5 safe, allergy-friendly restaurants near Times Square: the Broadway dining guide.

Times Square and the surrounding Midtown Theatre District are the energetic heart of New York City. But for diners managing Celiac disease, food allergies, or complex dietary restrictions, finding a quick, safe bite before an 8:00 PM Broadway curtain call can be an overwhelming experience.

Between packed dining rooms, rushed pre-show kitchen rushes, and shared prep stations, dining out in Midtown often feels like an allergy minefield. Preparing a clear food allergy or chef card before you arrive can make that first conversation easier.

Fortunately, a handful of outstanding spots just steps from Broadway's biggest marquees understand cross-contact, dedicated fryers, and allergy protocols. Whether you crave safe Neapolitan pizza, a towering gluten-free pastrami sandwich, or family-style Italian, here are 5 of the most reliable, allergy-aware restaurants near Times Square.

Cuisine: Elevated American comfort & all-day brunch. Best for: Celiac disease, gluten-free fried chicken, strict cross-contact protocols. Safety highlight: almost 90% of the menu can be prepared gluten-free, with a dedicated fryer for fried favorites.

Founded with the motto "Eat Good Food" and inspired by an owner diagnosed with Celiac disease, Friedman's is a gold standard for allergy-safe dining in New York. Its location inside the historic Edison Hotel puts it right in the center of the Theater District.

• Dedicated fryers: Enjoy classic buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, hand-cut french fries, and crispy chicken tenders without shared-oil wheat contamination. For more chain options, compare our gluten-free fast food guide.
• Broadway comfort food: Almost the entire menu — from pastrami sandwiches and burgers served on certified gluten-free buns to fluffy GF pancakes — can be ordered safe.
• Allergy ticket flags: Servers ask about dietary restrictions immediately upon seating, and all allergy dishes are delivered with colored allergy toothpicks to confirm safe prep.

Cuisine: Authentic Neapolitan pizzeria & wine bar. Best for: Celiac disease, authentic Italian pizza, dairy modifications. Safety highlight: world-class gluten-free wood-fired pizzas and dedicated fried pizza dough (Montanara).

World-renowned Master Pizzaiola Giorgia Caporuscio has made Don Antonio famous not just for classic Neapolitan pies, but for having what is widely considered the best gluten-free pizza crust in NYC.

• Dedicated preparation protocol: Gluten-free pizzas are prepared in a segregated staging area with dedicated toppings and baked with careful separation to prevent flour cross-contact.
• Fried gluten-free specialties: Beyond standard baked pies, Don Antonio is famous for its Montanara — lightly fried dough topped with tomato sauce and smoked mozzarella — available with dedicated gluten-free dough.
• Extensive variety: Virtually every traditional red and white pizza on the menu can be made gluten-free, alongside dairy-free vegan mozzarella substitutions. Review our guide to hidden names for dairy if dairy is one of your concerns.

Cuisine: Family-style Southern Italian. Best for: large groups, wheat & gluten allergies, dairy sensitivity. Safety highlight: a dedicated wheat and gluten allergy menu featuring certified GF pasta and separate sauces.

If you are seeing a show with a large family or travel group, Carmine's is iconic for its massive, platter-sized portions. While red-sauce Italian joints are traditionally high-risk for wheat, Carmine's operates a formal allergy program.

• Gluten & wheat allergy menu: Carmine's offers a dedicated gluten-free menu featuring corn-and-rice rotini tossed in classic bolognese, marinara, or garlic-and-oil sauces.
• Chef-supervised preparation: When an allergy order is entered, pasta is cooked to order in dedicated, sanitized boiling pots and finished in separate sauté pans to avoid cross-contact with regular wheat pasta.
• Safe meat & seafood: Massive platters of chicken scarpariello, grilled salmon, and veal chops can be modified without flour dredging or breadcrumbs.

Cuisine: Organic smash burgers, shakes & comfort bites. Best for: nut allergies, soy-free diets, Celiac & dairy-free modifications. Safety highlight: dedicated allergy fryers, gluten-free fried chicken, and comprehensive interactive allergen menus.

Situated along historic Restaurant Row on 46th Street, Bareburger is an easy, fast-casual sit-down favorite that takes cross-contamination very seriously.

• Dedicated gluten-free fryers: Their french fries, sweet potato fries, and buttermilk-brined fried chicken tenders are naturally prepared gluten-free and cooked in dedicated fryers.
• Customizable buns & wraps: Choose from certified gluten-free brioche-style buns, sprout buns, or sturdy collard green and lettuce wraps.
• Top 9 allergen transparency: Bareburger's ordering system allows diners to filter specifically for dairy, egg, soy, sesame, peanut, and tree nut allergies, complete with vegan cheese and coconut milk milkshake alternatives.

Cuisine: 100% dedicated gluten-free classic Italian. Best for: severe Celiac disease, wheat anaphylaxis, zero cross-contact anxiety. Safety highlight: a 100% dedicated gluten-free kitchen and dining room where no gluten is ever allowed through the door.

Just a short walk west of Times Square into Hell's Kitchen, Senza Gluten by Jemiko provides the ultimate peace of mind for anyone with severe Celiac disease. Because the entire facility is 100% gluten-free, there is zero risk of shared fryers, airborne flour, or mix-ups on the pass.

• Classic pasta & breads: Enjoy warm garlic bread, bruschetta, rich fettuccine bolognese, and lasagna without asking a single question about cross-contact.
• Crispy calamari & parmigiana: Indulge in traditional Italian-American comfort staples — like fried calamari and chicken parmesan — made with scratch-made gluten-free breading and dedicated equipment.
• Safe Italian desserts: Complete your pre-theater dinner with safe tiramisu, cannoli, and chocolate molten cakes made on-site.

Heading into Manhattan for a show or exploring the lights of Times Square? Skip the pre-theater panic and avoid holding up your party at the table.

With Stuff I Can Eat, checking your meals is fast, accurate, and completely mobile-first:

• Instant menu checking: Paste a menu link, upload a PDF, or snap a photo of any Midtown restaurant menu to automatically flag safe dishes, caution items, and hidden allergens across every course. See how to scan a menu for food allergies.
• Custom server questions: Get tailored questions to ask your server to confirm dedicated fryers, clean pans, and flour-free prep stations.
• Digital chef cards: Show a clear, customized allergy card right on your phone screen — with explicit safety guidelines for the kitchen.