Upon googling local restaurants recently, Atina Kitchen popped up as top of the list for gluten and dairy allergy ‘friendliness’ in Chester. An independent restaurant with Italian heritage, the menu covered a wide range of cuisines and had a fabulous cocktail list, so I booked for my husbands birthday meal.

Found on Foregate Street, I would describe the interior as quirky, with posters all over the walls and ceiling and every cookbook imaginable on the shelves. It was comfortable despite being small and the staff were lovely. We ordered two non alcoholic cocktails and began to peruse the menu.

For starters we went for gluten free bread with oil and vinegar, and chickpea hummus with gluten free pita. It was nice to have the gluten free bread available and although I didn’t particularly enjoy the hummus my husband did. I did however enjoy the vintage crockery.

For mains I went adventurous and chose the Haggis Mac n Cheese. This came with a cheese sauce, leeks, sundried tomato and a corn crumb. And when it came I couldn’t believe the portion size! It was enormous! But oh so cheesey. I don’t think I knew what to expect but the haggis came mixed through the pasta and I’d definitely try it again.

Despite bringing Steve to an allergen friendly restaurant he still went for the steak. A Welsh beef bavette steak with radicchio, charred shallot and house chips. It should have come with blue cheese sauce but upon asking, it turns out all the sauces are pre made, and not even a boring old vegan butter sauce could be made last minute. So a tonne of Mayo, that the waitress questioned as it surely has dairy in it, no it doesn’t, was used as a sauce instead. He still thoroughly enjoyed it though, not having tried that particular cut before.

Unfortunately we were both so stuffed after our meal we didn’t have room for desserts. Must have been all the carbs I ate 🤣 We enjoyed the food, it was nice to see a menu labelled so well for allergens and it was nice to try somewhere new. Not sure I’d rush back in a hurry but they seem to run some great themed events here so I will be on the lookout for future.

It seems if we book and ‘warn’ restaurants in advance they can cater to Steves food intolerances but that leaves little room for spontaneity. We have adapted most of our meals to be gluten and dairy free and it really isn’t difficult. These smaller restaurants are much better than the chain ones at it, but so unfortunately are the very expensive restaurants. I emailed a newly opened high end restaurant in Chester about it and they replied that ‘of course they can cater to food intolerances’. I better get saving up then hey!