Thousands of people travel to Rochester, Minnesota, every year for Mayo Clinic, and Mayo has one of the best-known celiac disease programs in the country. So a lot of visitors arrive needing to eat gluten free in a city they don’t know, often for several days, and often while dealing with appointments and tests.
The good news is that Rochester is more prepared for this than most cities its size. Here’s where to eat, what Mayo itself offers, and one important thing to know before you stop eating gluten.
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In town for a few days? GF Scanner maps verified gluten-free restaurants near you and scans packaged food at the store.
Get GF Scanner →Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Before you go gluten free: a note on testing
If you’re going to Mayo Clinic to be tested for celiac disease, don’t cut out gluten before your appointments unless your doctor tells you to. Celiac blood tests and biopsies look for the damage gluten causes. If you’ve already stopped eating it, the results can come back falsely normal. Ask your care team what to eat before testing.
If you’ve already been diagnosed, everything below applies.
Gluten-free food at Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic has its own gluten-free kitchen. In 2020, Mayo opened a dedicated gluten-free kitchen in Rochester that follows strict ingredient, preparation, and packaging rules to keep gluten away from the food. The items are sold to staff and visitors in a designated gluten-free zone at Mayo Clinic Food Services locations, marked with a gluten-free icon on the packaging. The program was announced several years ago, so ask Food Services where the gluten-free zone is in the building you’re in.
Dietitians are part of celiac care at Mayo. If you’re being treated for celiac disease, Mayo’s team includes dietitians who teach you how to read labels, find substitutes, and eat out safely. Ask for a dietitian visit if one isn’t already scheduled.
Restaurants in Rochester
Twigs Tavern and Grille
401 6th St SW, in the Centerstone Plaza Hotel Soldiers Field. This is the most careful gluten-free option in Rochester. Twigs prepares its gluten-free menu in a separate gluten-free kitchen with its own storage, prep areas, and appliances. Gluten-free meals come on dedicated plates with a gluten-free pick, and takeout orders come in a yellow bag with a GF sticker. It’s a full restaurant with a bar, open for lunch and dinner most days.
It isn’t a 100% gluten-free restaurant, since the main kitchen still uses gluten, but the separate kitchen is rare.
Bloom Acai Cafe
2483 Commerce Dr NW. The café says everything it serves is gluten free: smoothie bowls, smoothies, chia pudding, overnight oats, and gluten-free waffle bowls. A celiac reviewer reports that staff brought out an ingredient book and confirmed the oats are certified gluten free. It’s card only, no cash.
Nautical Bowls
230 20th Ave SW. This bowl chain says every item on its menu is gluten free. Some celiac reviewers note that a few toppings, including the granola, are made in shared facilities, so ask for the allergen list if you’re very sensitive. The menu also uses peanuts.
Staying near Mayo? See gluten-free options around your hotel on one map.
📲 Get GF Scanner on the App StoreShared kitchens with celiac protocols
- Hot Chip Burger Bar (1190 16th St SW) has gluten-free buns and fries. A reviewer reports the bun is toasted on a dedicated gluten-free part of the grill and the fries come from a dedicated fryer.
- Red Cow (217 14th Ave SW) is a Minnesota burger chain that celiac reviewers say uses a dedicated gluten-free fryer. Confirm at this location, since fryer setups can vary.
Gluten-free bakers (order ahead)
Rochester doesn’t have a gluten-free bakery storefront, but two home bakers make gluten-free treats to order:
- Some Like It Hot and Gluten Free, a cottage bakery whose owner has celiac disease and keeps a dedicated gluten-free kitchen.
- Creatively Katz’ Gluten Free Treats, a cottage bakery with pickup in northwest Rochester.
For a dedicated bakery storefront, the closest are in the Twin Cities, about 90 minutes north. See our Minneapolis gluten-free bakery guide.
Tips for eating gluten free during a Mayo visit
Book a room with a kitchen. Long stays are easier if you can cook. Many hotels near Mayo offer suites with kitchenettes.
Stock up at the grocery store. Pick up gluten-free bread, snacks, and easy meals on your first day. GF Scanner can check a barcode in seconds if you’re not sure about a label.
Pack snacks for appointment days. Testing days can run long, and you won’t always be near a safe option.
Quick Reference: Gluten Free Rochester MN
| Place | Type | Gluten-free status |
|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Food Services | Hospital food | Dedicated gluten-free kitchen and GF zone |
| Twigs Tavern and Grille | Restaurant and bar | Separate gluten-free kitchen |
| Bloom Acai Cafe | Bowls and smoothies | Everything gluten free |
| Nautical Bowls | Bowls | Menu gluten free, some toppings from shared facilities |
| Hot Chip Burger Bar | Burgers | Dedicated fryer and grill area |
| Red Cow | Burgers | Dedicated fryer reported |
Driving up to the Twin Cities? See our Minneapolis restaurant guide.
Sources
- Celiac disease: Care at Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic)
- Mayo Clinic opens first gluten-free kitchen, offers gluten-free meal items in Rochester (Mayo Clinic News Network)
- Twigs Tavern and Grille and Bloom Acai Café (official sites)
- Most Celiac Friendly Restaurants in Rochester, Minnesota (Find Me Gluten Free)
Heading to Mayo? Take one worry off your list.
GF Scanner maps verified gluten-free restaurants near you and scans packaged food in seconds.
📲 Download GF Scanner on the App Store