Perkins

[Guest j_mommy]

I just talked to a manager of Perkins on the phone and was pleased to find out they have a dedicated meat grill. No breaded items ever touch that grill!!! Good to know. I am eating there for lunch tomorrow and they asked me to fax a copy of the Fobidden foor list and they would check all their salad dressings ect for me!!!

Anyone had any expierences with Perkins restuarants?????

[happygirl]

Are there marinades on any of the meats that are grilled on this dedicated grill? (just a thought-might want to ask.)

[Guest j_mommy]

hmmmm....will have to ask...didn't think of that! I'll ask them to clean the part of teh grill they're grilling my meat on just to be safe!!! Thanks!

[happygirl]

The reason that I ask is every "chain" that I've been to has marinated chicken, and many of them (including Applebee's) has soy sauce with wheat in the marinade.

And have them use clean utensils...but you already knew that!

Hope that it goes well Let us know how it goes.

[kbtoyssni]

I love Perkins. It's definitely on my safe list. I always order the omelette with onion, mushroom and swiss cheese, hash browns and substitute fruit for the toast. I have no idea how the meat is. They always seem very willing to accommodate me and used to suggest the fruit substitute as soon as I mentioned a wheat allergy. I bet they'd cook meat for you in a separate pan if you needed them to.

[Guest j_mommy]

Well it went very well.....they were great! I did have a ham and cheese omelet with hasbrown and fruit. They were very accomodating and are going to suggest to corprate to get a gluten-free menu!

I was please with my first dining out experience!!!! Thanks for all your help!

[happygirl]

Jmommy:

What wonderful news......thanks so much for sharing. I'm happy you were able to enjoy your outing!

the gluten free community...taking over the world

happygirl

[SunnyDyRain]

Ok, don't mean to rain on everyone's parade....

My Boyfriend worked at Perkins While in college, he said while there was a dedicated meat grill, after a certain time at night everything was shut down and everything cooked on the one grill. Also the eggs and the pancakes and the "toasted" bread for the sandwiches were all done on the same grill.

Also he noted at least at his location, most of the "offical Perkins policies" were ignored by the high school and work release employees. (micowaving steaks and other short cuts)

He basically told me if i didn't want to get sick I should stay away from his perkins at least.

I understand all perkins can be different, but with the amount of the gluten food served and how it can get really busy, then they cut staff when it's slow... i'd be wary.

Perhaps really ask about this, Most of us think of eggs as "safe" but it not safe if pancakes are made right next to it!

[Guhlia]

I'd have to agree with SunnyDyRain. I worked at Perkins for a short time a few years ago and I can't imagine any of our cooks caring about food allergies. For that matter, I can't imagine any of our managers trying to get any of our cooks to care about food allergies. I'd be very careful with Perkins.

[sparkles]

I have gone to about 6 Perkins since diagnosis in 2002 and I have gotten sick at every one of them. So I don't even try them. I must be having bad luck or the ones I have been to don't really care one way or another about my problem with food. I just avoid all Perkins now..... unless I am meeting someone for coffee and all I have is tea!

[aesthyerin]

a good friend of mine is a manager at Perkins. I've been meaning to ask him about having gluten free items there and how they cook everything.

[WOLVERINE]

i worked at a Perkins' for 6 years all through high school and college... I definitely would not put my health in the cooks' hands either. However, there are plenty of things you should be able to be safe with:

poached eggs - because they drop the egg in a small glass dish and boil it with water in the microwave, so it doesn't ever even touch a grill.

meats - because they do cook all of their meats on a separate grill from the breads. If you go in the morning especially you should be fine. There is definitely a possibility of mixing things together in the evening, but they clean the grills every evening so there shouldn't be any CC issues if you're eating in the am.

fruit - they keep fruit by the salad veggies, so there's nothing to worry about!!

hope this helps!

[bluesky8130]

wow...I guess I should rething where hubby & I eat breakfast when travelling. We normally go to Perkins (always asking about a dedicated egg grill) and share either an omlete or ham & eggs (I get to eat the pancakes).

Because I have worked in many restaruants during my early years, I always ask about a dedicated egg grill because I have worked with places that do (major chains in Canada like Smitty's and Perkins) and ones that don't. So far, he has not been sick from any place that we had breakfast.