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

Warning, Outback Steakhouse!

snomnky

By snomnky
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

snomnky Apprentice
snomnky
Posted

FYI, my son and i both had a severe reaction to food at the Outback, my son ended up in the ER because of an allergic reaction (severe allergy to wheat and celiac) I have contacted the restaurant but have not heard back. We took all necessary precautions and have eaten there without problem in the past. Just wanted to give a heads up!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


NicoleAJ Enthusiast
NicoleAJ
Posted

I'm sorry to hear about your horrible reactions. Which location was this?

larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted
FYI, my son and i both had a severe reaction to food at the Outback, my son ended up in the ER because of an allergic reaction (severe allergy to wheat and celiac) I have contacted the restaurant but have not heard back. We took all necessary precautions and have eaten there without problem in the past. Just wanted to give a heads up!

s,

That's terrible. What do they do for a reaction in the ER? Did you both eat the exact same thing? What does a 20 month old with severe wheat and rice allergies eat at Outback? I've only been there once, not since being gluten-free. Hope he's OK.

best regards, lm

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

What did you order?

Which location?

I have never had a problem there.

gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted
s,

That's terrible. What do they do for a reaction in the ER? Did you both eat the exact same thing? What does a 20 month old with severe wheat and rice allergies eat at Outback? I've only been there once, not since being gluten-free. Hope he's OK.

best regards, lm

Erm ... good question....

I'm really not sure what people expect? If you eat out (and I do) then regardless of the care a resto takes accidents are going to happen.

I have never had a problem there.
Yep and you can also put a paper bag over your head and cross the highway.... and nothing happens but it doesn't mean its 100% safe. Sorry being sarcastic but that is the problem with CC or resto's...

You are always taking a chance.... you can do everything you can to mitigate the risk and pull it in your favor but at the end of the day its a risk... just one which is probably better than walking across a highhway with a paper bag over your head.

Incidentally people do this all the time in Egypt as a way to test their faith.... who knows, perhaps they get a kick out of it too like I did bungie jumping... but resto's can never be risk free... unless they are 100% gluten-free...

mandasmom Rookie
mandasmom
Posted
Erm ... good question....

I'm really not sure what people expect? If you eat out (and I do) then regardless of the care a resto takes accidents are going to happen.

Yep and you can also put a paper bag over your head and cross the highway.... and nothing happens but it doesn't mean its 100% safe. Sorry being sarcastic but that is the problem with CC or resto's...

You are always taking a chance.... you can do everything you can to mitigate the risk and pull it in your favor but at the end of the day its a risk... just one which is probably better than walking across a highhway with a paper bag over your head.

Incidentally people do this all the time in Egypt as a way to test their faith.... who knows, perhaps they get a kick out of it too like I did bungie jumping... but resto's can never be risk free... unless they are 100% gluten-free...

I agree 100%--rest eating is a risk--no matter how careful you are!! Just like driving the car and breathing urban air and all the other risky things we do..so so sorry that y9ou and your child are ill--I hope you are better soon!!

gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted

Just to add.... you can't be 100% safe.... even in hospital he could get glutened because very few hospital kitchens really can guarantee gluten-free....

Its pretty sad but that's just the way it is....

Funny thing is they can keep someone in a sterile room, free of bacteria ... free of dust etc. etc. but not feeding them gluten seems too challenging?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


luvs2eat Collaborator
luvs2eat
Posted

And as nice as the people are and as complete a gluten-free menu they offer... you're still at the mercy of what happens behind the closed doors of the kitchen by clueless cooks, etc... not that I'm blaming them... but we can explain to the waitperson till we're blue in the face about our needs... and how that translates to the people actually touching your food can be like whisper down the lane!

uclangel422 Apprentice
uclangel422
Posted

I just want to add that i recently have been experiencing that problem with this restaurant so i dont think that its an isolated incident.

We all know that cross contamination is an issue everywhere, i think the poster just wanted to give a heads up that things might have changed.

I had trouble at the Burbank one in Southern California.

whitball Explorer
whitball
Posted

I went to the Outback in Saginaw, MI and ate the Alice Springs Chicken for my 46th birthday in Feb. 2007. The menu indicated that this was gluten free. I vomited and had the D simultaneously for almost 9 hours. I also needed to stay home from work for three days. I was so sick that I considered going to the ER. I now understand that the risk is not worth it. No restaurant can guarantee that they are gluten free and you can be certain that I will not take this risk again.

es2443 Contributor
es2443
Posted

I also had the Alice Springs Chicken and got very sick from it. I went to the Westbury, NY location. I also went there one night and I had just gotten the brownie sundae which was supposed to be gluten free. I'm not sure whether it was the brownie or the ice cream that bothered me, but I was a bit irritated then as well.

kbabe1968 Enthusiast
kbabe1968
Posted

ME TOO!!! The last time I got sick it was from having the Alice Springs Chicken!!!!! I'm wondering if they've changed it's preparation but the menu hasn't caught up?

