Outback

[MistressIsis]

I was going to Outbacks because the have a gluten-free menu, however, they do not update it & are largely unaware of what gluten is. I ordered the gluten-free Cesaer salad & within 3 bites had "issues". Quite embarrassing as I was on a date & heading to a concert after. The teenage manager actually asked me if I was sure I was having a reaction. I almost became Linda Blair in the Exorcist! I invited him to come to the bathroon with me as I was headed for it for the 3rd time in 10 minutes.

He didn;t even offer to take it of the bill since I didn't eat it. I asked him for hte recipe of the dressing, which he couldn;t sem to find & apparently didn;t know. I come from a restaurant background & we ALWAYS knew what was in every dish. Turns out my waitress was excellent & finally figured out that the fressing has Worcestershire Sauce...main ingredient...MALT VINEGAR!! I told the waitress she was fantastic but her manager was a moron & if hte owner was in fact onsite, he should have come by as well. She immedatly went over, chewed the manager out & had my salad & our desserts taken off the bill. She got a hefty tip.

I reported this to the Celiac Rest. Awareness group & they argued with me as well. As did Outback Corp.

Come to think of it, there were a few times I ordered off the gluten-free menu there & had issues.

[blueeyedmanda]

I have never had problems at my Outback, they have always been wonderful. I always order the Alice Springs Chicken, once I find a favorite I just keep sticking to it. I get a baked potato instead of the fries. Well, that day I felt like something different so I ordered the garlic mashed potatoes. On the web it said gluten-free. Well we do curbside take-away so we can kick back and watch a movie with our food. So we were on our way there and the girl called me and said that the garlic potatoes were not listed on their menu as gluten-free and would I like anything else so when I got there my food would be ready. I have her double check with the manager and sure enough they had an older copy of a menu and the garlic potatoes are in fact gluten-free. She apologized and I understood. She said they wanted me to be able to enjoy my meal without getting sick. I have also had good experiences while dining in the place as well. They are always very willing to help make sure my meal is ok. A manager always gets all the gluten-free orders which come through and he makes sure they are handled properly. I actually called the Outback the next day and told the big manager how good they were. They got buttons or something as a reward.

Sorry to hear your trip was not as good.

[Judyin Philly]

I reported this to the Celiac Rest. Awareness group & they argued with me as well. As did Outback Corp.

so sorry you had this experienc.

so both did not support you???

glad youcalled anyway.

i found that many places are good one place and horrid at another site.

glad you let them know.

hugs

judy

[lovegrov]

At least in the U.S. the Caesar dressing is gluten-free.

richard

[Lauren M]

The caesar dressing IS gluten-free.

I do not mean to minimize your pain, but eating out is a risk. Of all the restaurant choices out there, for us Celiacs, Outback is one of the "least" risky.

- Lauren

[CarlaB]

I'd say they either held the bread over your salad, or picked out the croutons ... maybe they didn't clean the salad bowl they tossed it in ... eating out is a risk ...

[hez]

I am so sorry you got sick on your date.

Hez

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience.

As a sidenote, I just want to remind everyone that when you order a salad in a restaurant, always order it "dressing on the side" (no croutons of course).

Many places use the same bowls for tossing salads and crumbs of croutons can get in everywhere. I know dry salads are not as good as tossed ones, but it is the best way to go (unless you can get a manager to make sure it is tossed in a clean bowl)

Bronco

[Lauren M]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience.

As a sidenote, I just want to remind everyone that when you order a salad in a restaurant, always order it "dressing on the side" (no croutons of course).

Many places use the same bowls for tossing salads and crumbs of croutons can get in everywhere. I know dry salads are not as good as tossed ones, but it is the best way to go (unless you can get a manager to make sure it is tossed in a clean bowl)

Bronco

YES! Broncobux is right on. As someone who sees the "behind the scenes" - this is absolutely the way to go. Thanks for pointing that out

- Lauren

[tracey*]

You know, I've never been to Outback before .. there's one near my parents house but it looks so quiet all the time (no cars in the lot) - I might have to pop in! I never knew they had a gluten free menu in Australia too

[pixiegirl]

Wow the Outback by our house is crowded constantly. I always have the salmon there and the baked potato usually with a Cesar salad and I've not had any problems, however I'm really careful (talk to the manager, waitress, etc) and I know the Outback by my house is very gluten aware.

But I do agree with those that said, when you eat out you are taking a chance. I'm really sorry your experience turned out so badly.

