Gluten-free food at Restaurante Panela & Prosa in Viana do Castelo
We test restaurants in and around Arcos de Valdevez for gluten-free food, from our own experience with celiac disease.
Search first in Viana do Castelo
Yesterday we were in Viana do Castelo. A nice town by the water, with an old historic center.
We actually saw far from everything. There is also a shopping mall with some stores, but much was closed. On Mondays and Tuesdays you notice that a lot of things don't really get going here until later in the week. And restaurants often do not open until around 19:00.
So we had to search quite a bit for a place to eat.
Eventually a Brazilian restaurant
Eventually we ended up at a Brazilian restaurant a few streets away from the main area. One of those places you normally just walk past, really.
We asked what was possible and she calmly walked us through the menu. She indicated what was possible and thought of alternatives. She also immediately indicated that the fries would be fried separately in a pan.
It soon became clear that she understood what gluten is. When we wanted to order chicken that turned out to be breaded, she immediately indicated that. Comments like that say enough for us.
What did we eat
The food itself was just good.
Pip had picanha with garlic and kidney beans. Nice piece of meat, but on the pricey side for Portuguese standards, around 16 to 17 euros.
There were also dishes that were modified. For example, special chicken in tomato sauce was made without breadcrumbs. The chicken was tender and the sauce clearly fresh.
There were also dishes with gluten, such as a spaghetti carbonara. Those were well liked by those who can eat gluten.
Most dishes were served with rice and fries. With that we got a simple salad, as you often see here: lettuce, tomato and some dressing.
The wine glass was so well filled, it could actually hold a goldfish....
Suitable for children
There are options for children, but it is not a place with standard children's dishes or gluten-free alternatives such as pasta or pizza.
So there has to be some thought and adaptation.
Dessert: few options
We did not take dessert because of time.
There was an OLA card, though, which is always a great option for children.
We haven't had a good look at the rest of the dessert menu. That's something to test next time.
Our conclusion
It took some searching, but in the end we ate well. In the end, we paid 61 euros for 4 dishes and 4 drinks.
Not a place where everything is naturally gluten-free, but a place where they think along and make adjustments.
That, especially if you take some time, makes it a great option in Viana do Castelo.