Updated May 2023! If you’re craving fresh fish or a perfectly cooked steak, Bonefish Grill is a good chain to consider. They don’t have food allergy menus, yet, but they are reportedly working on them. In the mean time, the staff at Bonefish Grill was happy to answer our dairy-free inquiries. They also tend to have a well-trained staff for handling special diet needs, and have allergen protocols in place, when needed. Below is our quick dairy-free guide along with tips, vegan options, and more.
The Dairy-Free Guide to Bonefish Grill with Vegan Options
Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks.
Fryer Note: Bonefish Grill does use a shared fryer for all fried items (like the calamari, French fries, and tempura), and some of their fried items do contain milk. There is a risk for potential cross-contamination with allergens for all fried items. The fried items below are made without milk ingredients – triple confirmed with the company. But they told us, “The staff are taught that we do not recommend that our guests with allergies order deep fried foods.” This has resulted in some staff telling customers that items contain milk ingredients when they do not.
Grill Note: Like the fryer, they do cook items containing milk on the grill. If concerned about potential cross-contamination with allergens, the management at Bonefish Grill says their kitchen does have protocols for “safer” preparation. On request, simple grilled menu items like fish, seafood, beef, and vegetables can be cooked in a clean, separate sauté pan without seasonings and with your preferred oil. You can ask for salt and pepper seasoning, if desired.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: The salads, entrees, and most of the sides listed below can also be prepared gluten-free on request. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Starters
- Table Bread (see note below)
- Ahi Tuna Poke
- Beef & Ginger Potstickers
- Calamari
- Crab-Topped Fries (sub dairy-free sauce)
- Tempura Crunch Sashimi Tuna
Heads Up! The bread reportedly doesn’t contain dairy (always verify that your location hasn’t sourced a different bread), but the pesto it’s served with does. You can request olive oil and vinegar for dipping. The Mussels Josephine are cooked with butter, and their popular Crab Cakes and Bang Bang Shrimp also contain dairy.
Salads
- Bonefish House Salad
- Florida Cobb Salad (no cheese)
Dairy-Free Salad Dressing Options: Citrus Herb Vinaigrette
Protein Options: Chicken, Grilled Salmon, Wood-Grilled Shrimp
Entrees
- Blackened Baja Fish Tacos (no crema)
- Crispy Fried Shrimp (NOT the popcorn shrimp)
- Fish & Chips (see Note below)
- Grilled Atlantic Salmon (see Cook it Your Way below)
- Grilled Chilean Sea Bass (see Cook it Your Way below)
- Grilled Mahi Mahi (see Cook it Your Way below)
- Grilled Pork Chop (see Cook it Your Way below)
- Grilled Rainbow Trout (see Cook it Your Way below)
- Grilled Shrimp & Scallop Skewer (see Cook it Your Way below)
- Tuna Poke Bowl
- Wood-Grilled Chicken (see Cook it Your Way below)
Fish & Chips Note: We have received confirmation multiple times from Bonefish Grill corporate that the fish used in the Fish & Chips does not contain milk in the ingredients, but the Fish Strips used for select entrees do contain buttermilk. However, two readers have told us their locations insist the fish in the Fish & Chips contains milk. Corporate suggested that they might be reading the “may contain” statement by mistake, or might just want to deter people from ordering this item since it is cooked in shared fryers. Nevertheless, be sure to verify this option at your location if interested in ordering it. If possible, ask them to see the ingredient statement.
Cook it Your Way! They serve various types of grilled fish, shellfish, steak, and chicken, which can be prepared without any dairy. They can also be cooked separately in a sauté pan if cross-contamination on the grill is a concern for you. See the Grill Note above for more details. See the Signature Sauces list below for dairy-free preparation options at Bonefish Grill.
Heads Up! The Hamburger Buns at Bonefish Grill do contain milk, so the burgers cannot be made without dairy.
Signature Sauces
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Pan Asian
- Mango Salsa
Heads Up! In addition to the buttery sauces, the Spicy / Bang Bang Sauce at Bonefish Grill also contains milk.
Kids Menu
- Grilled Chicken (see Grill Note above)
- Kids Fish Strips
- Grilled Shrimp (see Grill Note above)
- Steamed Vegetables (verify no butter)
Heads Up! Unfortunately, the Fish Strips, Popcorn Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders on the Kids Menu at Bonefish Grill do contain milk. The kid’s versions aren’t the same as the Fish & Chips and Fried Shrimp on the main menu.
Sides
- Coleslaw
- French Fries
- Jasmine Rice
- Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
- Seasonal Vegetables (no butter)
- Steamed Asparagus
Heads Up! We confirmed that the “sautéed vegetables” (spinach at the time of review) are dairy-free, but still double check that butter is not used in cooking or finishing. They replaced the Sautéed Spinach on their menu with Creamed Spinach, but some locations will still prepare the simple sautéed version on request.
Brunch
Heads Up! The brunch menu at Bonefish Grill is quite small and quite dairy heavy. They sometimes have seasonal Avocado Toast, which can be ordered without dairy. You also might be able to order breakfast potatoes, bacon, and possibly eggs prepared without dairy. It’s best to call ahead to ensure your location can accommodate dairy-free needs at brunch.
Bonefish Grill Vegan Menu Guide
- Table Bread (no pesto dip)
- House Salad
- Cobb Salad (no cheese, no protein)
- Citrus Herb Vinaigrette
- French Fries
- Jasmine Rice
- Seasonal Vegetables (no butter)
- Steamed Asparagus
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Mango Salsa
- Brunch Avocado Toast (no cheese) (seasonal)
Heads Up! Although their vegan menu is rather anemic, the staff is reportedly happy to accommodate all special diet needs. They can prepare a vegetable pasta or rice bowl on request.
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill is a Bloomin’ Brand, so they are affiliated with Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Fleming’s Steakhouse. They have over 200 locations in 28 U.S. states. See their website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.bonefishgrill.com
Great help with options!
I use the website for literally all restaurants due to food allergies! I was disappointed to find out bonefish grill does in fact use buttermilk for their fish and chips but was able to a make another selection!
Response from Go Dairy Free
We did verify with corporate once again that the fish in the fish and chips are dairy-free by ingredients. They do not use buttermilk in the fish sent to the restaurants for fish and chips. As noted, some restaurants could take liberties, and might opt to use the fish strips (that contain milk). They also suggested that the staff might be looking at the “may contain” label, and not the ingredients. The fish and chips should be made without dairy ingredients, but always verify at your location – as you did! Thanks Stephanie!
Helpful!
This guide really helped. They said to order plain in a separate pan, but I mentioned the chimichurri from this list and they said it was safe. Nice to get a “real” restaurant dish with some flavor!
Good experience
This information was great. My server wasn’t aware that some of these were made without dairy. She verified with the kitchen and was surprised. They were good with special requests and careful preparation. I didn’t get sick! Guessing the experiences can differ based on location.
Got very sick 3 years ago
Told them specifically about my dairy problems. Assured many times it was no issue. Was sick for a few days. Would never go back.
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