Susan

[2Boys4Me]

I don't know where you're writing from, but I haven't yet found a gluten-free worcestershire sauce in Canada. I make my own. Also the only gluten-free Caesar dressing I'm aware of (also in Canada) is Renee's. I've never eaten at Outback (except the once years ago and haven't been back since when I ordered my steak and potato found out veg cost extra ) so I can't comment on Outback's dressing/worcestershire sauce gluten-free status.

[happygirl]

Lea and Perrins in America is safe. Not sure if thats available in Canada?

[lovegrov]

L&P in Canada DOES have gluten. I have no idea why Canadian sauce has gluten and U.S. doesn't, but that is indeed how it is. I know Canadians who take worchestershire sauce back with them after they visit the U.S.

richard

[barilla]

The Outback is the only restaurant I go to. I also always get the Alice's Spring Chicken with mashed potato'.

So yummy! I have never had any problem there and I am very sensitive. They always write Gluten Free in big letters on the order slip. I am so sorry you had a bad experience.

[TinkerbellSwt]

I only had a problem once at an Outback. It was partially my fault too. Our waiter, who was not very smart, put the bread on the table right down in front of me. He went right over my plate too with it. I used the plate after that too. I should have known better.

I have never gotten sick there any other time. I always order the Caesar salad, with no croutons of course. I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. I hope you have a better experience if you go to another Outback. As far as I have come across, they usually are pretty aware of Celiacs.

[tiffjake]

. Turns out my waitress was excellent & finally figured out that the fressing has Worcestershire Sauce...main ingredient...MALT VINEGAR!!

I reported this to the Celiac Rest. Awareness group & they argued with me as well. As did Outback Corp.

Come to think of it, there were a few times I ordered off the gluten-free menu there & had issues.

Richard (and several others, I just remember his) is right, at Outback in the US the worcestershire sauce in the Ceaser is L&P and it is gluten-free. I was just on the phone with corporate office (OSI) a couple of days ago because EVERYTIME I get ceaser at Outback, I get sick. I couldn't figure it out. He (the guy a corporate) wouldn't give me the details of what WAS in the recipie, but would let me read off the foods that I can't eat, and told me if any of those foods were in the Ceaser.

Turns out there are anchovies in their ceaser, and I am anchovie intolerant (along with sardines, halibut, and whitefish). I think that was the problem. I have not had any other problem with Outback, and I eat there at least once a week.

[Saz]

You know, I've never been to Outback before .. there's one near my parents house but it looks so quiet all the time (no cars in the lot) - I might have to pop in! I never knew they had a gluten free menu in Australia too

I didn't know we had it in Australia, I thought it was on of those places they only have overseas.

btw I 'm curious, just what is Alice Springs chicken?

[Lauren M]

btw I 'm curious, just what is Alice Springs chicken?

It's a grilled chicken breast, smothered in sauteed mushrooms, bacon strips, and melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses w/a side of honey mustard dipping sauce.

Can you tell I work at Outback?

- Lauren

[Tay]

I had a similar experience with the Outback near my house. I gave the waitress my gluten-free dining out card and ordered from the celiac menu and made sure to specify that my food be cooked and prepared in clean dishes, etc...I ordered a steak and potatoe with veg. When I got the dinner salad it had orange shredded cheese on it. I had been warned against Annato, the orange coloring sometimes having gluten and to only eat white cheeses. So I sent the salad back. After it returned, I took one bite and felt the sinking reaction in my abdomen. I only ate one or two more bites of the salad and proceeded to feel lousy. I was also on a date, mind you. So I tried to stick it out and finish my meal. That night I felt really angry and upset. I think the main reason was not that I got sick, but that I took all precautions and ate at outback just because of the menu, and I still got sick. I have had more success with small, family owned restaurants where the chef actually knows the ingredients. The only chain that I will go to is Legal Seafood. Sorry for your experience, and I want to caution others that Outback can indeed be a problem.

Taylor

[tiffjake]

I had a similar experience with the Outback near my house. I gave the waitress my gluten-free dining out card and ordered from the celiac menu and made sure to specify that my food be cooked and prepared in clean dishes, etc...I ordered a steak and potatoe with veg. When I got the dinner salad it had orange shredded cheese on it. I had been warned against Annato, the orange coloring sometimes having gluten and to only eat white cheeses. So I sent the salad back. After it returned, I took one bite and felt the sinking reaction in my abdomen. I only ate one or two more bites of the salad and proceeded to feel lousy. I was also on a date, mind you. So I tried to stick it out and finish my meal. That night I felt really angry and upset. I think the main reason was not that I got sick, but that I took all precautions and ate at outback just because of the menu, and I still got sick. I have had more success with small, family owned restaurants where the chef actually knows the ingredients. The only chain that I will go to is Legal Seafood. Sorry for your experience, and I want to caution others that Outback can indeed be a problem.

