US City Seed Oil-Free Restaurant Guide - Part 1

Mid-Atlantic & New England metropolitan areas. 74 restaurants. 6 cities.

This week we’re kicking off a 4-part series on the seed oil-free restaurants of the greater metropolitan areas around the US.

Part 1 of a 4-part series split up by geographic region:

• Part 1 = Mid-Atlantic & New England

• Part 2 = West Coast & Rockies

• Part 3 = Midwest

• Part 4 = South

In Part 1, we’ll cover the major urban areas of the Northeast US:

• New York City

• Boston

• Washington, DC

• Philadelphia

• Baltimore

• Pittsburgh

These restaurants remain the exception to the industry norm. But until the norm becomes seed oil-free, we’ll need to drive the cause through a grassroots initiatives. We support those restaurants - especially local businesses - taking into consideration culinary excellence & customer health. Vote with your wallet.

A good general rule of thumb for the restaurants listed below: avoid anything deep-fried. Each featured establishment has committed to using premium cooking oils like olive, avocado, & coconut, or traditional fats such as beef tallow & butter. While some may still offer deep-fried options using seed oils, we'll clearly identify which restaurants maintain strictly seed oil-free kitchens.

Last point before we jump in to our extensive list: if you know of or are the owner of a restaurant/café/deli fitting this criteria, let me know so we can add & continue spreading the word to make a healthier America in the coming years.

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Mid-Atlantic/New England Cities

New York City

Springbone Kitchen

Description: Fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in bone broth with a focus on seed-oil free cooking. Grass-fed & free-range chicken dishes. Nationwide shipping for their bone broth & hot sauce.

Locations:

• Greenwich Village

• Williamsburg

• FiDi

• Millburn

• Midtown East

• Dumbo

• Brookfield Place

• Midtown West

• Flatiron

• Union Square Soup Stand

Locanut

Description: Seed oil-free. No refined sugar. Gluten-free. Another fast-casual staple for New Yorkers. Locanut uses organic, wild-caught, grass-fed, & local ingredients. All sauces & dressings are made fresh in house with no seed oils.

Locations:

• Chelsea

• Hell’s Kitchen

Shukette

Description: Middle Eastern cuisine using only extra virgin olive oil for their cooking. Shared plate style restaurant. Signature frena bread (richer, fluffier pita) baked with fresh garlic & EVOO. Soft serve tahini.

Location: Chelsea

Shuka

Description: Sister restaurant to Shukette. Eastern Mediterranean cuisine using EVOO as their primary cooking oil of choice. Whipped feta. Chicken shawarma. Moroccan carrots. Olive oil cake. One of my personal favorites in NYC.

Location: SoHo

San Matteo Pizza & Espresso Bar

Description: Casual Italian spot known for its authentic Neapolitan pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven with olive oil. High quality, fresh pizza toppings. Awarded a Michelin Plate in 2022.

Locations:

• Upper East Side

• Estero

Au Cheval

Description: American diner style/comfort food cuisine. Limited space with a no reservation policy. Foods are cooked & fried in fresh beef tallow: burgers, chicken, & fries.

Location: Tribeca

Supper

Description: Northern Italian, cash only restaurant. EVOO as primary cooking oil for pasta, seafood, & other dishes.

Location: East Village

Brodo

Description: Beef & chicken bone broth shops. Simmered & hand-skimmed for 24 hrs. Made with organic, grass-fed ingredients only. Allow for customizations like lime, ginger, coconut milk, & garlic purée.

Locations:

• East Village

• West Village

Claudette's

Description: Moroccan-Israeli cuisine serving healthy, fast-casual style meals. Posted in August 2024: “Officially gone seed oil free…we’re all about the pure stuff - EVOO to avocado oil and coconut oil.”

Locations:

• Rockaway

• Howard Beach

Hearth

Description: Tuscan-American farm-to-table restaurant focused on high quality, locally-sourced ingredients. All dishes cooked in beef tallow or olive oil. In mid-2024, Hearth posted on Instagram stating: “We don’t use seed oils.”

Location: East Village

Blue Park Kitchen

Description: Fast-casual restaurant featuring fresh, locally-sourced grain bowls, salads, and roasted meats & veggies. Only cook with olive oil.

Locations:

• Downtown Manhattan

• Midtown East

Mangia

Description: Italian restaurant chain founded in the early 1980s. Known for its farm-to-table approach and fresh, artisanal ingredients. Made-to-order sandwiches, salads, & bakery using only olive oil.

Locations:

• SoHo

• Flatiron

• Midtown

All'Antico Vinaio

Description: Italian sandwich shop chain known for its authentic Tuscan-style sandwiches with fresh ingredients and exclusive use of olive oil.

