Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen
7325 E Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (plus 5 other metro locations)
480-990-2212 www.picazzos.com
Celiac Safe, Dairy-free and vegan options, No Reservations, Family Friendly, Noisy (outdoor patios), Fit for foodies, Date Night, Lots of Parking
My first introduction to a wonderful gf / df dining experience was during a 2008 trip to Sedona, AZ. I googled, “Gluten free donuts near me,” and a pizza place popped up. The entire menu was full of things that I could eat! I am still excited about this family-owned staple in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area that is “an easy going eatery serving a mainly gf menu of specialty pizzas and pastas, with vegan options,” as stated on their website. The only thing with gluten is one of their pizza crusts. The rest of the crusts are gf, made in house, and baked in a dedicated gf stone deck oven. They have a separate 100% vegan menu. The restaurants are not large and do not take reservations, so we usually arrive early to get a seat without waiting. The insides of the restaurants are loud, but they have nice patios. The service is great and the servers are very knowledgeable, but the kitchen is slow so plan accordingly.
I personally love the pizza. I get a gf/vegan crust and Diaya cheese to ensure that there is no dairy. The hot honey fig and salami has been my recent favorite. My son loves the natural chopped Italian salad. They can hold the cheese. If I am getting pasta, it’s hard to beat the spicy Thai peanut fusilli. It’s just hot enough to make you want another bite, and the chicken and broccoli balance the sweetness of the peanut sauce. DO NOT miss the cookie skillet with coconut milk ice cream and chocolate sauce. It comes out in a warm cast iron skillet and melts in your mouth. Order it a bit before you are done with your dinner as they bake it to order.
CIBO
603 N 5th Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85003
602-441-2697 Cibophoenix.com
Gluten free, Dairy-free options, Reservations recommended, Family-friendly, Loud (outdoor patios), Fit of foodies, Date night, Parking can be an issue (Tiny lot to the east and north. Street parking)
If you have been craving pizza like you used to get before your diagnosis, CIBO is consistently ranked one of the best pizza restaurants in the nation. (USA Today, NBA.com) They make their own gluten-free crusts that they bake in separate ovens. They also have gluten-free bread, pasta, and crepes. The staff and kitchen are very knowledgeable, but there are lots of items containing gluten in the restaurant.
We enjoy their antipasto platters, especially the Antipasto Speciale, because of the variety of olives and the amazing balsamic-roasted pearl onions. You can also get the pearl onions on your pizza. Even though I can’t eat dairy, I am not vegan and do enjoy a meaty pizza. I like the Capricciosa (prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, artichokes, and black olives on red sauce) or the Salsiccia (sausage) with vegan cheese, which is Daiya. My husband likes the Diavola with its spicy salame. Next time I will try one of the pastas or sandwiches with homemade gf bread. It’s just hard to pass up a really good pizza when they are hard to find. The gf Crepe Suzette is delicious. It is filled with orange marmalade, and they pour Grand Marnier on it and light it tableside. The nutella and peanut butter crepes were also a hit.
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