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I appreciate that there are restaurants that try. Anytime we eat in a kitchen that has gluten in it, too, we take a risk, even at our own homes. If I had a wheat allergy, I would never eat out ... gluten intolerance may make me uncomfortable, but an unfortunate glutening isn't going to kill me.

I've eaten at different Outbacks and have never been sick from it, but it's my least favorite gluten-free place to eat. Our local Maggiano's does a great job with their gluten-free food, the chef's mother has celiac, so he knows all about it. He even reads our local celiac group's message board! I've been glutened there before, only once. It was a risk I was willing to take, for a meal that most likely would have been safe.

It's unfortunate that this happens, but it can happen anywhere. We have to understand that ... or else maybe places will be too scared of lawsuits to continue having a gluten-free menu.

Lauren M Explorer
Lauren M
Posted

Disclaimer: I am not making light of, nor am I saying that any of you did NOT have a gluten reaction at Outback.

That said, I work at Outback. I started there a little over a year ago, when I was a full-time grad student, and now that I've finished grad school and have a full-time "grown-up" job, I still work as a server 2 days a week at Outback. It is a very nice place to work, and I find that I meet quite a few other Celiacs there, too!

The Alice Springs chicken is a VERY rich dish. In addition to the chicken breast being grilled with oil, it is then smothered in honey mustard (the salad dressing, it's mayo based), loads of cheese, and bacon. It would do a number on many a sensitive digestive system, Celiac or not. And it's not just the Alice Springs. Just like many other restaurants, Outback's food is good because it is so rich!

Outback is a chain. Of course not every location is going to be great, although that would be ideal. However, I have worked at 2 locations, and while not ALL of the servers are super knowledeable (they all come to me with the questions!), both Outbacks where I've been employed have truly gone out of their ways to do the best they possibly could to ensure a safe meal for the gluten free patrons. Servers, cooks, and managers alike have always bent over backwards to accomodate diners' dietary needs.

I hesitated to respond to this at first, because I am very sorry to hear that people have gotten sick and I did not want to appear callous or uncaring. I certainly hope that my response did not give that impression. I decided to post because I would just hate to see anyone totally write off Outback because of a few reported bad incidents. I think gfp made excellent points. Life is full of risks. When you have Celiac, eating out is one of them.

Best of luck, and hope that everyone is feeling well soon.

- Lauren

VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted
Erm ... good question....

I'm really not sure what people expect? If you eat out (and I do) then regardless of the care a resto takes accidents are going to happen.

Yep and you can also put a paper bag over your head and cross the highway.... and nothing happens but it doesn't mean its 100% safe. Sorry being sarcastic but that is the problem with CC or resto's...

You are always taking a chance.... you can do everything you can to mitigate the risk and pull it in your favor but at the end of the day its a risk... just one which is probably better than walking across a highhway with a paper bag over your head.

Incidentally people do this all the time in Egypt as a way to test their faith.... who knows, perhaps they get a kick out of it too like I did bungie jumping... but resto's can never be risk free... unless they are 100% gluten-free...

I am well aware of the risk. I am also well aware of how well I handle myself at a restaurant. Because of my assertiveness, I rarely get sick. The reason I asked her the questions I did was to help her figure out what she may have done wrong.

No offense, but all too often Celiacs go to restaurants without calling ahead, without talking to a manager and simply relying on a gluten free menu. That type of action is not akin to walking across the freeway with a paper bag, its more like purposely falling down the stairs - you will definitely get hurt!

1. You should call ahead

2. If not, you need to talk to a manager/chef and remind them about clean utensils, clean grill tongs and clean hands.

3. Any dish that has a lot of ingredients (i.e. the Alice Springs Chicken) is doubling and even tripling your chance to get sick (more ingredients, more hands, more opportunity)

4. I go so far as to ask them to bring me my baked potato uncut and the butter and sour cream on the side - cross contamination with the knife that cuts the potato...

You do always take a chance, but through trial and error, asking questions, education and being assertive, you can minimize that risk.

