety
5 years ago

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

Safety
Celiac
5 years ago

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.

5 years ago

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

6 years ago

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!

Safety
Yummy gluten free pancakes!
Gluten-Free at Bearcat Cafe Uptown
Celiac
6 years ago

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

Safety
Celiac
6 years ago

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.

Safety
Celiac
6 years ago

Excellent GF food, including paleo pancakes!

Safety
6 years ago

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

Safety
Symptomatic Celiac
6 years ago

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.

Safety

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