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

No More Gluten Free Menu At Bravo?!

mesmerize

By mesmerize
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

mesmerize Apprentice
mesmerize
Posted

For months, I've been SO excited to try out Bravo... I'd read so many good things on here about their gluten free menu! From what I'd heard, their Pittsburgh location at the Galleria (Mt. Lebanon) was supposed to be among the best and most accomodating -- and conveniently, that one's closest to me.

We were finally going to go last night, and I thought I'd call first just to check on things. I was so completely shocked when the girl who answered said "Um, I don't think we really do gluten free anymore." What?! She said she could ask someone just to be sure, and when she got back on the line she said "Yea, we don't have a gluten free menu anymore, and we don't offer gluten free items." I asked to speak with a manager (since this is just all too weird!) and the girl said she's take my number and the manager would call me right back. But of course they didn't.

Has anyone else heard anything else like this about Bravo?! All the comments on here made it seem like this chain was one of the most progressive ones out there in terms of offering gluten free stuff! I'm so sad! :(

Sara

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mommyagain Explorer
mommyagain
Posted

Maybe they had too many problems with cross-contamination, or mistakes being made in the kitchen. I think a lot of places are scared to say something is gluten-free because they don't wanna get sued if someone gets sick.

mesmerize Apprentice
mesmerize
Posted
  • Author
Maybe they had too many problems with cross-contamination, or mistakes being made in the kitchen. I think a lot of places are scared to say something is gluten-free because they don't wanna get sued if someone gets sick.

Well it seems every restaurant that has a gluten free menu also has a disclaimer on it warning about cross-contamination and everything... Doing away with the gluten free menu entirely seems very extreme, especially for a place like Bravo that previously was so dedicated to serving gluten-free guests!

On the bright side, I ended up having a wonnnderful dinner at Outback instead. :)

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

I wonder if the manager left? I've met the manager who started the gluten-free menu in Mt. Lebanon, she started one at Cranberry first, and she was just wonderful. They did not have an official gluten-free menu, but they had all kinds of options, including gluten-free pasta, and the chef came and talked with me and told me that nearly all the sauces were thickened with cornstarch, anyway.

Why don't you try calling again (maybe when it's not a busy time, like afternoon), and I'll try calling, too. Seems to me they're going to lose a lot of customers over this.

  • 2 weeks later...
crabhappychick Newbie
crabhappychick
Posted
For months, I've been SO excited to try out Bravo... I'd read so many good things on here about their gluten free menu! From what I'd heard, their Pittsburgh location at the Galleria (Mt. Lebanon) was supposed to be among the best and most accomodating -- and conveniently, that one's closest to me.

We were finally going to go last night, and I thought I'd call first just to check on things. I was so completely shocked when the girl who answered said "Um, I don't think we really do gluten free anymore." What?! She said she could ask someone just to be sure, and when she got back on the line she said "Yea, we don't have a gluten free menu anymore, and we don't offer gluten free items." I asked to speak with a manager (since this is just all too weird!) and the girl said she's take my number and the manager would call me right back. But of course they didn't.

Has anyone else heard anything else like this about Bravo?! All the comments on here made it seem like this chain was one of the most progressive ones out there in terms of offering gluten free stuff! I'm so sad! :(

Sara

...............................................

crabhappychick Newbie
crabhappychick
Posted
For months, I've been SO excited to try out Bravo... I'd read so many good things on here about their gluten free menu! From what I'd heard, their Pittsburgh location at the Galleria (Mt. Lebanon) was supposed to be among the best and most accomodating -- and conveniently, that one's closest to me.

We were finally going to go last night, and I thought I'd call first just to check on things. I was so completely shocked when the girl who answered said "Um, I don't think we really do gluten free anymore." What?! She said she could ask someone just to be sure, and when she got back on the line she said "Yea, we don't have a gluten free menu anymore, and we don't offer gluten free items." I asked to speak with a manager (since this is just all too weird!) and the girl said she's take my number and the manager would call me right back. But of course they didn't.

Has anyone else heard anything else like this about Bravo?! All the comments on here made it seem like this chain was one of the most progressive ones out there in terms of offering gluten free stuff! I'm so sad! :(

Sara

...............................................

crabhappychick Newbie
crabhappychick
Posted

I ordered from the gluten-free menu at the Cranberry Bravo's at the end of August - the gluten-free pizza was so good I nearly cried. The pasta dish I had was fabulous! Just 2 weeks ago I had lunch from the gluten-free menu at the Bravo's on McKnight Road.

