Allergy Friendly Restaurants Donegal
There is not a standard definition for an “Allergy Friendly Restaurant/Catering Establishment”, however Allergy Act’s definition of allergy-friendly is one which:
- The restaurant is open to discussing and accommodating individuals with food allergies and dietary requirements
- The restaurant informs the customer about the necessary precautions that they will go through in order to reduce any cross contamination with potential allergens
- Allergens are declared on menu or an Allergen list provided or an Allergen notice is present on the menu stating to inform staff about allergies when ordering food
An “Allergy Friendly Restaurant/Catering Establishment” does not imply that the restaurant will be 100% free of one or more particular allergens nor does it imply that an individual with dietary requirements or food allergies will definitely not experience an adverse food reaction, because there is always a possibility of this no matter what precautions are taken.
Allergy Friendly recommendations are just a guide to what restaurants may be more willing to accommodate individuals with food allergies and/or dietary requirements. As always, it’s important to note that everyone’s allergies and dietary requirements are unique to them so what’s suitable for one person may not be for another with the same allergy/dietary requirement. Ensure to ask questions relevant to your dietary requirements and always speak directly with staff about your food allergies. Check the ingredients before consuming ANY food or drinks even if it’s recommended or you have had it before as recipes and ingredients can change.
These were restaurants that were open to discussing and accommodating my dietary requirements
📍Rossnowlagh, Co.Donegal, Ireland
Cuisine: Seafood | European | Bar
Meal Type: Lunch | Dinner | Drinks
Venue Type: Restaurant | Bar
✅Allergy Friendly
✅Allergens declared on menu
📍Bundoran, Co.Donegal, Ireland
Cuisine: European | Irish | Cafe
Meal Type: Breakfast | Brunch | Lunch
Venue Type: Restaurant | Cafe
✅Allergy Friendly
✅ Allergens declared on menu
✅Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes
✅Gluten Free dishes
📍Bundoran, Co.Donegal, Ireland
Cuisine: European | Irish | Cafe
Meal Type: Breakfast | Brunch | Lunch
Venue Type: Restaurant | Cafe
✅Allergy Friendly
✅ Allergens declared on menu
✅Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes
Check out the Allergy Friendly Restaurants on allergyact.org and share your experiences about your recommendations on places you have eaten out in Belgium or abroad to help guide others in the Allergy Community.
As always, it’s important to note that everyone’s allergies and dietary requirements are unique to them so what’s suitable for one person may not be for another with the same allergy/dietary requirement. This post is just a guide so ensure to ask questions relevant to your dietary requirements and always speak directly with staff about your food allergies and check the ingredients before consuming food or drinks even if it’s recommended or you have had it before as recipes and ingredients can change.
Allergy Friendly Staycation
I found eating out with allergies in Sligo to be a relatively positive experience.
Accommodation
Dining out together and sharing meals is such an essential part of our social fabric- it helps us form new connections with others, experience different food cultures and enjoy our time off cooking for ourselves. However, eating out when traveling to a new area can be extremely challenging and time-consuming for individuals with dietary requirements.
Staying in accommodation with self-catering is always a safe option as you can buy and prepare allergy friendly food that is safe for you.
If self catering is not an option, consider bringing a food flask to cook food in. There’s a wide variety of food you can cook in a food flask by just adding hot water and it’s very convenient to bring on the go. For example, porridge oats for breakfast, rice/couscous/pasta etc with a sauce for lunch or dinner.
Most mornings, we cooked breakfast and prepared food for packed lunches for the day at our accommodation. Some evenings we stayed in and cooked which helped with both saving money and time searching for an appropriate allergy friendly restaurant.
Here’s what I do when eating out:
In advance:
- Researched restaurants menus in advance
- Called/emailed or visited restaurants to ask if they could cater for an individual with a nut allergy and presented my allergy translation card
On arrival:
- Informed staff about my food allergies and presented my Allergy Translation Card
- If they could accommodate me and I felt comfortable eating there, I asked what they would recommend would not contain my allergen
- Asked what cooking oil they use
- Asked if they used nuts or peanuts in any dishes, sauces or dips
- I often order pizza because I can ask about the ingredients in the sauce and toppings and can clearly see the ingredients when my meal arrives.
- For pizza orders, specify which pizza order I want and NO extra toppings/dips/sauces e.g pesto
- I ask them to use clean equipment, gloves, utensils and a clean surface area when preparing my meal to reduce the risk of cross contact (my allergy card also states this).
- When it arrives, I confirm with staff that this was the order prepared for someone with allergies.
General precautions I take when eating out:
- Avoid desserts
- Avoid street food
- Look for restaurants with allergens declared on the menu
- Only order food I have eaten before
- Always check what cooking oil is used
- Always inform staff about my food allergies
- Carry safe snacks in my bag
- Carry Adrenaline Auto-injectors and Medication
- Carry Allergy Translation Card
If I didn’t feel comfortable eating at a particular restaurant, I didn’t take the risk, I found somewhere else or bought Allergy Friendly food at the supermarket.
RESOURCES
Download & Print the FREE useful phrases resource for traveling Ireland here!
