Finding reliable gluten-free pizza in Maine can feel tricky, especially if you live with celiac disease or a strong gluten intolerance. Many menus now list gluten-free crusts, but that does not always mean the finished pizza is safe from cross-contact in a busy kitchen. Ovens, cutting boards, fryers, and pizza wheels can all carry trace amounts of gluten if they are shared with regular dough. Before you type “gluten free pizza in Maine” into a map app and head out the door, it helps to know what to ask and what most restaurants can honestly promise. This guide covers the basics of gluten-free pizza, explains how Brickyard Hollow handles gluten-sensitive orders, and points you toward resources that help you decide what feels right for your body.
Gluten-Free Pizza Maine: Crusts, Ovens, and Cross-Contact
When you see gluten-free pizza on a menu, it usually means the crust is made without wheat, barley, or rye. That is the starting point, not the whole story. In most restaurants, including many popular pizza spots and pubs across Maine, gluten-free crusts share kitchen space with regular dough. Studies on gluten-free restaurant food show that pizza is a higher-risk item for cross-contact because of flour in the air, shared work surfaces, and toppings that move along the same prep line. Celiac groups, including resources like the National Celiac Association and Beyond Celiac, recommend asking clear, specific questions about how a gluten-free pizza is made before you order, especially if you are very sensitive.
Some restaurants set up a separate area for gluten-free orders, with their own tools and sometimes their own oven. Others use a shared oven but rely on lined pans, clean stones, and careful handling to lower the risk. Research suggests that shared-oven baking can be fairly safe when kitchens follow strict procedures, but that depends on staff training and daily habits. If you live with celiac disease, it is worth asking how the crust is stored, whether staff change gloves, whether toppings come from clean bins, and whether a dedicated cutting wheel is used. If you are gluten sensitive but do not have a formal diagnosis, you might decide that a small risk is acceptable, but it still helps to know how seriously each restaurant takes cross-contact.
How We Approach Gluten-Sensitive Requests at Brickyard Hollow
At Brickyard Hollow, we are proud to offer a gluten-sensitive pizza crust at our Maine brewpub locations. On many of our menus, you will see a 12-inch gluten-sensitive crust listed alongside our regular dough. It is a good fit for guests who avoid wheat in their daily eating but can tolerate a shared kitchen. Because we operate busy brewpubs that work with flour, breaded items, and shared fryers, we are not able to promise a completely gluten-free environment or guarantee zero cross-contact. Guests with celiac disease or severe gluten allergies should keep that in mind when deciding whether to dine with us. Third-party gluten-free guides describe Brickyard Hollow as “accommodating” for gluten-sensitive guests, but they also flag some risk of cross-contamination and encourage diners to ask questions.
What we can promise is that our team treats gluten-sensitive requests with care. When you tell your server you are ordering with gluten in mind, they can flag your ticket so the kitchen uses the gluten-sensitive crust and cleans work surfaces. Staff can also pay extra attention to topping bins and utensils.
If you have questions about a specific location, it is always okay to ask. You can browse our current Locations & Menus page and click into town-specific menus before you visit, or head straight to the Brunswick, Portland, Freeport, or Augusta pages to see how the menu looks at each brewpub. Talking with the team at your local Brickyard Hollow is the best way to decide what works for your comfort level.
Gluten-Free Restaurants Maine Visitors Love in Coastal Towns
Across the state, you will find a mix of gluten-free friendly spots like Brickyard Hollow, from dedicated bakeries to pubs and pizzerias that offer gluten-sensitive crusts. Guides to gluten-free restaurants in Maine highlight fully gluten-free bakeries in Portland, celiac-friendly breweries, and pizza shops that take extra steps to reduce cross-contact.
FAQs: Fryers, Cutting Wheels, and Labeling
- Are shared fryers safe for gluten-free orders?
Most celiac experts say no. Fryers used for breaded or battered items are not safe for gluten-free guests, even if the fries or chips themselves are naturally gluten free. Gluten from coatings can stay in the oil and move to other foods, and high heat does not remove it. If you need to avoid gluten strictly, ask whether a restaurant has a dedicated gluten-free fryer before you order fried appetizers. - Does a gluten-sensitive pizza need its own cutting wheel and board?
Ideally, yes. Pizza wheels and cutting boards can hold crumbs and flour from regular pies. The safest practice is to keep a separate wheel and a clean peel or cutting surface for gluten-free or gluten-sensitive orders, or to wash and dry the tools right before cutting. Home-kitchen guidance from celiac educators also stresses separate or carefully cleaned tools to avoid cross-contact. - What does “gluten-sensitive” mean on a menu?
At many restaurants, including Brickyard Hollow, the phrase “gluten-sensitive” means the ingredients in a dish do not contain gluten, but the food is prepared in a shared kitchen that handles wheat. That usually means there is some risk of cross-contact from ovens, fryers, or prep areas. If you have celiac disease, this level of risk may not be acceptable, and it is important to ask staff how items are handled before you place an order.
Plan a GF-Friendly Meal Near You
Ordering gluten free pizza in Maine diners trust always involves a bit of extra homework, but it does not have to keep you home. With the right questions and realistic expectations, many gluten-sensitive diners find options that work for them in towns across the state.
If you are curious about our gluten-sensitive crusts, start by exploring the Locations & Menus page and clicking into your local brewpub’s menu. From there, you can reach out through our contact form or call the location directly to talk through your needs and timing. Our goal is to help you enjoy pizza, salads, and shared plates in a way that feels as safe and comfortable as possible for you.