Gluten-Free: Wild Willy's Worcester

I've wanted to go to Wild Willy's in Worcester (say that three times fast) since I heard two things: 1) almost their entire menu is gluten-free and 2) the gentleman who runs this particular franchise is the person who brought the concept of gluten-free food to the entire chain.  They close at 8, so I finally made it there this past week.

Upon entry, it was clear this would be a fun meal.  You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table, which is located within a well-decorated dining room (such as a stagecoach etiquette sign) containing big booths spaced out far enough from each other to be able to have private conversations.  We took one in the corner with fantastic views over trees, where we could see the Wachusett reservoir and the mountains in the distance. 

The cashier was exceptionally knowledgeable about their gf offerings.  He explained to me that not all of their burger toppings are gluten-free so some of the styles of burgers are not, but that only leaves a handful which aren't.  The fries, onion rings, chicken & steak sandwiches, haddock fillets and specialty drinks are all safe to eat.  They even make their own buns, which are literally stamped "gf" to reassure and avoid any confusion. 

Gluten-Free: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

I'd heard a lot about Five Guys Burgers and Fries before I had the opportunity to try them on the way home from my partner's mother's wedding rehearsal dinner recently, having watched everyone else chow down on a selection of gluteneous homemade Italian foods at her soon-to-be husband's home. Don't get me wrong -- it was very sweet of them to provide Liberty and I with gluten-free pasta & separate sauce, especially given they ran out to buy a second package on the day when they believed they overcooked the first, but the kid & I were starving. So it was a relief to see a quick & inexpensive restaurant about which I had heard so many good gluten-free things on the "Find Me Gluten Free" app I have on my smartphone (which I highly recommend and will be covered separately in a later post).

We stopped at the Randolph location with only 10 minutes to spare before closing and a napping baby in the car; the staff didn't grumble about my partner's need to run in, ask the gluten-free question, run out to get my order, and run back to place it. Makes sense, though -- with a one-page menu, everything being gluten-free sans the buns & unlimited free toppings it was simple. Even the fries are gluten-free! My partner & I both ordered a gluten-free bacon cheeseburger (which is actually a double), large (obviously) Five Guys style fries & a fountain soda. For Liberty we purchased a "little" cheeseburger (which is actually a single) & her own regular fries; as you'll know from previous posts, my child has quite an appetite.

My partner returned to the car quite quickly, conveniently at about the time Liberty awoke, with two paper bags stuffed full of yummy-smelling American food.

Food Porn Pics - January 10th

Bob Beckel, 2012 Nfl schedule, space shuttle, the band, red wings, forgetting sarah marshall, nicklas backstrom, shuttle discovery, gsa, chicago blackhawks, jane goodall, bonnie raitt, glamping, carolina panthers, irs, saturday night fever, raffi torres, secret services, biggest loser, dancing with the stars