Any Outback Problems?

[silly-yak-mum]

Has anyone else had an Outback problem? This has always been one of my stand by's (birthdays, etc.) The last 2 times we've been in Toronto my son has had serious gluten reactions. We're very careful to explain his needs and we order from the gluten-free menu.

I sent them an email but no response. I'm hoping it's just this location.

Thanks!

[psawyer]

I don't know which location you mean. We live in Markham, NE of the city, and regularly dine at the Outback on High Tech Rd in Richmond Hill, just north of Yonge and Hwy 7. I've never had a problem there, and we have been regulars since before I was diagnosed more than five hears ago.

[Yes, I know that the food is prepared in a kitchen which also prepares food containing wheat!]

[Becky6]

Neither my daughter nor I have had a problem. sorry! I would call that location and talk with the manager and see how aware they are of cc.

[silly-yak-mum]

Thanks guys. Outback has phoned me but we haven't connected yet. I will make sure I'm using the menu correctly and see if we can figure it out. I had originally given up on them but think I will try a new location. (The one we had the problem at was York Mills and Leslie.) Luckily my son is symptomatic as soon as he is glutened so we can atleast try to track down the problem. I know eating out is risky anyway but he has to have some normalcy!

I'll let everyone know if I learn anything.

[Canadian Karen]

I have eaten at the one in Whitby with no problems..... (making my mouth water just thinking of it.... yummmm......)

Karen

[hez]

I have not had a problem with the Outback I go to in CO. However, I make sure to go when they open. It is not as busy and everything is clean. I am sorry your son got sick.

Hez

[tarnalberry]

I have not had problems at outback, but I've been very selective about what I order. There have been others on here who have had problems at one place or another, so I think contacting the management (or corporate) is a good way to go if you have problems.

[silly-yak-mum]

So I had a wonderfully supportive call from Outback headoffice who assures me that a)I did use the menu correctly and b)an individual location would not change the ingredients. He did suggest speaking with the manager to ensure the kitchen is aware of cross contamination. I don't think I'll take them off the safe list just yet but I will be more diligent with instructions. Hmm... maybe a drive to Whitby for a Choc Thunder!

P.S. - He also informed me that the York Mills location has closed. (Save yourself the drive.)

[Carriefaith]

Has anyone else had an Outback problem?

Yes! I got violently ill from eating food from their gluten free menu. I ate at an Outback in the Guelph/Kitchener area. The reaction I had may have been from dairy though since I am intolerant to both gluten and dairy. Regardless, I won't be eating there again.

[tiredofdoctors]

Have been to the Outback in Lexington, KY and in Louisville, KY and haven't had a problem eating off the gluten-free menu -- even their brownie dessert is gluten-free -- the waiter said that they are VERY careful when it comes to the gluten-free patrons. One caveat -- I don't have celiac, (gluten ataxia) so I don't know immediately if I've had trouble. I have to be EXTREMELY glutened to know (the next day) if it's gotten to me.

[VydorScope]

One thing try to aviod them while they busy, the busier it is the more likly mistakes will be made. I have not been to one in a very long time so can not comment beyond that.

[Guest nini]

I've had them bring out my salad with croutons right on top and I've had to send it back with instructions that it HAS to be a fresh one, they can't just pick the croutons off, but my husband thinks the waiter took it in the back and just took the croutons off because I got violently ill before even leaving the restaurant... Since then I've been careful to ask for the manager, make sure I request the gluten free menu and make sure that the server is well tipped if they take good care of me. (and that they know AHEAD of time that they will get a very good tip if they get it right and that I WILL be able to tell before I'm done eating!)

[lorka150]

Carriefaith........!

I also got violently sick from that Outback. I've been to three different ones. That, Amherst NY and Niagara Falls, ON.

I only got sick in Cambridge. (Kitchener).

[sasha1234]

I eat at the one in Edmonton on a regular basis. What the manager told me is that all locations treat the gluten issue differently. The wife of the guy here is celiac so they pay particular attention to it. The other thing he told me is that they use a seperate fryer for their fries which is a must to avoid cross contamination, but that not all locations do this. So maybe this is an area you might consider checking out?

[Guest nini]

I forgot to add that the Outback that I go to, the manager's mother has Celiac. They told me on average they have 2 to 3 requests for the gluten free menu every night. After that first experience with the croutons in the salad, I learned to ask better questions and give better instructions. I also tried to order without having the gluten free menu in front of me and was too embarrassed to ask the server for it. I've since gotten over that.

[Suezboss]

I've had them bring out my salad with croutons right on top and I've had to send it back with instructions that it HAS to be a fresh one, they can't just pick the croutons off, but my husband thinks the waiter took it in the back and just took the croutons off because I got violently ill before even leaving the restaurant... Since then I've been careful to ask for the manager, make sure I request the gluten free menu and make sure that the server is well tipped if they take good care of me. (and that they know AHEAD of time that they will get a very good tip if they get it right and that I WILL be able to tell before I'm done eating!)

