Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Free Dining

jvhuff

By jvhuff
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

jvhuff Newbie
jvhuff
Posted

I understand that there are quite a few restaurants that have gluten free menus.  My question is, do most of these restaurants prepare the gluten free items to where they will not be cross contaminated?  Applebees, Chilis, Red Robin:  these are just a few of the places that I know have gluten free menus.  Any ideas?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

I had an amazing experience at a Red Robin in Miami, FL. Our server explained to us that all of the servers have to attend a class on how important very specific standards must be followed for the gluten-free diet. I had the same experience at an Outback in Springfield, MO, where I had the opportunity to chat with the proprietor.

 

That said... I live in the middle of nowhere in northern Arkansas. In our town is a Chili's... that's it... except for all of the fast foods and pizza places I can't go to. The last TWO times I visited I did all I could do. I spoke to the manager and extensively with our server. Both times I had to send back my food... salads that the menu said contained no gluten but arrived with fried flour tortilla strips throughout. When I have to send back my food in a case like that, I do not order anything else. My trust is gone. We've not been back for a "third chance."

 

Even restaurants that have awesome gluten-free menus and are very aware can make mistakes. PF Changs is one that comes to mind. I've been several times and never had a problem and then I'll read about someone's awful experience. It's all kind of a crap shoot...

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

Hi Jvhuff and Welcome to the Forum. 

 

Most restaurants do Not have a separate preparation area and that is where the risk comes in.  The first question you should ask is if there is a prep area and decide from there if you will be safe.

 

Good luck. 

 

Colleen 

  • 3 weeks later...
Dianaw Newbie
Dianaw
Posted

I have had great experiences at Red Robin.  It was the first place I went out to eat after my diagnosis.  They have a dedicated gluten free fryer and you can get gluten free buns or a lettuce wrap.  No symptoms!  I have since gone back successfully.  Yay, french fries!

luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

Seriously, Dianaw!! I was almost teary at the thought of being able to have a burger (w/ a Udi's bun) AND fries.

Not crazy Rookie
Not crazy
Posted

After not eating out for well over a year after a bad glutening from a local place who's owner was gluten free and everyone was trained, I did try red robin. A friend ate there who also has to gluten free and said they would be safe. It was good and I didn't get sick. I talked to the server, told her I had celiac and would get very sick, that it wasn't a fad diet for me. She said she has to flag my order and would let them know but that they are very careful. After I took one bite I told my husband the bun tasted almost to good to be gluten free. I kept waiting all night for symptoms to start but they never did. I would go back again.

No matter where you eat, go in the off times when they're not busy. That way you can actually talk to the person making your food if you don't feel comfortable after talking to the waiter. The kitchen can take their time and be a lot more careful about cross contamination.

Sweet-Pea Newbie
Sweet-Pea
Posted

There are more and more restaurants that I have eaten at that are gluten free. I have a very strong wheat allergy and cross contamination is one of my fears. I really like Red Robin, let them know you have a gluten allergy and order the gluten free bun. I have never been contaminated there.

 

I also have had good luck with Carrabba's restaurants. They have a small but very good gluten free menu...the chicken trio was excellent!

 

At Applebee's they will give you an allergen sheet, easy to decide what you can have there...

 

Friday's will assist you in ordering gluten free....we go there often.

 

Try them out and good luck!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


C-Girl Contributor
C-Girl
Posted

Last night I was at one of my safe places, Buku in Raleigh, and had the honor of meeting the young chef who is responsible for them having a full gluten free menu. He was so sweet, I had to stop myself from giving him a bear hug, and only thanked him profusely. They have separate facilities and ingredients for gluten-free items because he is celiac and has educated the owners and staff. There's another place in Durham that does the same. I've started asking, and have been surprised at how many places now have this kind of attention to detail. Of course, there are still shocking examples of very good restaurants that are just not going to be accommodating at all. I'm slowly building my list of places, but have been hampered because twice I went to one place that assured me they were safe, but both times I got sick for weeks afterward. They make their own pita bread, so now my policy is, if there is flour flying, I won't eat there.

Tryingcake101 Newbie
Tryingcake101
Posted

"At Applebee's they will give you an allergen sheet, easy to decide what you can have there..."

 

 

 

 

Applebee's (at least by me) recently cut their gluten free menu in half.  I could have cried.  The only things left on the menu are items I do not care for.  I no longer eat at Applebee's.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

"At Applebee's they will give you an allergen sheet, easy to decide what you can have there..."

 

 

 

 

Applebee's (at least by me) recently cut their gluten free menu in half.  I could have cried.  The only things left on the menu are items I do not care for.  I no longer eat at Applebee's.

That is actually good to hear. The original gluten-free menu was not very gluten-free. It contained things like French fries fried in the same fryer as all the breaded stuff. Not a safe menu at all!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,332
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Nicolah
    Newest Member
    Nicolah
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.