Author: Joe Disch

North and South

A popular seafood/smokehouse destination with tasty food and, incidentally, good options for most paleo-ish diners. They don’t make claims about organic/wild/grass-fed/natural ingredients, and the gluten sensitive menu bears the usual caveats, but if you’re looking for an indulgence on a low-carb, paleo, or similar diet you’ll likely find something to delight. Review is based on Deforest location, but they’re also in Madison and Verona.

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605 South Main Street, DeForest

(608) 842-2601

6604 Mineral Point Rd, Madison

(608) 829-0093

958 Liberty Dr

(608) 497-0256

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Paleo Mama Bakery

Paleo Mama Bakery produces and sells paleo-friendly treats like cupcakes, cheesecakes, dessert bars and cookies, as well as crackers, granolas, tortillas, pizza crusts, frozen pizzas, naan, and more. Some, like donuts and pop tarts, rotate daily. Decorated special-occasion cakes are available.

The space is mainly production in back, with a small retail store in front. Though there’s no seating, they offer wraps and hot Paleo Mama pizzas for carry-out. That bears repeating: Madison now has hot paleo pizza!

In addition, they stock selected items from local producers like Rude Brew Kombucha, Ona Foods, Cadence Cold Brew, RPs pasta, Yum Butter, Tabal Chocolate, and Supercharge Foods.

Ingredients are well-considered and top quality. Some items are technically primal due to dairy. Some options are keto-friendly.

Hours are Tuesday-Friday 9-4, and Saturday 9-1.

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409 South Few Street, Madison

(608) 561-2789

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Noodles and Company

Surprisingly, Noodles and Company (“Noodles”) offers a variety of paleo and/or low carb options, including zoodles (zucchini noodles)! You can substitute them (or gluten-free pasta if preferred) in almost any dish. You can also add your choice of proteins – even shrimp. See menu for other options. The nutrition calculator on their website even has paleo and keto checkboxes. Delivery is available in many locations.

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2812 Prairie Lakes Drive, Sun Prairie
(608) 318-2221

4280 East Towne Boulevard Madison, WI 53704
(608) 244-4000

232 State Street At Johnson Madison, WI 53703
(608) 257-6393

6520 Monona Dr At Pier 37 Monona, WI 53716
(608) 226-9500

3600 University Ave And Midvale Blvd Madison, WI 53705
(608) 268-2900

1601 Deming Way Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 829-0099

7050 Mineral Point Rd Madison, WI 53717
(608) 829-0202

2981 Triverton Pike Dr. At McKee Rd Fitchburg, WI 53711
(608) 276-7600

 

Supercharge! Foods Juice Bar

Located in front of their urban farm, Supercharge! offers a variety of organic juices, smoothies, and teas, as well as a limited selection of food items, nearly everything locally sourced. Among the selections are wraps made with Paleo Mama tortillas. Note: some review stars are estimated based on published menu, and subject to updating.

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1902 E. Washington Ave., Madison

608-230-5540

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Surya Cafe

Surya Cafe is a vegetarian (mostly vegan) restaurant which is also entirely gluten free. To the extent that they don’t serve meat, they are also surprisingly paleo friendly. They do offer duck eggs (provided by the chef’s personal ducks) and a choice of dairy or non-dairy yogurt. They’re very willing to alter recipes to accommodate a paleo diet. For example, swapping roasted veggies for beans in the sweet potato hash, or cashews for peanuts.

I haven’t had a chance to personally try their food yet, but menu options that appeal to me include the zucchini noodle alfredo (cashew sauce, cauliflower, portabella mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus), hearty bowl (sweet potato hash, kale, avocado, cilantro-lime dressing, omit black beans), and duck egg quiche (spinach, sun-dried tomato, mushroom, served with mixed greens). In addition to entrees, they offer a variety of salads, snack platters, soups, smoothies, juices, coffee and tea. Sandwiches can be made as lettuce wraps or with dry roasted mushroom cap “buns.”

The cafe uses simple, pure ingredients, avoiding additives and processed foods, and utilizing local and organic produce when possible. Cooking fats are exclusively coconut oil and olive oil. Surya Cafe seems like an especially good option if you’re dining with a mixed paleo/vegan group.

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5500 East Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg
(608) 788-8448

Papino’s

From a paleo perspective my expectations for an Italian restaurant are low, especially one that clearly specializes in pizza and pasta. Accordingly, I can’t really recommend Papino’s to fellow grain/dairy-free eaters. They do offer gluten-free pizza and pasta choices. While I found nothing fully paleo on the menu (opportunity calling, Papino’s!) I was quite happy with my Italian Salad (minus cheese & croutons) and side order of sausage. On-menu confirmation that the sausage and meatballs are gluten free (assuming they are) would be appreciated.

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6601 Traveler Trail, Windsor
(608) 846-9090

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Chipotle

Considering that it’s basically a burrito place, Chipotle gets major props for trying to do things right! To start with, the web site lists paleo options by name. They use mostly simple, natural ingredients that you would expect, many of them natural and organic. Most locations offer grass-fed beef. They enforce minimum standards for animals and prominently disclose any exceptions. They cook mostly with rice bran oil and sunflower oil – not perfectly paleo, but in my opinion much better than the soy and canola found elsewhere. They’re very close to completely eliminating GMO ingredients too.

You can design your own naked burrito bowl (or salad), and unlike some competitors most of the options contain only the ingredients you’d expect. Meat choices include steak, chicken, carnitas, and barbacoa. See menu on web site for more details. Catering available. Some locations deliver.

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4628 E Washington Ave, Madison
(608) 242-7334
658 State St, Madison
(608) 250-4613
4000 University Ave, Madison
(608) 233-4305
8422 Old Sauk Rd, Middleton
(608) 826-0919

 

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Qdoba

Most menu items are based around corn or wheat tortillas and/or rice. You can order meat and veggie items as a bowl or a naked tortilla, but be aware that there are a lot of unexpected ingredients. For example, all the meats contain various combinations of cornstarch, corn syrup, whey, and/or soybean oil. The fajita vegetables contain soy oil. Therefore, essentially nothing is pure paleo, but you could check ingredient lists for personally acceptable cheats here.

Even most of the salsas contain cornstarch and/or gums. Pico de gallo is one clean exception. The guacamole should also be fine. Of course, there’s always a possibility of gluten cross-contamination.

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4718 E Towne Blvd, Madison
(608) 819-8910

548 State St, Madison
(608) 280-8720

2 N Park St, Madison
(608) 251-0238

101 W Broadway, Monona
(608) 286-1416

6650 Mineral Point Rd, Madison
(608) 827-7720

2741 University Ave, Madison
(608) 218-9670

5401 Caddis Bend, Madison
(608) 442-9400

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Nitty Gritty

They will do a naked or lettuce-wrapped burger on request. Choices include local grass-fed beef, and sometimes bison. Optional toppings include bacon, egg, and guacamole. Other sandwiches can be made gluten-free also. Steamed veggies available as a side. Most salads ok with omissions. Known as “the birthday bar.”

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223 N. Frances Street, Madison
608-251-2521

1021 N. Gammon Road, Middleton
608-833-6489

315 E. Linnerud Drive, Sun Prairie
608-837-4999

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