Locations:

• Times Square

• Midtown

• Upper East Side

• Greenwich Village

Una Pizza Napoletana

Description: An authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria using only EVOO for a fluffy edge, airy crust slice. Recently awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide. Una’s Margherita is one of my personal favorite slices in the city.

Location: Lower East Side

Daddies’s

Description: Cash only, Italian cuisine specializing in pizza made with Palazza Prisinzano EVOO. One of the top spots in the West Village for Italian comfort food.

Location: West Village

Taboonette

Description: Fast-casual Mediterranean & Middle-Eastern cuisine using wood-fired taboon oven. Known for their hummus bowls, kebabs, & shawarma. All cooking (except fried foods) done with EVOO.

Locations:

• Hell’s Kitchen

• Union Square

• Greenwich Village

Upside Pizza

Description: Sicilian style pizza cooked in a Montague Hearth Bake brick oven with EVOO & sourdough at every location. A thin, crispy slice for a classic NYC pizza experience.

Locations:

• Manhattan (4 locations)

• Brooklyn

Nolita Pizza

Description: A crispy New York-style pizza made with imported cold-pressed EVOO, Italian cheese & homemade marinara sauce. Open until 5 AM for the night owl population of the city.

Location: Little Italy

Estiatorio Milos

Description: An upscale Greek restaurant known for its high quality seafood, fresh ingredients, & Mediterranean style dishes. Use EVOO made from hand-picked Koroneiki olives & cold-pressed.

Location: Midtown Manhattan

Lil Frankie’s

Description: Casual Italian cuisine specializing in wood-fired Neapolitan pizza & handmade pasta. Cash only. Stick to the pizza & pasta and avoid anything fried.

Location: East Village

Rafele

Description: High end, authentic Italian restaurant with Neapolitan influences. Wood-fired pizzas & homemade pasta all cooked with EVOO.

Location: West Village

Song’E Napule

Description: Authentic Neapolitan trattoria founded by Naples-born chef Ciro Lovine. Thin, airy crust cooked in a mosaic-covered wood-fired oven. All dishes cooked in EVOO (with the exception of any fried foods).

Locations:

• West Village

• Upper West Side

• Rutherford, NJ

Kiki’s

Description: Casual, authentic Greek cuisine featuring seafood dishes (grilled octopus), meats (lamb chops), pies (Spanakopita), & salads (Horiatiki) all cooked in high quality olive oil.

Location: Chinatown

Roscioli

Description: Upscale Italian dining emphasizing high quality organic ingredients & using only olive oil. Extension of the famous Roscioli brand from Rome having a two century long history.

Location: West Village

Shoo Shoo Nolita

Description: Mediterranean cuisine with an Israeli influence. Grass-fed, organic proteins, whole grains, & seasonal vegetables cooked in EVOO. Avoid the fryer.

Location: Little Italy

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Boston

Saloniki Greek

Description: Casual, Greek cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients & cooked in olive oil. Avoid fried items on the menu.

Location: Cambridge

Judith’s Kitchen

Description: Greek style sandwich shop located outside of Boston. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Olive oil used for all sandwiches & dishes.

Location: West Newton

Mamma Maria

Description: Italian fine dining experience voted Boston’s most romantic restaurant & one of Boston’s best neighborhood restaurants. Seasonal pasta & seafood dishes created from scratch with olive oil.

Location: North End

Carmelina’s

Description: Casual, romantic Sicilian style restaurant voted as one of Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat. Authentic extra virgin olive oil canisters lined along the kitchen shelves tells the cooking oil story you need. Some of the biggest portion sizes you’ll find in any restaurant today. Have yet to experience a better restaurant in Boston.

Location: North End

OTTO

Description: Casual, gourmet chain pizzeria originating in Portland, ME & located throughout New England. Thin-crust pizzas cooked with organic ingredients including EVOO, flour, & cane sugar.

Locations:

• South End

• South Boston

• Cambridge

• Brookline

• Newton

Limani Grille

Description: Upscale Greek restaurant offering a modern Mediterranean dining experience. Signature dishes like chicken souvlaki, red snapper, & yellowfin tuna cooked only with EVOO.

Location: Seaport

Neptune Oyster

Description: Seafood restaurant known for its extensive raw bar selection. Home to some of Boston’s best seafood dishes cooked in EVOO. If you’re an oyster respecter - look no further. Plan ahead as they don’t take reservations.

Location: North End

Antico Forno

Description: Known as “The Most Authentic Italian Restaurant” in Boston. Known for its Southern Italian dishes & rustic trattoria feel. Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked in wood-burning brick ovens using extra virgin olive oil. Pistachio & sausage pizza is one of my favorite slices in all of Boston.

