Where: The Chelsea, 335 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560
GF Menu: Yes! According to a helpful reader comment below, The Chelsea now has a GF menu.
What I ate: Potato Crusted Salmon and Southern Osso Buco with seasonal vegetables from the Dinner Menu
How to order it: The Chelsea is famous for its “New American Cuisine”. In addition to traditional Southern dishes, they serve Asian, Italian, Cajun, French, and German-inspired plates. Whenever entering new culinary territory, it is best to ask the server for Gluten-Free recommendations. Our friendly and GF-savvy server was happy to point out several entrees my mother and I (both GF) could enjoy.
What it looks like:
This was a jewel box dish. The lid was made of thinly-sliced fried potatoes. When I lifted it, I discovered a pan-roasted salmon that was the color of orange cream saltwater taffy. The fish was plated atop a complementary dijon cream sauce.
In Italian, “osso buco” means “pierced bone”, referring to the marrow section of a cross-shank of meat. The dish above included a roasted pork shank which had been braised with olive oil, red wine, fire-roasted tomatoes, olives, and capers. The succulent meat just fell off the bone. The complex mix of tomatoes with salty capers and olives was similar to a fresh puttanesca. The garlic smashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables provided the perfect palate cleansers for each sensational bite of pork.
Green Note: The Chelsea is located in a renovated historic building in the heart of New Bern, North Carolina’s second oldest town. The following information was taken from their website:
Built in 1912, this historic structure was first used by local pharmacist Caleb Bradham, inventor of Pepsi-Cola, as his second drug store. Completely renovated in the mid-nineties, every effort was made to retain and enhance the history of this place, and its people. Today, each room in the restaurant holds a different and pleasant surprise…The bar and casual dining is on the ground floor which features the building’s original pressed tin ceiling, and its carefully restored mosaic tiles floor.
Sweet Tea & Wheat-Free 
I just had a lovely meal there tonight and was presented with a specific GF menu. The wasabi-ginger seared tuna was to die for, and the wait staff were incredibly attentive to my needs. One of the best GF dining experiences I’ve ever had.
This is great news! Thanks so much for sharing. I just updated the post to include a note about The Chelsea now offering a GF menu. We all appreciate you letting us know!
Do you sell any gluten free beer, and if you do, what kinds of beer do you sell? Thank you.
Hi, Jack. I think you may want to contact The Chelsea at greatfood@thechelsea.com to ask this question. I don’t remember seeing a GF beer on their menu, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask! This kind of gentle pressure can help restaurants recognize the demand for it. Incidentally, there is a 100% Gluten-Free restaurant in Asheville called Posana that offers many GF beers.