Between Leslie Henson-Kita’s shellfish sensitivity, her husband’s peanut and tree nut allergies, and her son’s intolerance of gluten and dairy, eating out used to be a near-impossibility. Fortunately, she says the local restaurant landscape has evolved and today there are a number of options for families looking to enjoy a night out.

“Izzy’s and Lilly’s Dim Sum were allergen-free before it was cool,” she says. “Chick-fil-A is one of the one of the very few fast food places on the planet that can say their fries are gluten- and dairy-free; they also have grilled nuggets and strips that are gluten-free.”

Henson-Kita says calling ahead generally goes a long way not only for inquiring about existing menu options and cooking setup, but she’s also found several places willing to make simple accommodations.

“Take American Pie Pizza; they have gluten-free crust and we take our own rice cheese and they place it on top with ingredients that are allergen-friendly. We’ve found US Pizza Co. will do the same,” she says. “At 5 Guys Burgers, the meat and fries are safe and they let us take our own gluten-free bun. We’ve also had good luck at Outback Steakhouse. We just tell them what our issues are and they have worked around it.”

Little Rock is also home to an award-winning bakery that was founded specifically with food-allergic consumers in mind. Dempsey Bakery has gained national recognition for its line of gluten, soy, wheat and nut-free temptations. The “Partners” page lists local restaurants that feature the bakery’s products, including All Aboard Restaurant & Grill, Big Orange, Hillcrest Artisan Meats, The Main Cheese and more. Families looking for gluten-free treats can also order customized, iced sugar cookies from newcomer Dapper Cookie.

For Mediterranean flair, Taziki's (with locations in Little Rock and Conway, and an upcoming restaurant in North Little Rock) boasts that their entire menu is gluten-free, with the exception of the skordalia sauce, pasta, dessert and bread options.

What's your favorite food allergy-friendly restaurant? Tell us in the comments below or email bneel@abpg.com with your suggestions.