Location: North End

Mare

Description: Another raw bar heaven with one of the best oyster selections around. Some of the best seafood dishes you can find in Boston all seared in EVOO.

Location: North End

C & N Pizza and Grille

Description: Casual, family-owned restaurant with a diverse set of pizza options and Greek specialties like homemade souvlaki & gyros. Use olive oil & avocado oil for their dishes.

Location: Newton

Pink Carrot

Description: Health-focused restaurant offering a variety of nutritious meals including smoothies, wraps, salads, & coffee. Mission to provide delicious food crafted from organic, locally sourced ingredients without the use of any seed oils.

Location: North End

Depth N Green

Description: Casual Indian restaurant known for its all-natural cuisine using only using only grass-fed ghee, butter, & EVOO.

Location: Cambridge

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Philadelphia

Laser Wolf

Description: Israeli grill “skewer house”. Offer an all-you-can-eat selection of 10 different seasonal salatim, house-made hummus (made with EVOO), & pita paired with protein of choice cooked over a charcoal grill. One of my favorite restaurants in all of the Northeast US. Additional location in Brooklyn, NY.

Location: Northern Liberties

Estia

Description: Authentic Greek Mediterranean restaurant known for its whole grilled fish imported directly from the Greek islands, Tunisia, Morocco, & Portugal. All dishes cooked in EVOO.

Location: Center City

Scanicchio’s

Description: Family-owned Italian restaurant voted “Best of Philadelphia” in Philadelphia Magazine. Authentic, homemade Italian food with olive oil as their primary cooking oil of choice. Avoid any fried menu items.

Location: South Philadelphia

Angelos’s Pizzeria

Description: Takeout-only pizza & sandwich shop. Pizzas made with house-made bread and olive oil. Avoid other items on the menu (including wings, cheesesteaks, & any other fried items).

Location: South Philadelphia

1731 Restaurant

Description: Authentic Italian restaurant with traditional family recipes made with high-quality, fresh ingredients sourced locally. Dishes cooked in EVOO. Avoid fried foods here.

Location: South Philadelphia

Real Food Eatery

Description: 100% gluten-free, fast-casual restaurant offering farm-to-table customizable warm bowls & salads. All dishes cooked with EVOO.

Location: Rittenhouse Square

Gran Caffe L’AQuilla

Description: Authentic Italian restaurant & bar cooking dishes with EVOO. Offers a comprehensive Italian experience with a ground floor bar, first floor restaurant, wine bar, and gelato & coffee labs. Avoid fried items on the menu.

Location: Rittenhouse Square

Irwin’s

Description: Modern Sicilian restaurant featuring handmade pastas, natural wines, & seasonal dishes all cooked with olive oil. Panoramic views of the city with 30-seat outdoor terrace.

Location: South Philadelphia

Dough Head Pizza

Description: Naturally fermented, slow-aged dough coupled with olive oil makes this crispy crust a Philly favorite slice. With the exception of Grandma-style pizza, all pizzas are seed oil free.

Location: South Philadelphia

River Twice

Description: Modern American restaurant offering a seasonal tasting 4-course menu with fresh, local ingredients without the use of seed oils in their cooking.

Location: South Philadelphia

Pizzata Pizzeria

Description: New York-style pizza known for its naturally leavened sourdough pizzas. All pizzas made with olive oil while other dishes are cooked in butter.

Location: Rittenhouse Square

Suraya

Description: Lebanese restaurant & market offering a wide variety of Middle Eastern foods like mezza & kebabs cooked with EVOO.

Location: Fishtown

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Washington, DC

Ama

Description: Northern Italian restaurant that transforms from a morning café to a dinner spot serving seasonal dishes, fresh focaccia, & handmade pastas cooked in EVOO.

Location: Navy Yard

Centrolina

Description: Fine-dining, Italian restaurant featuring seasonal regional dishes all cooked in olive oil. Known for its unique wood-fired plates & homemade pastas.

Location: Penn Quarter

Al Tiramisu

Description: Italian cuisine serving grilled fishes and fresh, house-made pasta dishes in olive oil. Known to be a celebrity & politician hot spot for decades.

Location: Dupont Circle

Green Zone

Description: Middle Eastern cocktail bar featuring various bar snacks like hummus & labneh. Use a combination of 100% olive oil, ghee, & butter for all dishes.

Location: Adams Morgan

Landini Brothers

Description: Italian restaurant serving traditional Tuscan-style cuisine since 1979. Only EVOO used in all dishes.

Location: Alexandria

Roll Play

Description: Vietnamese fast-casual restaurant offering customizable dishes like pho, rice bowls, bánh mì, & summer rolls. Exclusively use pure avocado oil for cooking.

