Using ForkFreely
Find a meal. Check the details.
Start with what you want to eat and where. Then review the ingredients and ask the restaurant about preparation.
Search for a specific meal
Try gluten-free pizza in Manhattan, chicken bowl or a restaurant name. Choose your allergy exclusions first. A typed requirement such as “peanut-free” needs an explicit, current restaurant statement; a missing peanut warning is not enough.
Results show reviewed listings, not every available meal in the metro area. No results means the catalog could not establish a match. You can try a wider area or another meal without changing the allergy exclusions you need.
Open a dish detail
Tap View Dish on a meal to see its ForkFreely Match, ingredients, source links, ten allergen checks and kitchen warnings. Identical chain meals share a result card; open the location choices to see eligible branches.
Use Why this matches you to see the short explanation behind a score. “Strong Match” describes the available evidence, not a guarantee of safety. If a detail control does not respond, reload the page and let the updated app finish loading. A broken menu link does not establish that a dish is suitable.
Understand the markings
- Strong Match
- Current ingredient evidence covers your profile. Preparation still needs confirmation unless ForkFreely explicitly says it was verified.
- Likely Compatible
- Some current evidence fits your profile, but at least one restriction still needs a restaurant answer.
- Ask Restaurant
- Ingredient or kitchen information is incomplete. Use the questions on the dish or restaurant sheet before ordering.
- Potential Conflict
- A known or possible ingredient or cross-contact conflict. These dishes are hidden by default.
- Information unavailable
- Information is missing, partial, outdated or awaiting review. This is not an allergen-free finding.
When a listing changes
Check the linked restaurant menu and ask staff about the exact dish. Follow the current restaurant information if it conflicts with an earlier snapshot. Do not rely on an old statement to resolve a new ingredient or kitchen warning.
Menus are not connected to live restaurant systems. A source marked for review cannot support a positive allergy statement until reviewed; statements older than 30 days also become unconfirmed.
Profile, saved dishes and nearby search
Open Dietary Profile to choose allergens or restrictions and set each level: severe allergy, allergy, celiac, intolerance or preference. Add a custom restriction when needed. Your profile, saved dishes and saved places stay on this device and automatically shape results.
Nearby search is optional and covers listed places within 30 miles. Choose a borough or town if you do not want to grant location access. The catalog works offline; menus, maps and catalog refresh need a connection. See Privacy to manage saved choices.