Red Lobster

[jmd3]

I wrote to Red Lobster and below is the following letter I received from them. I wrote the letter about 2 weeks ago, almost forgot that I wrote it....but the response came back yesterday.

It sounds like that Red Lobster is a very unsafe place for celiacs! Please read.

"Dear ***

Thank you for your interest in Red Lobster; it is always a pleasure to hear from our guests.

We currently do not have any menu items that we can guarantee are gluten-free, but we are working to develop more allergen-free selections.

Red Lobster's kitchens are not allergen-free environments and neither are those of our suppliers.

In addition, all of our fried food selections are prepared in shared fryers and our grills are shared cooking surfaces. Because of these processes, we cannot guarantee that seemingly gluten-free items have not come into contact with gluten.

To minimize potential contact with gluten-containing items we suggest ordering steamed crab legs or steamed Maine lobster, broiled fish or chicken with no seasonings or marinades and steamed vegetables with no seasonings.

Please speak with the manager and your server prior to ordering to alert them of your specific dietary restrictions.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Sincerely,

Ami

Senior Guest Relations Representative"

[CaraLouise]

I have had some really good experiences at Red Lobster, especially in OKC! But I always show them my card, go early to avoid crowds, and get the steamed crab, veggies, baked potato with no seasonings or butter. They seem to do a pretty good job!

[kabowman]

Ditto - I have had great experiences with Red Lobster. I talk with the manager and/or chef, try to go at non busy times (but not always) and have had no problems with eating there.

[aikiducky]

To me this actually sounds more reassuring than not! The most important thing is that they seem to be very well aware of the sources of cc. I would be much more suspicious of a restaurant that said "sure we know the gluten free diet, you'll be fine" or something like that. I would always be wondering if they just didn't understand how difficult it is to not cross contaminate my meal...

Pauliina

[SunnyDyRain]

I have eaten at Red Lobster several times. I usally am ok, one time I wasn't, but I wasn't 100% sold that it was Red Lobster's fault or a crumb gluteny biscut left on my boyfriend's lips.

I always get steamed crab legs and baked potato. - same thing I got pre-celiac!

[sparkles]

To me this actually sounds more reassuring than not! The most important thing is that they seem to be very well aware of the sources of cc. I would be much more suspicious of a restaurant that said "sure we know the gluten free diet, you'll be fine" or something like that. I would always be wondering if they just didn't understand how difficult it is to not cross contaminate my meal...

Pauliina

I like the fact that they took the disease seriously and were very upfront and honest about their possibility of CC. Hats off to Red Lobster.... though I haven't eaten there for a very long time and probably won't in the future, I do appreciate their honesty!!!!!