BB

whitball Explorer
whitball
Posted

No offense taken by me by your post. I have had two good experiences at the same OutBack. I had steak, potatoe and salad. No reaction to this, by the way. I do agree that the Alice Springs chicken is very rich, but my body's reaction was severe and don't think that it was because of richness. I've been at this one year and have lots to learn. I have learned that pain teaches a good lesson and continue to be reluctant to eat out.

Disclaimer: I am not making light of, nor am I saying that any of you did NOT have a gluten reaction at Outback.

That said, I work at Outback. I started there a little over a year ago, when I was a full-time grad student, and now that I've finished grad school and have a full-time "grown-up" job, I still work as a server 2 days a week at Outback. It is a very nice place to work, and I find that I meet quite a few other Celiacs there, too!

The Alice Springs chicken is a VERY rich dish. In addition to the chicken breast being grilled with oil, it is then smothered in honey mustard (the salad dressing, it's mayo based), loads of cheese, and bacon. It would do a number on many a sensitive digestive system, Celiac or not. And it's not just the Alice Springs. Just like many other restaurants, Outback's food is good because it is so rich!

Outback is a chain. Of course not every location is going to be great, although that would be ideal. However, I have worked at 2 locations, and while not ALL of the servers are super knowledeable (they all come to me with the questions!), both Outbacks where I've been employed have truly gone out of their ways to do the best they possibly could to ensure a safe meal for the gluten free patrons. Servers, cooks, and managers alike have always bent over backwards to accomodate diners' dietary needs.

I hesitated to respond to this at first, because I am very sorry to hear that people have gotten sick and I did not want to appear callous or uncaring. I certainly hope that my response did not give that impression. I decided to post because I would just hate to see anyone totally write off Outback because of a few reported bad incidents. I think gfp made excellent points. Life is full of risks. When you have Celiac, eating out is one of them.

Best of luck, and hope that everyone is feeling well soon.

- Lauren

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,545
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jem68
    Newest Member
    Jem68
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
    • Jsingh
      Protein or fat?

      By Jsingh · Posted

      Hi,  I care for my seven year old daughter with Celiac. After watching her for months, I have figured out that she has problem with two kinds of fats- animal fat and cooking oils. It basically makes her intestine sore enough that she feels spasms when she is upset. It only happens on days when she has eaten more fat than her usual every day diet. (Her usual diet has chia seeds, flaxseeds, and avocado/ pumpkin seeds for fat and an occasional chicken breast.) I stopped using cooking oils last year, and when I reintroduced eggs and dairy, both of which I had held off for a few months thinking it was an issue of the protein like some Celiac patients habe mentioned to be the case, she has reacted in the same fashion as she does with excess fats. So now I wonder if her reaction to dairy and eggs is not really because of protein but fat.   I don't really have a question, just wondering if anyone finds this familiar and if it gets better with time.  Thank you. 
    • Chanda Richard
      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods

      By Chanda Richard · Posted

      Hello, My name is Chanda and you are not the only one that gose through the same things. I have found that what's easiest for me is finding a few meals each week that last. I have such severe reactions to gluten that it shuts my entire body down. I struggle everyday with i can't eat enough it feels like, when I eat more I lose more weight. Make sure that you look at medication, vitamins and shampoo and conditioner also. They have different things that are less expensive at Walmart. 
    • petitojou
      Frequent nausea after gluten-free diet

      By petitojou · Posted

      Thank you so much! I saw some tips around the forum to make a food diary and now that I know that the community also struggles with corn, egg and soy, the puzzle pieces came together! Just yesterday I tried eating eggs and yes, he’s guilty and charged. Those there are my 3 combo nausea troublemakers. I’m going to adjust my diet ☺️ Also thank you for the information about MCAS! I’m from South America and little it’s talked about it in here. It’s honestly such a game changer now for treatment and recovery. I know I’m free from SIBO and Candida since I’ve been tested for it, but I’m still going to make a endoscopy to test for H. Pylori and Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Thank you again!! Have a blessed weekend 🤍
    • knitty kitty
      Unusual bright yellow but odourless discharge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I, too, have osteoporosis from years of malabsorption, too.  Thiamine and magnesium are what keep the calcium in place in the bones.  If one is low in magnesium, boron, selenium, zinc, copper, and other trace minerals, ones bone heath can suffer.  We need more than just calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones.  Riboflavin B 2, Folate B 9 and Pyridoxine B 6 also contribute to bone formation and strength.   Have you had your thyroid checked?  The thyroid is important to bone health as well.  The thyroid uses lots of thiamine, so a poorly functioning thyroid will affect bone heath.  
×
×
  • 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.