In a culture where fast food dominates and a city where options for a quick bite are endless, gluten-free folks often find themselves left empty handed with empty bellies.

Last weekend after having consumed two $6 pint-sized margaritas at  Soft Spot in Williamsburg, I found myself hankering for something greasy, salty, and filling.  My friend Grant also had the same hankering, so he grabbed a couple slices from Vinnie’s Pizza and I sat with him, watching enviosly, as he devoured each piece.  What did I eat?  Some gummy lifesavers I had stashed in my purse.

It will be a while until gluten-free pizza will be so ubiquitous that I can also get my fix at 2 am.  Until then, us glutards are left with few options for late-night or on the go dining in New York City.

Without further ado, here is the GFATC list of best gluten-free on the go spots in New York City.

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Sticky Fingers

1370 Park Road Northwest, Washington, DC 20010 (202) 299-9700

www.stickyfingersbakery.com/

I have been doing a lot of traveling lately.  In fact, Easter Sunday will be the first day I spend home in NYC in a month.  Last weekend, I was in Washington, DC to visit my friends from studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence.  Out of the five girls, two of us are gluten-free, so the DC residents found a gluten-free friendly spot in Columbia Heights called Sticky Fingers. 

Sticky Fingers is a vegan bakery and cafe with some gluten-free options- another example of alternative diets joining forces.  Being mostly a vegan joint, the gluten-free food options were limited to three sandwiches, pancakes, chocolate chip cookies, and vanilla/chocolate cupcakes.  Erin and I both had the gluten-free pancakes, because how often do you see that on a menu?  I’ve made pancakes from a GF mix before and they are pretty good, although they lack a little oomph.  These pancakes were fluffy, but tasted slightly of xanthan gum.  Enjoyable, but outstanding?  No.  What was outstanding however, was the tofu scramble that came with Erin’s meal.  They were spiced and colored with curry to make them seem more egg-like and while I wouldn’t say they tasted like eggs, the texture was spot on, and the flavor was unique enough to make me forgot I wasn’t eating eggs.  Yum. 

Of course, we had to try the gluten-free goodies.  When the opportunity to eat GF baked goods presents itself, you take advantage.  The chocolate chip cookie was slightly mush, although the flavor made up for the lack of texture.  The cupcakes, however, were a disappointment.  The cake was dry and the frosting tasted artificial. 

Props to Sticky Fingers for including gluten-free items, but it was clear that they were primarily a vegan bakery.

BabyCakes, 248 Broome Street, New York, NY 10010

If you live the gluten free lifestyle, you know BabyCakes.  They are a kosher, vegan bakery that doesn’t only bake gluten-free, but casein-free, (mostly) sugar-free, egg-free, and soy-free.  Wow.  And they’ve just opened up a bakery in Los Angeles!

I’ve been to BabyCakes twice now; once for breakfast and once for an afternoon snack.  For my birthday this year, my friend Sarah took me to babycakes for breakfast.  I had the banana chocolate chip bread, which contains sugar (unrefined), but follows otherwise all the above dietary restrictions.  The bread came in a hearty slice which I had trouble finishing, but did eventually.  It was moist, sweet, and really showcased the banana-chocolate flavor combination.  It most definitely lived up to my expectations. 

I returned two weekends ago with my friend Molly who was visiting from St. Louis.  Molly was my roommate in college and I have wonderful memories of coming back to the room and finding freshly baked coconut cupcakes- BabyCakes seemed like the perfect place to take her for an afternoon treat.  Of course we had to try the cupcakes.  We shared a red velvet and chocolate cupcake and I picked up a cinnamon raisin and chocolate chip cookie for later.  Unlike the banana chocolate chip bread, you could tell that these cupcakes were different from a regular baked good, but not in a bad way.  Molly remarked that the red velvet frosting tasted like the smell of cake scented items.  We both agreed that the chocolate cupcake was better than the red velvet because it was moister and the frosting was richer.  The cookies were sampled later that day and were eaten so fast, I don’t have much of a review, just that they were delicious. 

Both times I’ve visited BabyCakes, I’ve eaten there.  BabyCakes only has one counter and a small table in the front.  Seating isn’t all that comfortable but at the counter you have a great view of the bakers adorned in their adorable matching fifties inspired outfits and aprons. 

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread = $3.65 slice, $30/loaf

Cookies = $1.50, $22.95/lb

Red Velvet Gluten-Free Cupcake = $4.25

Chocolate Gluten-Free Cupcake = $3.95, $43.45/dozen

If you can’t get to NYC easily to enjoy these delectable treats, they ship!