Tantra Asian Bistro

Everytime I mentioned gluten free, servers always provide at least 3 different option of noodles, and kitchen staff will make gluten free sauce to make sure I have things right. And they always marked gluten free on my togo box. Really appreciate that. Also, they have gluten free homemade soy sauce and spicy sauce.

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

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• 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
• 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 dairy-free
• Good for dinner
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegetarian options
• Good with other allergies
• Offers delivery
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating
• Reservations recommended

I’ve eaten here, at least once a week for lunch for two years. They’ve had the same kind of staffing issues as most restaurants during the pandemic, but I have never had an issue here with gluten-free. Most of their entrees can be made gluten-free. The ones that can’t be will be obvious to any celiac. Only thing I kind of had to watch out for is the soup at lunch, most of the time it is gluten-free, but once or twice they have brought out (non-GF) hot and sour soup, just remember to ask. Very good food and a nice relaxing ambience in the restaurant, they make me feel welcome as a gluten-free customer.

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

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the 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

NOT SAFE ANYMORE!

A couple of years ago the staff was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. You would simply let them know you had gluten sensitivity and they would take extra precautions. I never had any issues.

Lately, I was experiencing issues after eating take-out there. I have been asking them to ask the kitchen staff to take gluten precautions while preparing my meal, just like I've always done.

Tonight I ordered take-out and asked them to make sure my curry was prepared gluten free. At home, I poured my curry into a bowl and discovered a long thick noodle. My husband called right away and requested that they remake the curry. He explained why it needed to be gluten free. We made another trip to pick up the remade food. I poured the newest curry into another clean bowl, and discovered a few little pieces of a thin skinny noodles in my curry. Surely the second time you'd make sure. It almost seemed deliberate.

I am so disappointed, I want to cry! I have been a loyal customer and I always over tip well, for carry out! I don't understand. The lady my husband spoke with when he picked up the remade curry said they don't take extra precautions. She told him they use the same pans. (They never used to use the same pans.) Then why do they allow you to ask to prepare something gluten-free, that is already gluten-free?

Now, my recent issues make sense. I've been being cross contaminated. What doesn't make sense is how I got noodles in my order a second time in a row.

If the intention was to get rid of a gluten- free customer, I suppose they succeeded. I know it isn't easy to take extra precautions, but I tip 25% (even for carry out) to show my appreciation of their efforts. Disheartening. So disheartening. This WAS my favorite Thai restaurant.

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

— Not at all

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?

— Poor

Our server was really great at answering my questions about what was gluten free and celiac-friendly, as well as what was vegetarian/vegan.

I was really in the mood for a curry, and the pumpkin curry hit the spot. (Just FYI, I found out that their curries all have a bit of fish sauce - they're not vegetarian. Vegetarians and vegans should stick to noodles or stir fries.) The curry had a nice and subtle, rich and lightly sweet taste with lots of nice vegetables. My husband had a garlic, ginger, and cashew stir-fry that they made very spicy, per his specifications. He enjoyed the flavors and was happy with its spice level. I asked for 4/5 spice level and was satisfied with the spiciness of my curry. I also had a beautiful pot of rose-chrysanthemum tea, made with real flowers - I felt very pampered drinking it.

Note to other celiacs: be sure to order your gluten free meals explicitly for celiac (gluten intolerance/allergy), request fresh gloves/surfaces/pots/utensils, and ask them not to fry your protein. I initially ordered a curry with tofu and it came out with fried tofu, so I asked if it was fried in a fryer shared with egg rolls and other gluten-containing foods and was told yes. They were very nice and accommodating when I asked to send it back and have it prepared with soft tofu. The turnaround for the new meal was fast, and I didn't feel ill at all from eating it. Just specify up front that you want any protein fried in a wok or that soft tofu is fine.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

They had a note on the menu to ask staff about making entrees gluten free. Our waiter was knowledgeable and said most anything that wasn’t marinated could be make GF. I had the Pad Thai and did not get sick. We will be back!