Safest UK coffee/sandwich and fast food outlets?

[rarchy]

A question for those in the UK... Which (if any) coffee/sandwich shop and fast food outlets do you trust? 

I try to bring my lunch in to work most days, but there are always times i need to grab something, or maybe meeting a friend for a quick bite to eat, and I want to try to pick places where I know there is less chance of cross contamination (if its possible to know these things). I thought Pret would be a good option as they are all about being healthy etc, and have some gluten-free salads, but then I read in this article about them not being great, although it is couple of years old Open Original Shared Link 

The kinds of places I would usually go to are Pret, Wasabi/Itsu (no soy sauce obviously), Eat, and occasionally (ahem) McDonalds - I have read elsewhere about their fries being gluten-free and happy to discover the veggie burger is too. I also saw that some places like Costa have a gluten-free wrap but they all seem to contain meat and I am pescatarian.

I know eating out there is always a chance of cross contamination and some would suggest to avoid altogether but for now I am going to assume there will be occasions when I don't have much of a choice, especially as I am adjusting to this new way of eating.

As I work in central London I can get to most chain outlets so any suggestions are welcome

[Gemini]

I do not live in England but visit on a regular basis.  I know London well. I have had success at Starbucks and Nero's with their sandwiches, which are pre-made and wrapped in another facility.  Starbucks had a delicious veggie and hummus wrap that was really, really good. The last time I was there was in October of 2014 and had them on a number of occasions and felt great afterwards. I am a pretty sensitive Celiac and have to be very careful.

Open Original Shared Link  I put this link in here because this place looks phenomenal.  I don't know exactly where you work so not sure how close this is to you but you just might want to go there at some point.  I am returning to London on May 22 for a week and my goal is to try everything they make!   

 

[Jmg]

  On 5/2/2017 at 10:28 PM, rarchy said:

A question for those in the UK... Which (if any) coffee/sandwich shop and fast food outlets do you trust? 
 

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I'd love to help out rarchy but I'm experiencing intense waves of nausea at the moment, awful stomach churning, anxiety, sweats, chills, I think I may well pass out if this unpleasant feeling continues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But enough aboutOpen Original Shared Link

 

I still go to McDonalds, I have the fries or the Strawberry Sundae or both. I get coffee from all the chains although it's either a soy latte or a black coffee so no dairy any more. I don't think there's much to choose in terms of food as long as the gluten-free stuff is sealed and not open on a shelf alongside the gluteny stuff. Although if I can I try to eat before, less that I don't trust them, more that I find it more relaxing the more control I can exercise over my food intake.

One place I didn't expect to cater quite well for us is wetherspoons, there's one of them in pretty much every place (bar central London probably :P) and they have aOpen Original Shared Link.  

[cristiana]

That is interesting about McDonalds fries, I had no idea...

I don't really ever eat fast food anymore because I haven't found anywhere that is gluten free.  It seems to me a lot of outlets such as Costa are very good at pre-packed sweet things, such as their Bakewell Tarts, but that isn't doing my waistline any good.

Not really fast food but I have found the risotto at Ask and Prezzos completely safe, and Franky & Benny's gluten free menu is great.

I'd get used to carrying some gluten-free cereal bars, nuts and chocolate in your bag if I were you, until you find your way around the gluten-free establishments in London.

I don't know if you are anywhere near a Morrissons but I was in Lincolnshire recently and they seemed to have a lot of great food on the go options on their shelves. 

[Jmg]

  On 5/3/2017 at 7:46 PM, cristiana said:

That is interesting about McDonalds fries, I had no idea

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One treat for me these days is sitting in a Micky D's with a coffee, large fries and a strawberry sundae. With all the 'Normal' people  If only they knew I was in their midst, aghast at their glutenous ways.  

Seriously, it's nice to have at least one fast food option. There's a small chance of contamination there maybe but I've been fine so far. 

 

[rarchy]

  On 5/3/2017 at 4:50 PM, Gemini said:

I have had success at Starbucks and Nero's with their sandwiches, which are pre-made and wrapped in another facility.  Starbucks had a delicious veggie and hummus wrap that was really, really good. 

Open Original Shared Link  I put this link in here because this place looks phenomenal.  I don't know exactly where you work so not sure how close this is to you but you just might want to go there at some point.  I am returning to London on May 22 for a week and my goal is to try everything they make!   

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Thanks Gemini, I will have to check out the sandwiches at Starbucks and Neros some time. I thought Costa also did some but haven't spotted them in any of their stores. 

I have heard about Beyond Bread, its in the Coeliac UK accredited list, I definitely will be heading there to try out their cakes and their toasted sandwiches look great too! Let me know what you think of it when you go!

  On 5/3/2017 at 6:59 PM, Jmg said:

I'd love to help out rarchy but I'm experiencing intense waves of nausea at the moment, awful stomach churning, anxiety, sweats, chills, I think I may well pass out if this unpleasant feeling continues.

But enough aboutOpen Original Shared Link

 

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LOL ? I am actually a Chelsea fan, but I still love Jose and believe he will come back some day (after he has finished destroying Man Utd  )

  On 5/3/2017 at 6:59 PM, Jmg said:

I still go to McDonalds, I have the fries or the Strawberry Sundae or both. I get coffee from all the chains although it's either a soy latte or a black coffee so no dairy any more. I don't think there's much to choose in terms of food as long as the gluten-free stuff is sealed and not open on a shelf alongside the gluteny stuff. Although if I can I try to eat before, less that I don't trust them, more that I find it more relaxing the more control I can exercise over my food intake.

One place I didn't expect to cater quite well for us is wetherspoons, there's one of them in pretty much every place (bar central London probably :P) and they have aOpen Original Shared Link.  

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Good to know re MaccyDs, I don't go there often but there is one which is open 24hrs near where I live so very occasionally on my way home I may find myself going on small detour....

Thats surprising about Wetherspoons! I assume you haven't had any cross contamination issues? Do you find the staff there helpful and understanding when ordering?

  On 5/3/2017 at 7:46 PM, cristiana said:

Not really fast food but I have found the risotto at Ask and Prezzos completely safe, and Franky & Benny's gluten free menu is great.

I'd get used to carrying some gluten-free cereal bars, nuts and chocolate in your bag if I were you, until you find your way around the gluten-free establishments in London.

I don't know if you are anywhere near a Morrissons but I was in Lincolnshire recently and they seemed to have a lot of great food on the go options on their shelves. 

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Thanks Cristiana, I haven't eaten out in restaurants much since, but will be trying to stick to the ones which are Coeliac UK accredited as much as possible, which I think all of those are. I shop mostly at Morrisons as its  my nearest "large" supermarket, and they have a good free-from section (although I am trying to stick to less processed foods at home), I'll have a look at the food to go options might be a good idea to stock up on some for those emergencies. 

 

[Gemini]

Will do, rarchy!  I was planning on doing a write up here if the food is good but it certainly looks good on the website.  I want one of those baguettes that keep calling my name........

[Jmg]

  On 5/7/2017 at 8:36 PM, rarchy said:

Thats surprising about Wetherspoons! I assume you haven't had any cross contamination issues? Do you find the staff there helpful and understanding when ordering?

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 I haven't done it much, apparently they vary in terms of staff familiarity with the requirements, so it depends on the location how savvy they are. They're really a kind of emergency option for me as there's one pretty much everywhere now.

Cristiana and myself have been swapping finds here: 

 

there's a couple more restaurant chains listed there I think although its mainly supermarket stuff

 

[rarchy]

I will check out that other post, good to connect with others in the UK!