Same thing happend to me the last time I ate there... BEFORE that time, I NEVER had a problem. I was so upset, b/c I had such high regards for Outback and their efforts... well, still do, but slighly lower now. When the salad came out, I said "This has crutons on it, and I ordered gluten-free"... the waitress said "Oh, I forgot to write "86" crutons", and I asked "well, if you wrote Gluten Free, wouldn't they know not to put them" and she told me "no, they don't know, we have to write it"... I asked her "don't they change the mixing bowl and gloves when it says Gluten Free" and she said "Yes"... so Now i'm just a bit worried about it... Luckily I didn't get TOO sick.

I think it's all in who you get for a waiter/ess. Best bet would be ask for the manager to supervise everytime.

[Felidae]

I eat at the one in Edmonton on a regular basis. What the manager told me is that all locations treat the gluten issue differently. The wife of the guy here is celiac so they pay particular attention to it. The other thing he told me is that they use a seperate fryer for their fries which is a must to avoid cross contamination, but that not all locations do this. So maybe this is an area you might consider checking out?

That's good to know, I live in Edmonton and have been wondering if it would be safe or not.

[sasha1234]

That's good to know, I live in Edmonton and have been wondering if it would be safe or not.

I better add that I only have eaten at the one on Calgary Trail. I don't know about the one across from West Ed.

[Becky6]

I have been to 3 different ones in MN and have not had a problem. but I have not ordered the salad because it seems like too much room to mess it up. The last time the waitress actually noticed that I had a gluten-free menu and was really nice. I then ordred for my daughter as well off the gluten-free menu. Then she got to my husband and he she asked if his was gluten-free too! I was so amazed! They are really very knowledgable there. I think it depends on how serious the manager takes it and how much training they actually get on the matter.

[mouse]

We have three within a reasonable driving time. The closest one I only used once and never went back. I did not get glutened, but they had a hard time finding the gluten-free menu's, then the manager had to help our waitress. It really made me nervous and I was not totally relaxed eating dinner. The one in Scottsdale is my favorite. We were there about two weeks ago and our waitress was having a really bad night - which can happen. She served me my appetiser with the toast on the same plate. She took it away and her boss came and talked to me and said that she would personally oversee my meal as her roommate had Celiac. Everything went perfect after that. The waitress felt really bad as she had been there for a long time. I did not get glutened. But, I don't think that the Outbacks' train their waitstaff as well as PF Changs.

[happygirl]

Even though I know what I want (I have a standard meal at each place!), I always ask for the gluten free menu so that they KNOW I am asking for gluten free. I also tell the server (if the server seems knowledgable, otherwise I get a manager) to ask the cooks if they can use clean utensils, etc. A lot of times they'll say something to the effect of, "oh that's naturally gluten free" and I specifically tell them that I'm supersensitive and one bread crumb will make me sick.

[jknnej]

I live in Phoenix and at the Outback's near me in Gilbert the staff are very knowledgeable (except if you get a brand new waiter, in which case I make sure to specify until it's almost embarrassing!) Anyway, I've never gotten sick from Outback, thankfully. I have gotten sick from PF Chang's, twice.

[jaten]

I have eaten at Outback 3 times since gluten-free and have gotten sick twice. The Outback in Jackson, MS didn't even have a menu. They brought me a black & white copy from the internet. I did not speak with the manager, only the waiter. I was glutened. Twice I have eaten in Memphis at the Hack's Cross Rd. location. Once I had an extremely positive experience. Waitress apologized for the wait, but the grill had to be cleaned first and my food had to be prepared totally separately. I let her know how much I appreciated the attention to the details, and assured her the wait was worth it to me. The next time at same location, a different waitress, and severe glutening.

Have never requested to speak to manager, but do order from gluten-free menu. Am politely specific about needs to waitstaff. Do assure and follow through with handsome tips. Have considered writing corporate but haven't done so.

[lonewolf]

The only time I've eaten at the Outback (WA) I got sick - woke up at 2:00 am with horrible stomach cramps and was doubled over for most of the next day. The waiter had been really nice, told me he was familiar with gluten-free and I made sure to point out I was ordering from the gluten-free menu and then double checked when my food came. No matter how careful you and the people helping you try to be, eating out is risky.

[teankerbell]

I went to Outback Steakhouse in IL and I had no problem. They did accidentally serve me the salad with croutons but I sent it back and they had no problem with that. Also, when I ordered I specifically asked the waitress to ask the cook to SCRAPE the grill before cooking my meat. I also ordered teh chicken plain. They gave me BBQ sauce on the side (I did not eat it even though it says it is gluten-free - but I am Casein intolerant too so didn't know the ingredients). Anyway, if you didn't order your food and ask that the grill be scraped and order your meat plain, you could have been glutened.

Their flourless, gluten-free brownie is AWESOME! I had to order it without ice cream. They served it with whipped cream - they were trying to be nice but I had to send it back.

They were very good about all of it and I appreciated them trying to accomodate me and still great service!