Updated February 2023! East Side Mario’s is an Italian restaurant chain across Canada, with a heavy concentration of locations in Ontario. It was originally recommended to us more than a decade ago by two viewers, but we have just updated all of the information below. They still offer some wonderful dairy-free pasta options, with numerous variations. And now they have ample gluten-free choices, too. I’ve added that information to this new guide.
East Side Mario’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes & Vegan Options
After much nagging, East Side Mario’s finally cleaned up their allergen information – sort of. They still have gaps between their allergen information and what the staff swears by, but we are working on closing those discrepancies. This menu guide includes dairy-free menu options first, followed by add-ons. 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.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: All of the following items are listed as gluten-free, or can be made gluten-free with a gluten-free pasta swap. All of the following items are also made without egg, peanut, and tree nuts, unless otherwise noted. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Starters
Heads Up! All starters at East Side Mario’s do contain milk, including the Calamari options.
Soup & Salad
- Garden Salad with Garden House Dressing (no croutons)
Heads Up! All soups at East Side Mario’s now contain milk, including the Italian Wedding Soup, Tomato Soup, and Minestrone.
Pasta
- Seafood Linguine
- Build Your Own Pasta (see Options below)
Dairy-Free Pasta Options: Cavatappi, Fettuccine, Linguine, Spaghetti, Bowtie, Penne, Gluten Friendly (gluten-free)
Dairy-Free Sauce Options: Signature Tomato, Arrabbiata, Primavera (see Heads Up below)
Dairy-Free Topping Options: Seasoned Chicken Breast, Shrimp, Steamed Broccoli
Heads Up! The Bolognese Sauce, Roasted Mushrooms, Spicy Italian Sausage, and Meatballs at East Side Mario’s do contain milk. They have conflicting information about the Primavera. We are trying to clear it up, but in the mean time, verify the primavera sauce and the vegetables at the restaurant if interested in ordering. The pasta comes with salad and their garlic homeloaf bread. It’s a dairy-free bread, but brushed with garlic butter. A loyal reader named Claire said they will leave off the butter on request, and the margarine served on the side is made without dairy. But verify at the restaurant before ordering.
Burgers & Sandwiches
Heads Up! Unfortunately, all of the Burgers and Sandwiches at East Side Mario’s contain milk. You might be able to order the Burger with no cheese and the Club Wrap with grilled chicken (instead of crispy). Select locations do have buns and tortillas without milk.
Sides
- French Fries
- Mario’s Tomato Sauce Dip
- Roasted Garlic Aioli Dip (contains egg)
- Spicy Arrabbiata Dip Sauce
Heads Up! Mario’s Potatoes and the Creamy Garlic Dipping Sauce do contain milk.
Other Add Ons
- Bacon Wrapped Scallop Skewer
- Grilled Chicken
- Sautéed Shrimp
- Salmon Fillet
Toppings
- Bacon
- Diced Ham
- Pepperoni
- Seasoned Chicken Breast
- Black Olives
- Cherry Peppers
- Bell Peppers
- Mushrooms (not roasted)
- Tomato
- Pineapple
- Bruschetta
- Marinated Roma Tomatoes
- Spinach
Heads Up! Unfortunately, East Side Mario’s wheat pizza crusts and gluten-free Cauliflower crust contain milk. Their Spicy Italian Sausage also now contains milk. The Caramelized Onions are listed on their website as milk-free, but on their allergen chart as containing milk. We confirmed with the restaurant that they are milk-free.
Mini Mario’s (Kids Menu)
- Pasta ‘Meats’ Broccoli with Grilled Chicken
- Build-Your-Own Pasta (see options in adult section above)
Heads Up! The Chicken Fingers at East Side Mario’s do contain milk.
East Side Mario’s Vegan Menu Guide
- Garden Salad with Garden House Dressing (no croutons)
- BYO Pasta Arrabbiata
- BYO Pasta Signature Tomato
- BYO Pasta Primavera (verify with restaurant)
- All Noodles, including Gluten-Free
- Steamed Broccoli
- French Fries
- Mario’s Tomato Dipping Sauce
- Spicy Arrabbiata Dipping Sauce
Vegan Toppings
- Black Olives
- Caramelized Onions
- Spicy Cherry Peppers
- Bell Peppers
- Mushrooms (not roasted)
- Tomato
- Pineapple
- Bruschetta
- Marinated Roma Tomatoes
- Spinach
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 East Side Mario’s
They have over 85 locations in Canada, and one lone location in the United States, in Livonia, Michigan. See their website below for addresses and hours.
Website: www.eastsidemarios.com
Excellent service & knowledgeable staff
I called in an order, they were very knowledgeable on what foods contain dairy. They modified my meal and had it packaged up no problem at all. I ordered the Penne pasta with the original sauce, Italian wedding soup and the home style loaf (minus the garlic butter) and vegan butter.
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