Taylor

I am sorry about your experience, BUT the cheese at Outback is gluten free, IF they were careful and there were no crouton pieces. Their menu was combed through by GIG and every ingredient was checked for things that might contain hidden gluten. I think it is more likely that there were crouton pieces in your salad, but even then, two bites in (?) I don't know if you would have had a reaction that fast.....

If you do chose to go back to Outback, PLEASE ALWAYS TALK TO A MANAGER, and not just the server. The managers will make everything themselves if they know you need them to (at least in my experience and those of others on this board who go ALL the time). I am NOT saying that it is YOUR fault that you got sick, just trying to offer you some advice if you want to go there again.

[lapetit8]

Eating at the Outback can definitely be risky if you are not careful. I never order a salad there as it always has crouton crumbs in it. They keep all of the ingredients in seperate bins that are right next to one another so it is very easy for the ingredients to get mixed. Also, the butter that they use on the vegetables is a butterball and contains seasonings that contain gluten. And even though they state that the sweet potato with brown sugar is gluten free, a loaf of their bread is kept in the brown sugar jar to prevent it from getting too hard. So, if you eat there just make sure to watch out/avoid these things.

[tiffjake]

Eating at the Outback can definitely be risky if you are not careful. I never order a salad there as it always has crouton crumbs in it. They keep all of the ingredients in seperate bins that are right next to one another so it is very easy for the ingredients to get mixed. Also, the butter that they use on the vegetables is a butterball and contains seasonings that contain gluten. And even though they state that the sweet potato with brown sugar is gluten free, a loaf of their bread is kept in the brown sugar jar to prevent it from getting too hard. So, if you eat there just make sure to watch out/avoid these things.

I hate to sound like a harpie, but like I posted before, I have eaten at Outback almost 3 times a week for the last year. The managers make my salad, fresh, no crouton pieces. I get just lettuce, and tomato, and dressing on the side (fresh from the walk-in, not from the line, so there is no chance crouton crumbs could have fallen in during the day).

The gluten-free menu there states to order veggies without seasoned butter, because, as you stated, it is not gluten-free. But you can get regular butter to put on top of the veggies. This information is on their gluten-free menu.

And the bread in the brown suger thing must depend on the location, because I asked my local Outback and they do not do that because they know there are Celiac's eating there.

I think it is very important for us to talk to the managers and to ask questions. They will not care if we don't make them care. And they will not learn if we never go in there and order and ask questions and tell them about CC. I love Outback. I really appreciate their gluten free menu and the fact that they had it reviewed by the Gluten Intolerance Group, to make sure they were checking little things like Annato and Salad Dressing.

Anyway, please TALK with the people at your local Outback, or any other place, and let them know your concerns. I know that it has taken me a year, but my local Outback knows me, the servers and managers and cooks know me, and they know how to make my food so I don't get sick. It has taken time, and putting up with a few mistakes, but now I have a place that I feel SAFE to eat out!

[MistressIsis]

hate to break it to ya, but L&P in US is NOT gluten-free, 1 of the main ingredients is Malt Vinegar.

The nice waitress actually was very good about writing everything down (including clean bowl & utensils etc) & this was the 3rd time Outback had made something wrong at 3 different locations in Mass. She actually brought me everything she could that was in the salad which is how I found out about the L&P. I believe the celiac rest. wasn't even aware they used it & told me I was wrong.

previous to that visit, different location, everything they brought out was wrong even after they wrote GLUTEN FREE in huge letters AND went back to the kitchen. I was actually with the same guy wh is big & scary-ish and by the 3rd time they brought a plate out with bread/croutons on it we made them take it back & do it from scratch.

I 've worked in restaurants most of my life (Dad's a chef, Mom's a waitress, I've done both) and nowhere I've ever worked would ever argue witha customer with a food allergy. In fact years ago, I had a customer that told me he was allergic to flour/wheat & I thought he was pulling my leg, but I still checked with the kitchen & even brought things out to him just in case. The head cook even made me go ask the patron a number of questions to make sure we didn't poison him.

So sorry, I have no sympathy or patience with them not doing their jobs.

[Guest nini]

My Lea & Perrin's bottle of Worceseshire sauce DOES NOT have malt vinegar listed as an ingredient and I've not had a problem with this brand. I'm in the Atlanta metro area and bought it at Publix...

from the faq's off of their website (This is after clicking U.S.)

Is Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce gluten free?

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire is suitable for a coeliac diet, for further information on Nutritional and Allergy queries please contact us.