Locations:

• Falls Church

• Rosslyn

• Tyson’s Corner

• Lorton

• Rockville

• Ivy City

• Takoma Park

Wild Tacoz

Description: Family-run Mexican-Greek fusion restaurant using exclusively olive oil in their fast-casual style dishes. Focus on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.

Location: Falls Church

Guerra Steakhouse

Description: Elegant, family-owned steakhouse located in offering upmarket beef cuts, cocktails, & wine. Many dishes cooked in EVOO, while meats cooked in butter. Avoid any fried foods.

Location: Arlington

90 Second Pizza

Description: Traditional Neapolitan pizzeria known for baking pizzas in just 90 seconds at 900 degrees F using a Vesuvio Lava Stone oven. Pies are made with fresh Italian ingredients & EVOO.

Location: Georgetown

Sfizi Café

Description: Italian restaurant combining dine-in selections, a wine shop, & a deli marketplace. Only olive oil used in their dishes.

Location: Falls Church

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Baltimore

Le Comptoir du Vin

Description: French-inspired bistro known for its seasonal menus & extensive wine selection available. Only EVOO, butter, & animal fats used for cooking.

Location: North Arts & Entertainment District

Cookhouse

Description: Upscale, intimate restaurant offering a weekly-changing menu. Features locally sourced ingredients and blends diverse culinary traditions. Use only butter or EVOO for dishes. A personal staple for date nights.

Location: Bolton Hill

Costiera

Description: Mediterranean-inspired restaurant offering coastal cuisine with a focus on seafood, local sourcing, & seasonal dishes. Fresh pasta made in-house daily. All dishes sautéed in EVOO or butter. Avocado oil used in the fryer.

Location: Little Italy

Grano Pasta Bar

Description: Casual Italian restaurant specializing in traditional & creative pasta dishes using only EVOO.

Location: Hampden

Luigi’s Italian Deli

Description: Casual counter-serve restaurant offering Italian-style sandwiches, paninis, & antipasti. EVOO used in their hot & cold sandwiches and salads.

Location: Hampden

Daniela Restaurant

Description: Authentic Sardinian cuisine serving homemade pastas, traditional Italian dishes, & Sardinian specialties - Culurgiones, Malloreddus, & Fregula. No use of any seed oils. Only EVOO used.

Location: Hampden

Paulie Gee’s

Description: Wood-fired pizzeria using olive oil and offering unique specialty pizza toppings like hot honey & lemon bitters.

Location: Hampden

Ammoora

Description: Fine-dining Levantine-inspired cuisine from Jordan, Syria, & Lebanon. Use of herb-infused olive oils in dishes.

Location: Ritz-Carlton Residences

Angeli’s Pizzeria

Description: Family-owned restaurant serving New York-style pizza & classic Italian dishes. Olive oil used in homemade dough. Butter used in pizza sauce. Recognized as best pizza in the Washington Post.

Location: Little Italy

Baltoz Bakery

Description: A local favorite bakery & pizzeria known for its sourdough crust pizzas & artisanal pastries. Exclusively use EVOO in their pizza preparations.

Location: Yorktown

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Pittsburgh

Mezze

Description: “Proud to be the first 100% seed-oil free establishment in Pittsburgh!” Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurant serving a variety of healthy & comfort foods. Foods fried in avocado oil. Halal beef tallow for the kibbeh. Dates & raw honey for sweeteners.

Location: Shadyside

Centred Coffee & Wellness

Description: Locally roasted coffee focused on delivering high quality, organic coffee. Dairy sourced from local farm - Twinbrook Dairy. No refined sugars. Only maple syrup, coconut sugar, or raw honey used as sweeteners.

Location: Shadyside

Ianni’s Pizzeria

Description: Family-owned wood-fired pizzeria known for their fresh, thin-crust pizzas with homemade sauce & locally-sourced ingredients. One of the best Margherita slices in the Greater Pittsburgh region.

Locations:

• Delmont

• New Derry

• Vandergrift

Italian Village Pizza

Description: Local Pittsburgh pizza chain with 16 locations. Hotspot for locals & tourists. Known for New York-style pizza by the slice. Pizza & all other dishes cooked with olive oil.

Locations:

• Pittsburgh McKnight

• Indiana

• Washington

• Brentwood

• Ross Township

• Fox Chapel

• US Steel Tower

• Pleasant Hills

• Belle Vernon

• Hazelwood

Conca D’Oro Pizzeria

Description: Highly acclaimed family-owned pizza restaurant serving authentic Italian-style pizzas, hoagies, & salads to its customers since 1976. Only Sicilian EVOO used for all menu items.

Location: Holiday Park

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If you're running a restaurant that hits this criteria, please share that here & I'll add. If you don't see your city & want it included in the future, let us know.

We’re more bullish than ever on the future here. Stay healthy & we’ll see you next week.

Your friend,

BTP

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