Poll

[L.A.]

Hi: I ate at a so called "safe" restaurant once...the owner had celiac's so the staff was suppose to have the whole gluten free thing down pat--not! They put regular croutons on my salad. Now I'm afraid to eat out. I read a number of posts where people are being glutened at restaurants even though the food should have been safe. So my question is--who eats out and who doesn't and why? Thanks! L.A.

[7-cody]

Hi: I ate at a so called "safe" restaurant once...the owner had celiac's so the staff was suppose to have the whole gluten free thing down pat--not! They put regular croutons on my salad. Now I'm afraid to eat out. I read a number of posts where people are being glutened at restaurants even though the food should have been safe. So my question is--who eats out and who doesn't and why? Thanks! L.A.

I don't eat out as much anymore. And if I do, it's either Outback, Roadhouse or Chili's. Sometimes I go to other restaurants with my friends, if I do, I get plan lettuce with chicken salad or something.

[kabowman]

I eat out but the number of places I trust is very limited. I run into problems when we travel but don't always do too bad.

[tarnalberry]

I eat out, but at a limited number of places. I'll go out and not eat at many places, but there are only a few places at which I'll eat. I just crossed one of those off my list from uncertainty, actually - Mediterranean Kitchen is supposed to be gluten free, but my stomach hasn't been quite happy two of the four times after I've eaten there. There isn't a whole lot of room for contamination, and it's very rich food, so it's hard to compare against the non-standard-for-me symptoms, but I've ruled it out as I'm unsure.

[kbtoyssni]

I think I'm in the minority, but I eat out more post-diagnosis than I did pre-diagnosis. I'm sure part of that is my symptoms of glutening aren't that bad so if someone does screw up, I'm at least still mostly functional. I have places I trust that I go to a lot, and I've gotten good at asking for things that will be safe and knowing what ingredients to question. It's risky, but I also want to live my life. I live alone in a completely gluten-free house, so eating out is my only risky behavior.

[Jestgar]

Limited places. I only go somewhere new if I'm prepared for a hassle (which doesn't always happen).

Which reminds me that I need to plug a Seattle restaurant.

[SillyBoo]

I don't eat out at all. Ever. I tried it 3 times - same place, same thing all 3 times. It's a restaurant where our local Celiac support group goes for meals. But the 3rd time I got so sick, and I haven't been back since (that was at least 6 months ago). I also rarely eat anything at someone else's house, or that someone else made. The consequences are too serious for me - I'm unable to think clearly or function really for more than a week afterward.

The good news is that I really like my own cooking, and I have always tended toward basic whole foods made from scratch.

[Green12]

I do not, with my additional intolerances it's just too risky for me.

I have had Chipotle, chicken and rice bowl, a few times with little problems but I don't feel 100% sure about it to do it very often.

[jerseyangel]

I don't order food out at all. Just too many things I have to watch out for, and I'm so sensitive to gluten that it isn't worth it for me.

We do go to a couple of places where my husband can buy a meal and I can bring my own food. I also go to Starbucks for tea.

[gdobson]

We only eat out on special occassions like birthdays. And then it's only Outback and PF Changs that I am confident in. I've had too many mishaps. Definitely not worth the risk.

But I do miss it sometimes!

[alamaz]

i eat out but only at places i trust and rarely try a new place. and i definitely don't eat out as much as i did pre diagnosis. it's very challanging for me to eat at other peoples homes as well. last weekend we were at my sisters. they did steaks on the grill. something told me not to eat it and stick to the food i brought. in the middle of the night my husband, who is gluten intolerant and doesn't get glutened very easily, was up with the big D. i'm soooo glad i didn't eat off that grill! three weeks ago i went out to a higher end restuarant and too honest with you- i cook better tasting food at home. and this was a very popular place with gluten free menu. it just didn't do anything for me like it used to. but i definitely have my days when take out sounds heavenly!

[codetalker]

I avoid eating out as much as possible, mostly due to additional intolerances.

[WW340]

Prior to diagnosis, we ate out all the time. Now we rarely ever eat out, because I almost always get sick if we do and I stay sick for about 2 weeks.

It was a big adjustment for us, but hubby is the one that finally said that it wasn't worth it.

Besides, now that I have to eat at home I have become a really good cook

[~alex~]

I haven't eaten out since being diagnosed but I am really starting to want to. My fiance and I used to go out for supper with friends every other Friday and I really miss that. I've been contemplating trying either the Outback or the Keg but I'm scared. I don't seem to have too many other foods that bother me so maybe it wouldn't be too hard. If I do decide to eat out it will probably be infrequently, only on special occasions.

[DingoGirl]

I also live alone in a gluten-free house, so I do eat out with regularity. I had problems a couple of times in the very beginning, but not any more. I usually go to the same restaurants adn have gotten to know the staff, and if f I go to a new place, I speak quietly and privately to the chef or kitchen manager, and they have always been surprisingly adept at figuring things out or are already pretty knowledgeable. Also - I find that small, private bistros are the best way to go, using fresh, pure ingredients.