Now the bad news...my husband and I went to the Cranberry location again just Friday night and we stunned when I asked for a gluten-free menu to be told they don't have one anymore. The manager came out and we talked. He said that there were 2 lawsuits filed last week because of reactions while dining at P. F. Chang's and also at Applebee's (I wonder if he was correct about Applebee's - didn't know they had a gluten-free menu!). The manager said their corporate attorneys were concerned about the liability issues and discontinued the gluten-free menu. Now he did say that they still had the rice pasta and would prepare the dinner as best they could, but could not GUARANTEE it was gluten-free because of cross contamination. Sounds like their lawyers were totally freaked out. Hope this doesn't signal the end of gluten-free menus at other restaurants. More and more are waking up to the gluten-free problem and I don't want to see our progress stopped. I can't tell you how disappointed I am that I can now longer get a REAL pizza!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator
VegasCeliacBuckeye
Posted

Sad.

Unfortunately, I dreaded this day was coming. Lawsuits would inevitably kill gluten free menus in many restaurants.

AND I'M AN ATTORNEY! LOL

Listen people, restaurants are not 100% sterile environments. They can't gurantee you a 100% gluten free meal! Its a fact of life. Life has risks. You can try and control and diminish risks as much as possible, but its always a risk to eat out.

Lawsuits are not the answer - all they do is lessen the chances for the rest of us to get a gluten free meal somewhere.

SIGH....

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

wow, I too just ate at the Bravo's ( galleria) a few months ago. And Janet Smarra (manager) was really careful about cc. I'm so surprised...They used kinnickinnick crust which I thought were way to sweet & more like a bisquick type crust than an Italian real deal crust.But the toppings was excellent. Janet also spoke at the seminar in Pittsburgh in Oct07. I missed what she had to say as I was helping a vendor...

I was told by Applebees, Texas Roadhouse, Tgif's that all their chicken now comes in a freezer glaze & it contains gluten. Texas Roashouse said the only chicken that is ok is the chicken they use for chicken critters without the breading...in other words they can cook that chicken naked & use it for grilled c. salad. SO be careful when you order grilled chicken as alot of it is now glazed & some waiters have no idea.... most will say it is just chicken but that is not the case. Ask them to check the big box it comes in. Eat n Park in our area has chicken that is not glazed & is still safe.....

I'm upset I loved Bravo's & they had a large gluten-free menu.... It seems like gluten free goes one step forward & two steps backward.......

mamaw

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

Gee. It seems like all any restaurant has to do to CYA is to have an official statement on their gluten-free menu, like "We take great care in preparing gluten-free food for you, but due to the facts that gluten IS in our kitchen, and that human beings DO work here, we cannot absolutely guarantee the gluten-free-ness of our food. Please help us by asking to speak with the manager before ordering your gluten-free meal."

I wonder if we all email Bravo, we might accomplish something????

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

Yesterday I felt sad that things like this happens....... today I'm angry that lawsuits are being filed ...... I think that we all have to be responsible for ourselves.... I don't care where we are in life we must take care of ourselves!!!Lawsuits generally filed like this is to make a quick buck...but it is also at the expense of others in this case. Because of a few greedy , unrespondsible, people who choose an easy way out.... they have set all celiacs back in time. I can see why business doesn't want to serve us... they do not want the hassle by a few who can destroy there livelyhood...

You know how it goes....... one bad egg.................

I do enjoy eating out once in awhile, yes for the convience and I know everytime I do there is a chance that I may get ill... RESPONDSIBILTY.... that is a chance I'm willing to take.Heck we can gluten ourselves -- we don't need outside help.... do we!!! So do we sue ourselves or our spouse???

I can't imagine a celiac thinking this is helping the celiac population..... I guess we must be careful what we wish for.... the new labeling laws are wonderful but again set-backs have been caused by this new law....

I hate to rant but I'm very angry with these money hungary few...

Fiddle-Faddle I love your idea but I truly don't think it will work, we need petitions signed stating we disagree with the lawsuits.... Broncobux we need you to help right this wrong.....

In the world today no one wants to accept RESPONDSIBILITY..... it is just easier to blame someone else.....

PEACE

mamaw

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

I doubt emailing Bravo would help if it's lawsuits they're worried about. I love when places offer gluten-free menus. It helps me eliminate all the foods on the full menu that I shouldn't even consider. At least I know ingredients have been checked for the foods on a gluten-free menu, and it saves a ton of time because I don't have to ask a bunch of questions and have my waiter check the packaging.

That said, I have no problem with restaurants putting a "we do our best, but cannot guarantee no contamination" statement on the menus. I know it's a kitchen, I know they're doing their best, but there is always a risk and celiacs should be aware of that. Bronco - do you know if these "we can't guarantee it's gluten-free" statements hold up in court??? If not, well, I expect gluten-free menus will become more and more scarce.

  • 2 weeks later...
crabhappychick Newbie
crabhappychick
Posted
Gee. It seems like all any restaurant has to do to CYA is to have an official statement on their gluten-free menu, like "We take great care in preparing gluten-free food for you, but due to the facts that gluten IS in our kitchen, and that human beings DO work here, we cannot absolutely guarantee the gluten-free-ness of our food. Please help us by asking to speak with the manager before ordering your gluten-free meal."

