Eating Gluten-Free at Chef Tony’s Fresh Seafood Restaurant

Last weekend was my birthday weekend! One day is not enough to celebrate, so I celebrated all weekend. My family came to Bethesda to spend the weekend and take me out to dinner on Friday night. I wanted to try somewhere new because I was feeling stuck in a rut after going to my favorite Bethesda restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi, many times in a row with my family. After doing some restaurant research, I decided on Chef Tony’s Fresh Seafood Restaurant.

I am so glad I decided to give Chef Tony’s a try. Our waiter explained that the menu changes daily so the freshest seafood can be used in their dishes. They also source their produce from local farmers, so they use whatever is in season - which I love! My favorite part about Chef Tony’s was that almost everything on their menu can be made gluten-free. I love restaurants that are so accommodating. I find it so disappointing when I go out to eat and I only have one or two choices on the menu (that are usually just salads). Our waiter was very knowledgeable about gluten and which dishes were safe to order.

We started with the Pan Roasted P.E.I Mussels, which were really good. I love getting mussels when they are offered (and gluten-free). Fun fact, mussels are full of vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, and manganese, so I always feel healthy eating them. For my main dish I got the Arctic Char with seasonal vegetables, which I really enjoyed! My boyfriend got the Grilled Surf and Turf and his only complaint was that there wasn’t more of it! The Filet Mignon Satay was melt-in-your-mouth good, so I highly recommend it. It was offered as an appetizer and main dish with the Grilled Surf and Turf. I decided I didn’t want to order dessert because I had a Hail Merry Almond Butter Tart waiting for me at home, but there was creme brulee on the menu if you are looking for a gluten-free dessert. Overall we all really enjoyed our meal here. I can’t wait to go back!

The restaurant is pretty small and fills up quick, so I suggest making a reservation if you want to go!

The best birthday present was the weather. The whole weekend was absolutely beautiful. It was warm and sunny, which is not normal for the Washington D.C. area in February. On Saturday while out enjoying the weather my family and I stopped by the newly opened Bethesda Chocolates. The store is really cute and they sell handmade chocolates, hot chocolate, and coffee. They also use fair-trade chocolate to make their treats! The girl working was able to help me find some dairy-free dark chocolate, which was so smooth and creamy, not bitter at all. It was definitely a fun birthday treat!

Dark Chocolate Heart from Bethesda Chocolates

I had a great weekend celebrating with my boyfriend and family. I love getting out in Bethesda and trying new restaurants! Let me know in the comments your favorite places to eat in Bethesda!