But - gluten is my only intolerance, nothing else, so it's not that bad.....

[MySuicidalTurtle]

I love eating out but mostly stick to my regular places. I am a vegan, too, so that can always be an issue. Sometimes you just have to try until you find a place that is right!

[Centa]

I don't eat out much but when I do I nearly always get a salad.

Poached things, occasionally...I'd probably risk roasted things, if they spit roasted them and the basting passed muster.

I learned about P.F. Chang from this site...it turns out that we have one, so I'll be checking it out

[HouseKat]

I eat out quite a bit. I go to a Japanese restaurant for sushi, and I take along my own gluten-free soy sauce. I get chili, baked potatoes, and salads from Wendy's. We have a great Mexican restaurant that uses 100% corn chips, and I ask them to substitute corn tortillas for any dishes usually made with flour tortillas. Once or twice a month a vegetarian friend and I go to a Chinese restaurant where he is friends with the owner and the staff, so they are great about taking care of our special dietary needs.

[aikiducky]

I eat out very seldom but mostly I've been fine. I always talk to either a manager or the chef.

The only reason I ever do it though is for the company, I like my own cooking much better than most things I've ever had at a restaurant.

Pauliina

[lmvrbaby]

I usually make foods at home or my husband cooks as I work 4 evenings a week. I am the only one in the house that is gluten free as my hubby and two kids at home are not. If there is something that I can not have that they are having I make myself something I can have. I have been looking for fast pre made items such as soups or microwave dishes, and have come across Thai foods. Not all but a few are and say gluten free on the package and I also check ingredients.

When I go out with friends, one friend in particular, always says we need to go somewhere where "Lisa" can eat at which is nice, as I don't have to sit and watch them or eat just a salad. Those are the kind of friends everyone should have.

The more people who know of Celiac or gluten free the more ask if anyone has allergies and such before a group of us go out to eat. Nothing like going out with friends to enjoy yourself and not being able to have input on where you go. Everyone should be able to enjoy themselves and not a select few.

So I go out when possible, between being able to afford it, work and schedules.

[L.A.]

Thanks for the input--you guys are great. I guess I need to find a place that offers gluten-free items and perhaps go in and talk to the staff to get a good comfort level and give it a try--what have I got to lose...my dinner? L.A.

[missy'smom]

I'm not a big meat eater. I don't enjoy a good steak so that limits my choices. I get very sick from CC and it's just not worth the risk. I spent so many years of my life feeling sick. I want as many good days as I can. I don't try new places often. My support group is starting to go into restauraunts in our area that they think will work and teach them how to do gluten-free and setting up dinners out with a choice of 3 entrees. That way we can expand our options. They also have a list of restaurants and members recommendations on their website.

There are 4 restaurants that I will eat at. Three have gluten-free menues and have consistantly provided me with safe meals and where mistakes if made are readily visible(crouton, garnish..) The last one is a local Indian restaurant run by a family, that serves very simple all-natural curries. I eat there almost every weekend. For some reason their food feels better in my body than the meals that I cook at home(not a gluten thing)!

Good luck in finding something that works for you.

[bakingbarb]

This is so new to me that eating out is scary. BUT my daughter and I used to go out to eat for some us time so out we went. That was 2 days ago and yesterday I paid for it. Lettuce, tomato and chicken breast. I explained and they were fine with trying but forgot and put packages of crackers on my plate It was amusing to say the least. I mean here they run back and forth trying to find a salad dressing I can eat but put the packaged crackers on my plate! I cannot say what it was that got to me but I won't quit trying. We are going downtown Seattle on Saturday and we will be eating! On the way there we can stop at Open Original Shared Link The following weekend we are going to Oregon, just east of Portland. At best I am going to try and plan ahead where we will be eating and call or email ahead. That somewhat takes the fun out of how we have always lived our lives though, we loved to go out and eat. I am trying to not be afraid of everything though so just going to go ahead and go for it. My symptoms put me in the bathroom and were mild compared to what I went through before but I don't want it to happen often or be worse.

[oceangirl]

I never eat out, but miss it. I'm too afraid of CC as I'm incredibly reactive. However! I am thinking of going out to the restaurant my daughter works at and ordering a boiled lobster! (This is silly, of course, because my son, brother and former husband are all lobstermen and they happily give them to me!) BUT! Just to have that lovely pleasure of going out again I may get brave and try it!

lisa

[Mr. Pep'r]

I still eat out and talk to the manager or chief and they seem to be very helpful. We have gotten the blank stares "what is gluten". Not what I want to hear.

I thought I was being safe but the past few weeks I have been "gluten'd" a few times. But this will not keep me from eating out.....I just have to be extra careful.