Burtons Grill & Bar Bel Air: Menu & Gluten-Free Options

When a familiar red-and-white striped awning vanishes from a local strip mall, curiosity follows. That’s what happened in Bel Air, Maryland, when the TGI Fridays at Tollgate Marketplace closed and Burtons Grill & Bar quietly moved in, bringing a very different kind of casual dining to the space.

Locations: 23 across 8 states ·
Gluten-free options: full separate menu ·
Founded: 2006 in Hingham, MA ·
Bel Air opening date: August 2024

Here’s what the opening means for Bel Air diners — especially those who thought gluten-free eating at a chain meant a sad side salad.

Eight key details, one takeaway: Burtons Grill isn’t just another chain filling an empty storefront — it’s a brand that brings a specific, underserved capability to Bel Air.

The table below summarizes the essential facts about the restaurant.

What is replacing Fridays in Bel Air, MD?

Burtons Grill & Bar takes over the former TGI Fridays on Belair Road

• The former TGI Fridays at 609 Belair Road in Bel Air’s Tollgate Marketplace is now a Burtons Grill & Bar, as reported by The Baltimore Sun (Harford County news desk).
• The New England chain, headquartered in Andover, Mass., chose this location for its visibility and regional accessibility, according to a Baltimore Business Journal report.

Opening timeline and background

• The TGI Fridays closed in 2023; Burtons Grill signed the lease shortly after.
• Construction and permitting took several months, with the opening expected in August 2024 per the chain’s official Bel Air location page.

What is the menu at Burton’s Hingham / Lynnfield?

Signature burgers and sandwiches

• The Bel Air menu includes a Classic Burger, Prime Burger, Veggie Burger, California Chicken Sandwich, and Crispy Fish Sandwich — all available in gluten-free versions, per Burtons Grill’s Bel Air gluten-free menu.
• Burgers are made from scratch with premium beef, not frozen patties.

Fresh seafood and steaks

• Seafood options include grilled salmon, fish and chips, and crab cakes — items vary by season.
• Steaks are hand-cut and seared; the menu lists a 10-ounce sirloin and a 14-ounce ribeye.

Gluten-free options and allergen-friendly approach

• The chain publishes a dedicated gluten-free menu for Bel Air that covers starters (Signature Wings, Cheesesteak Spring Rolls, Spinach & Artichoke Dip), sides (GF Mac & Cheese, French Fries, Parmesan Truffle Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Broccoli, Roasted Asparagus, salads), and desserts (Seven-layer Chocolate Cake, Key Lime Pie) — all verified as gluten-free by the kitchen (Burtons Grill gluten-free menu page).
• Staff are trained in food allergy protocols; the Bel Air location page explicitly notes “extensive food allergy protocols” (Burtons Grill Bel Air page).

Where can I eat gluten-free at Burtons Grill?

Dedicated gluten-free menu

• Every location, including Bel Air, has a separate gluten-free menu that’s updated regularly (the Bel Air gluten-free page was last updated mid-May 2026 per its footer).
• Items marked GF include burgers on gluten-free buns, fried items in dedicated fryers, and desserts that aren’t afterthoughts.

Allergen-friendly practices

• Burtons Grill trains its staff to handle requests for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and other allergen-conscious meals.
• The chain’s website states that meals are “prepared with care to avoid cross-contamination,” though it notes that “no kitchen can be 100% allergen-free” — a transparent disclaimer that builds trust.

Timeline: How Burtons Grill got to Bel Air

• 2006 — Burtons Grill & Bar founded in Hingham, Massachusetts (Wikipedia)
• 2020s — Chain expands to Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and other states
• 2023 — TGI Fridays location in Bel Air closes
• August 2024 — Burtons Grill & Bar opens at 609 Belair Rd, Bel Air, MD (The Baltimore Sun)

What We Know and What’s Unclear

What People Are Saying

“Burtons Grill & Bar will open in Bel Air’s Tollgate Marketplace shopping center at the site of the former TGI Fridays.”

— The Baltimore Sun (Harford County news desk)

“Our food is made from scratch with wholesome, premium ingredients — including gluten-free and allergy-friendly options.”

— Burtons Grill official site (Bel Air page)

The arrival of Burtons Grill & Bar in Bel Air marks a rare moment in chain dining: an expansion that actually broadens local options instead of just replicating them. For the estimated 1 in 133 Americans with celiac disease — and the far larger number of gluten-avoidant diners — the new restaurant transforms Tollgate Marketplace from a standard suburban strip into a place where they can order fried chicken wings and chocolate cake without a second thought. For everyone else, it’s a solid American grill with a scratch kitchen. But the real stake is for gluten-sensitive residents of Harford County: no more 30-minute drive to Towson for a safe dinner out. The choice in Bel Air is no longer between a bland salad and a risky burger.

Related reading: **Gluten Free Menu at Bel Air, MD** · **Burtons Grill & Bar in MD – Bel Air**

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