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

Carrabba's


nothing but nicole

Recommended Posts

nothing but nicole Apprentice

Ok, so a couple weekends ago I went to Carrabba's with a friend and they were awesome. The waiter told me what I needed to ask for prepared specially. My friend last night wanted Italian before we went out to the bar, Carrabba's is just down the street from the bar so I suggested we go there, figuring it would be a great experience like the last time. Well it wasnt, I gave all of my order to the waiter and even told him exactly how I needed everything made. When it gets to my table I dont really notice anything different from the last time about my $20 steak until I take a bite of it. They put their "grill baste" on it, I wasn't positive last night so I stopped at one bite and brought the rest home. When I woke up at four this morning to go to the bathroom (I didnt get home until after two) I knew for sure. So now I am stuck with this $20 Filet that I cannot eat and am highly dissappointed and slightly frustrated. I hate to complain at restaurants and really hate to get managers involved. I know that having Celiac automatically makes that need necessary but I still have a really hard time with it and am fairly embarrassed when a manager does come to my table. Now I dont know weather to complain or just suck it up and give the steak either to my sister's boyfriend or the dogs.. :angry:


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



larry mac Enthusiast

nbc,

That's a big disapointment all right. It's bad enough when you pay a good price for a meal and it's not very good. But to not be able to even eat it and knowing quite well it is probably very tasty. Super bummer.

I've always wanted to eat at Carrabas, but it seems to be closed on the occasions we are by one. They have limited hours.

BTW, what's in the "grill Baste" ?

best regards, lm

nothing but nicole Apprentice
nbc,

That's a big disapointment all right. It's bad enough when you pay a good price for a meal and it's not very good. But to not be able to even eat it and knowing quite well it is probably very tasty. Super bummer.

I've always wanted to eat at Carrabas, but it seems to be closed on the occasions we are by one. They have limited hours.

BTW, what's in the "grill Baste" ?

best regards, lm

I guess it is just a rub they put on the steaks, I'm not sure but their gluten free menu says to ask for the grill items without it. I am not sure whats in it that makes us sick but my stomach has hurt all day! So when I did, I didnt get what i ordered.

That is strange that the location by you has limited hours, the one i went to was at almost ten last night, I was having a very late dinner.

larry mac Enthusiast
That is strange that the location by you has limited hours, the one i went to was at almost ten last night, I was having a very late dinner.

nbc,

Very limited day time hours I should have said. They are only open at night and every time we have been near one it has been daytime.

best regards, lm

azmom Newbie

You should call the manager and inform him of the situation. You don't need to "complain", but "inform" him/her in a nice way. This is especially important because if they are going to offer a gluten free menu, they are leading you to believe that it will be served gluten free. They need to know that their staff is not providing what they are selling. You will be doing them, as well as anyone else who is gluten intolerant, a big favor. Any professional manager will be glad you informed them.

TinkerbellSwt Collaborator

I would go onto their website and contact the company. If you dont want to complain directly.. usually its just an email situation.. they might send you some gift certs for another dinner.

I have gotten cc quite a few times at carrabas.. I think they are just too busy around here to take proper care of the food the way we need it.. I tend to stay away now, I gave them 3 chances.. each time.. yucky.. but its a mad house at the one here, every nite.. so its crazy.. I put it to that..

nothing but nicole Apprentice

I might just contact the company, part of me not complaining in restaurants is being young, having friends that work as waiters/waitresses and what they say they do to people's food that complain. I dont really know how much of it is true but I really just try not to send my food back at any point. It must have been my waiter the first time I went, he was seriously awesome, I had absolutely no problems the first time and they were busier the first time than they were the second. I really dont know how to sugar coat things either so when I do complain it can be rather harsh and when I worked in customer service I hated the way people treated me. I guess I just need to get used to talking to managers and being more assertive if I want to eat out. Thank you guys for kinda nudging me to do what I know I should have done in the first place.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



loraleena Contributor

I think the menu does say to order without grill baste.

nothing but nicole Apprentice
I think the menu does say to order without grill baste.

That's the thing is I ordered everything the way I should have. I dont ever eat salad dressing anymore so I ordered my salad with out dressing and croutons, my salad had dressing anyway so I didnt eat it. I also ordered my steak with out the grill baste, my vegetables with no sauces butters, cheeses etc and asked him to make sure all was prepared seperately and there was no bread products around my plate. I contacted the company today so we will see what their response is.

  • 2 weeks later...
nothing but nicole Apprentice

I spoke with the manager of the Carrabba's that i went to and he told me that the waiters are told to ring in gluten free food differently so that the cooks know how it should be prepared. But they did send me a gift cert worth $45 to make up for the meal that I paid for and couldnt eat. I just hope when I go back they dont make me sick again!!

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,546
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    KimberlyAnne76
    Newest Member
    KimberlyAnne76
    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

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      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.
×
×
  • 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.