The first time we were presented with a similar query, back in 2007, we confess that we weren't entirely sure what celiac disease was nor what its full implications were dietary-wise. So, we did some research and learned a lot. It seemed that we weren't alone in our ignorance and found only a half-dozen or so eateries around town that were genuinely clued-up and could guarantee being able to look after a celiac guest.
The good news is that the last two years or so have evidently seen a rise in awareness of this dietary need and there are now many more restaurants with gluten-free dishes (or entire menus), from steakhouses to Chinese, Italian to Thai, snack joints to pizzerias.
Before we get to that, however, here's some background on celiac disease for those, like us, who need(ed) it.
Turns out celiac disease is one of the most under-diagnosed common diseases in the U.S., affecting at least one in every 133 people, and it's no laughing matter. It's a congenital and chronic disease that basically consists of a permanent intolerance to a component of wheat protein and related alcohol-soluble proteins (called prolamines) found in rye and barley.
In genetically susceptible individuals who eat these proteins, the condition leads to an autoimmune disease, whereby the body's immune system starts attacking normal tissue and continues as long as these foods remain in the diet. Symptoms of the disease typically can include anemia, diarrhea, lactose intolerance, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and osteoporosis.
Having either a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance doesn't necessarily mean you have celiac disease, but both still require a gluten-free diet to avoid nasty side-effects, such as rashes, gassiness, wheezing, abdominal pains, and worse.
The under-diagnosis and lack of common knowledge about all these conditions have made dining out a difficult and often hazardous activity for those with an intolerance to gluten. While researching this answer, we came across a horror story from a sufferer whose honeymoon was ruined by eating a (gourmet) Las Vegas restaurant meal that he was assured was gluten-free, but wasn't at all and rendered him sick for days. He recounted all kinds of other tales of fish absent-mindedly coated in flour, barley lurking in the bottom of bowls of soup, and non-gluten-free seasoning on steak.
Having experienced such trouble communicating the seriousness of his dietary requirements to various kitchens, this sufferer has produced a series of information cards, in numerous languages, that you can give to your server to pass to the chef, explaining exactly what you can't eat. The cards are free to anyone to print, but if possible, he asks that you make a small donation ($5), just to cover the costs of running his site. If you'd like to print yourself off some of these cards, visit www.celiactravel.com/restaurant-cards.html.
As stated previously, our revisitation of the whole issue of gluten-free dining in Las Vegas revealed that many more options had opened up since our last foray into this topic. Some restaurants (more than a few) offer separate gluten-free menus; others indicate those dishes on their menu that are gluten-free; and still others don't specifically cater to a gluten-free diet but are aware of the requirements and will happily accommodate you given some notice. For the full list of restaurants that we found, visit our Dining section and then select the "Other" drop-down menu, where you'll find gluten-free is one of several options you can choose from.
If anyone knows of other restaurants that also cater to celiacs and those with gluten-intolerance, please be sure to let us know and we'll keep adding to our list. You can also check out the Las Vegas Celiac Support Group forum for further information or questions you may have.
