Gluten-Free and Looking for Your New Favorite Place to Eat (that's not your kitchen?) Your answer is: Pizzazz Tuscan Grille. Go, Now!

www.pizzazztuscangrille.com

711 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202-4320
(410) 528-7772

I've now been to Pizzazz Tuscan Grille more than 5 times, and I'm always delighted with my meal. I thought the only place I could get a gluten-free sandwich -- with the bread -- was either from my kitchen at home or Lilit Cafe in Bethesda, MD. It turns out that Pizzazz Tuscan Grille right in Baltimore is serving up an outstanding selection of gluten-free friendly items. Sandwiches are served on chewy, not crumbly, gluten-free rolls. The crust for the last pizza I had was on a Whole Foods Market Gluten-free Bakehouse crust. If you've eaten one of these crusts, they are dense and heavy, but delicious and (once again) have some chew to them, rather than the typical crumbly and sandy mess that has been the foundation for so many gluten-free items for the past 15 years.

Pizzazz is attached to the Pier 5 Hotel, but from what I can tell, caters not only to the hotel guests, but also to Baltimore's own. With a distinct atmosphere that combines seated dining areas, a bar, order-out, and outdoor seating (when the city isn't encapsulated by three feet of snow and ice), Pizzazz is offering up the right combination right in the downtown Baltimore area. From great food (check out their menu) to a hospitable staff who get to know the regulars and hotel guests with ease.

To be honest, I've only been for Brunch and Lunch, but I'll be going back for Breakfast and Dinner because I want to try a gluten-free pasta dish prepared somewhere other than in my kitchen at home. Plus, there are so many options, it's going to take quite a few visits, and that's ok by me...as well as the family and friends I take with me.

If you're still on the fence about whether you'll go or not, check out their extensive menus. But, seriously, I can't imagine you'd be disappointed.

-Kate