Gluten free pizza in Boston - anything actually worth it

[jsaimd]

We will be visiting Boston in June and excited to try some cuisine. My son and I have Celiac disease and he loves to be able to order pizza. But all the pizza places around here that have gluten free pizza are - meh. Certainly not worth the surcharge, and I can usually make a better pie at home. But pizza i hear is serious business in New England and New York, so maybe people wouldn't settle for gluten-free mediocrity. Anyone tried any GF pizzas that have great texture (chew and crisp) and flavor (well-developed dough)? Stone Hearth and Zing i know offer it. Not interested in folks stocking Kinnikinnick, Still Riding or any of those doughs.

[litchick]

Another vote for Zing's. Not only is the pizza super tasty and loaded with local, fresh ingredients, they're very careful about cross-contamination, and take the needs of GF folks seriously.

[jsaimd]

We ended up at Stone Hearth because it was close to our friends house. We had a GF chicken pesto and it was the best GF restaurant pizza I have had. Flavorful pesto, thin, crispy and chewy crust, The crust was a bit salty but it worked for this combo. Was it indistinguishable from a gluten-full crust? Of course not. You could tell the chew was from tapioca and gums, but good. Better than anything I have had in California.

Husband had a gluten-full spicy banana pepper pizza which was Ok. A bit blonde on the crust, very vinegary peppers...just didn't have the balance, but was fine.

Also tried a brownie made by Glutinus Minimus (and later a bunch of other things - lime coconut bar, chocolate cupcake, carrot muffin, strawberry streusal muffin, heath cookie). should have saved my money. The brownie was fine, the other stuff had the weird GF aftertaste. Lime bar was fine, but too mild for my tastes. Cupcake - downright bad.

[opinionatedchef]

i was just coming on to recommend Stonehearth so I'm so glad you liked it! It is our weekly go-to pizza place in boston (reginas No.End is just too hard for parking,heat and crowds -to be our go-to.)

[Trishka]

Interesting. Stone Hearth in Belmont doesn't list GF chicken pesto on its menu. I used to have it before going GF, but not since.

[katharineR]

The woman I work for is GF and she like Zings— I'd give that a try, plus their regular pizza is pretty good.

[glutenfreep]

I grew up in NJ, near NYC so I can be pretty picky about my pizza. You are right -- most gluten free pizza is meh. I've also had Celiac disease since I was 6 years old (for 32 years) - and its great to see so many options now!

Over the last 2-3 years there has been an increase (woohoo!) of options.
The Boynton in Worcster was one of the first in MA.

My two favorites are Stone Hearth Pizza, and Tings.

I haven't yet been to NEBO, and haven't tried the gluten free pizza at Uno's.

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Stone Hearth Pizza
57 Leonard St, Belmont, MA 02478

[jsaimd]

where is Tings? or did you mean Zing?

[sablemerle]

I can't vouch for it (although their regular pizzas are great) but Andrina's in Arlington also offer a gluten free pizza crust.

[jsaimd]

Thanks for all the replies. We might hit Nebo or Stone Hearth or maybe even Zing, but I worry that Nebo's regular pizza isn't all that from the reviews here. I don't want to spend our meal seeking out GF pizza if it isn't any better than what i can make and the non-Celiacs can't get the best Boston has to offer...

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Nebo Restaurant and Bar
90 North Washington Street, Boston, MA 02114

[The_SBK]

My friend has celiac's also and she likes Nebo. Just DO NOT go there on a game night. You will be rushed out of there so fast you won't know what hit you.

www.OnceUponASmallBostonKitchen.blogs...

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Nebo Restaurant and Bar
90 North Washington Street, Boston, MA 02114

[smtucker]

Zings in Porter Square has gluten free pizza. I haven't tried it, but they seem to source some unusual ingredients. Might be worth a try if you are on the red line.

[Damcgreg]

I am not gluten intolerant either, but both my sister and girlfriend are so I've got a bit of experience on the subject here. Best GF pizza we've found in Boston is @ NEBO. Best overall we've had though was from The Boynton in Worcester - good enough to even please the non celiacs. Definitely get to Nebo though if Boston is your destination.

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Nebo Restaurant and Bar
90 North Washington Street, Boston, MA 02114

[fabtougas]

Had Zing pizza with my non-gluten free friends and at first, they were all skeptical. But after trying it, they couldn't tell the difference. The toppings were amazing (we had the pizza with beets on top!). I would definately recommend this place.

[Trishka]

I definitely cannot tell the difference with the Zing pizza. I have other issues with the place, but the GF pizza is -- so far -- tops in my book.

[Scruffy The Cat]

Flatbread Company in Burlington has GF pizza but I haven't tried it so I don't know how good it is. The plus is that they take a fair bit of care with their ingredients and taste of their food so it might work.

[Eatin in Woostah]

No, it's awful. I really like FBPC regular pizza, but when I was on a special diet a few months ago that required me to go Gluten Free, I tried their GF pizza. It was very disappointing. Flavor was OK, but texture was not enjoyable.

[rrocket18]

Sorry to disagree, but I find Flatbread's GF pizza to be delicious. My girlfriend is gluten intolerent and therefore I often end up eatin GF as well. She and I love their pizza. Despite it's obvious differences I consider the GF crust to be just as good (if not better) than the regular crust. It tastes more buttery and the texture was as good as you'll find for gluten free. Unfortunately, due to the lack of wheat flour almost everything gluten free has a texture that takes getting used to. I'm pretty sure the crust comes from Mommy's Muffins in New Hampshire.

[Eatin in Woostah]

Interesting - I wonder if my serioius craving for real pizza when I was on the GF diet, and the resulting major disappointment with how different the crust was, colored my perception. I really feel for those who have celiac disease and have no choice but to go GF.

[Trishka]

Yes, it's a whole different scale of taste for GF pizza. We tolerate a lot more, because there are so few options.

[Eatin in Woostah]

Also avoid the GF pizza at Flatbread Pizza Company. Ick.

[nosretep]

Flatbread PIzza Company makes a very good gluten free pizza. I would have eaten their GF pizza even if I didn't have to. Just make sure to remind them to put cheese and sauce on it, and if you have a big appetite, order two, as they only sell them in the small size (12" diameter).

[Eatin in Woostah]

Oh wow, I really disagree. The crust I had was crumbly and sort of hard. Maybe it was an off day. I never ordered it again.

[Trishka]

I bet it's the same dough they use at Pizzapalooza. It's boxed in the freezer, they just take out the one size and put on the toppings. I found it to be perfectly acceptable, although I prefer a larger pie for leftovers.

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Pizzapalooza
244 Needham St Ste 3, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464

[thegirlwholovestoeat]

My sister likes the pizza from Stone Hearth a lot, I haven't tried it. I have tried the GF pizza at Uno's and can tell you to STAY AWAY from it, it's terrible.

[galleygirl]

The GF pizza at Stone Hearth actually uses dough made by the Better Bread Company frim Portland, ME. Their dough is made from rice flour and tapioca starch, for crispiness, and it really is crispy; you wouldn't guess. They've also started selling their frozen pizzas at some of the Boston-area Whole Foods; they're really good!

[Aromatherapy]

I had a sample of that at Whole Foods and it was decent, which considering the circumstances rates highly.

[djd]

Agreed on the Uno's opinion.

[food_lubber]

try NEBO in the North End...although I am not gluten intolerant, my sister is, and she enjoed the pizza there