I wonder if we all email Bravo, we might accomplish something????

I emailed Bravo with my concerns and never heard a word back. Did anyone else email and get a response?

  • 3 years later...
kellynolan82 Explorer
kellynolan82
Posted

One thing I would like to add to this, however is that here in AUSTRALIA it is ILLEGAL for businesses to advertise food items as gluten free unless they contain ABSOLUTELY :

NO detectable gluten,

NO oats,

NO cereals containing gluten that have been malted.

Many food service businesses have 'half-heartedly' come to play recently suddenly offering options that THEY advertise as 'gluten free'.

It is ridiculous! AND ILLEGAL! ILLEGAL! ILLEGAL!

It doesn't matter that they're trying, or making life easier, or anything like that! FULL STOP. I have taken many businesses to task on this specific matter (including Domino's Pizza, McDonald's, and more) and will continue to do so (link is in my profile).

kellynolan82 Explorer
kellynolan82
Posted

I might also add that many restaurants I've complained to (about gluten free menus containing a disclaimer) have now resorted to the 'gluten friendly' label. Have these establishments not a clue? THE GLUTEN FRIENDLY TERM IS ILLEGAL in Australia. The business could go bankrupt yet many insist on participating in this whole stupid marketing ploy!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions...
    2. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know. I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past...
    3. nanny marley
      - nanny marley replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      20

      Insomnia help

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I...
    4. David Blake
      - David Blake commented on Scott Adams's article in Product Labeling Regulations
      1

      FDA Moves to Improve Gluten Labeling—What It Means for People With Celiac Disease

      My question I have proposed to the FDA through their website is why Prescription and OTC drug manufacturers are not required to list what binding ingredients were used to bine the drug? They list this on Capsules which are made of cellulose but not on pills? As it stands I or my pharmacist must contact the manufacturer to find out and my list is long from...
    5. nanny marley
      - nanny marley replied to wellthatsfun's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      nothing has changed

      I agree there I've tryed this myself to prove I can't eat gluten or lactose and it sets me back for about a month till I have to go back to being very strict to settle again
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,343
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    emoryprose
    Newest Member
    emoryprose
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions to it, so different for everyone.  
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know.  I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past, but going to try it at 5k units a day. having a pth test on friday, which is suspect will be high. my homocysteine has come down to around 9 with 3 weeks of these supplements and expect it to go down further. i also started on estrogen/progesterone. I have osteoporosis too, so that is why the hormones.  anyway, i think all celiacs should have homocysteine checked and treated if needed (easy enough with b vit, tmg). homocysteine very bad thing to be high for a whole host of reasons. all the bad ones, heart attack , stroke, alzi, cancer..... one of the most annoying things about celiacs (and there are so many!) is the weight gain. i guess i stayed thin all those years being undiagnosed because i was under absorbing everything including calories. going gluten-free and the weight gain has been terrible, 30#, but i'm sure a lot more went into that (hip replacement - and years of hip pain leading to inactivity when i was previously very active, probably all related to celiacs, menopause) yada yada. i seemed to lose appetite control, like there was low glp, or leptin or whatever all those hormones are that tell you that you are full and to stop eating. my appetite is immense and i'm never full. i guess decades or more ( i think i have had celiacs since at least my teens - was hospitalized for abdominal pain and diarrhea for which spastic colon was eventually diagnosed and had many episodes of diarrhea/abdominal pain through my 20's. but that symptom seemed to go away and i related it to dairy much more so than gluten. Also my growth was stunted, i'm the only shorty in my family. anyway, decades of malabsorption and maldigestion led to constant hunger, at least thats my theory. then when i started absorbing normally, wham!! FAT!!!    
    • nanny marley
      Insomnia help

      By nanny marley · Posted

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I don't always sleep well at the best of times , racing mind catches up I have decorated my whole house in one night in my mind before 🤣 diet changes mindset really help , although I have to say it never just disappears, I find once I came to terms with who I am I managed a lot better  , a misconception is for many to change , that means to heal but that's not always the case , understanding and finding your coping mechanisms are vital tools , it's more productive to find that because there is no failure then no pressure to become something else , it's ok to be sad it's ok to not sleep , it's ok to worry , just try to see it has a journey not a task 🤗
    • nanny marley
      nothing has changed

      By nanny marley · Posted

      I agree there I've tryed this myself to prove I can't eat gluten or lactose and it sets me back for about a month till I have to go back to being very strict to settle again 
    • trents
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By trents · Posted

      You may also need to supplement with B12 as this vitamin is also involved in iron assimilation and is often deficient in long-term undiagnosed celiac disease.
×
×
  • 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.