In implementation of the Paleo diet, we advocate that people cook the
majority of their own meals, but we know life is not always that
simple. Below is a list of a few popular "go to" places for quality food that will allow you to eat well and stay within your dietary guidelines. All of these restaurants can make dishes gluten, soy, dairy and nut free. You just have to either ask or be smart about what you are ordering. Never-the-less, we have found that the decision making is easy at these places because majority of their dishes are already organic, sustainable and made with REAL food. If you know of any additional restaurants worth listing, please feel free to email them to us. We would love to share your favorite spots with the everyone and also eat there ourselves. :)
Sauce on Hampton - This place is absolutely delicious! They have 100% grass fed burgers, sweet potatoes and seasonal vegetables as sides. The portions are great for the price and they are open until 11pm every night.
Chipotle
- Fast and affordable. Check out their website and pull down the
little tab at the bottom and you'll see that they are focused on some of
the same things we are! Local produce, naturally raised animals and we're down with anyone that recommends reading Michael Pollan. A delicious go to
meal here is a burrito bowl with double meat (barbacoa/steak), double
guacamole, and shredded lettuce, thats it! They never know how to ring it up, so it varies from $8 to $13.
The Counter - Arguably one of the most popular CrossFit hangouts around. Build your own bowl or order your meat straight up on the plate. I've been lucky enough to browse the entire ingredients book. Some top secret book they keep in the back so Shhhhhh! All I will reveal is that majority of the sauces are gluten free because the common base is mayonnaise. Stay away from the barbecue and teriyaki sauces. Everything else contains a mayo base.
Mendocino Farms - Located in
the same mall area as both the Counter and Chipotle, the salads here
are bomb and they also support locally grown produce. Nice portion
sizes and you can build our own salad crossfit style, extra meat and avocado, sans cheese! Diso's favorite is a steak salad with bacon, pork, avocado drizzled in balsamic vinegar. It's delicious, we won't lie.
Pitfire Pizza and Grill - Another classic PCF hangout due to its proximity to the gym, the steak salad is a winner here.
A-Frame - This place is a step
up from the previous listings, but the pricing is still reasonable.
Designed as a picnic style restaurant, prepare to share table space with
others and sharing with your friends. Their menu is designed around
their fried chicken. Each bird is
brined for 24hrs, then rotisserie cooked, then flash fried to order,
leaving the best crispy skin ever! There are lots of great menu items
here, but a fan favorite is the Thai style clam chowder made with
coconut milk instead of cream. Plus, they have delicious drinks if your looking to let loose.
Waterloo and City
- Directly next door to A-Frame. They are popular for their late night
happy hour menu for homemade pates, cured meat plates and other quality
eats. Check out their late night menu from 10-Midnight.
Marla's Cafe - What a
discovery this place was! It's located on Abbot Kinney outside the crowded
strip area. Family owned and operated, you
will probably get to meet Marla and most likely be served by her son.
The selling points here: they are BYOB, simple elegant food that is
reasonably priced, the dining area is actually outside but covered and
arranged with lots of nooks to add more intimacy. Their soups and specials are always delicious. Be sure to order the pork tenderloin and filet mignon. The sauteed mushrooms on the side are a must!
Sotto - This is the
only place that is not located around the gym, but the Miso's rave about it.
They serve traditional southern italian fare. Even though we encourage you to avoid
the pastas and pizzas, you won't leave dissatisfied. Some of their popular dishes include octopus, mackerel, fennel encrusted pork porterhouse, braised
lamb shoulder, sardines, meatballs, and a whole orata fish (yeah, with
the head). The food is out of this world, one of those places that
every bite you feel the need to exclaim, "This is delicious!" If you're
feeling social, ask if Chef Steve is available and tell him you're a
member at Paradiso CrossFit. He used to be a member himself!
More suggestions and reviews to follow...
