How Do You Handle A Bad Restaurant Experience?

[hapi2bgf]

I usually call any questionable restaurant (i.e., does not have a gluten-free menu on the web site) before I go during slow hours and speak with a manager to figure out what I can eat. That used to work great for me. Now its not working. This is the third time in as many months that I have had a gluten ingestion reaction.

The most recent was while I was on vacation. I called the restaurant and spoke to the manager. I was assured that the chicken, which was not marinaded, and the steamed veggies would be safe. Sauteed would be the best bet. This place is a great local shop where I used to live and ate at often before Celiacs. They have fantastic fish.

I got the sauteed chicken plain with steamed veggies plain. Explained the whole routine to the server. Brought my own BBQ. And not an hour later I was seriously sick.

The questions:

1. What questions do you ask of managers to assure that the food is safe?

2. Do you call back and speak to management after they assured you a meal was safe and you got sick anyway?

To add to the fun I am pregnant. So now I know this baby once again is not getting nutrients.

HELP!

[jaimek]

I am so sorry to hear that you got so sick. Did you specify to the manager that the chicken and veggies had to be prepared in a cleaned pot/pan? I hand the waiter/waitress a gluten free restaurant card which states the food allergies, but then I also hand write on there that everything must be made in a thoroughly cleaned pot/pan/grill. That nothing can even touch my food or else I will get sick. Maybe your chicken came in contact with breaded chicken that was cooked before they sauteed yours? Just a thought. Hope this helps and hope you feel better!

[kabowman]

I created my own restauraunt cards that specify what I cannot eat and what that means in plain language since I don't think most of the "wait staff" understands what gluten or lactose (etc.) are... I even had one cook come out to talk to me to see what was safe and he then said, well, what about butter - we "soak" our pans in butter. I said NO - that was before the cards though...

There are some restaurants that actually refuse to cook for me. However, my known safe restaurants, in combination with giving my server my "card" now bring our food out immediately. I think they are afraid that I will have a reaction if it sits too long in the back.

Of course, this all came about because of a bad reaction to ignorance on their end and trusting on my end...

-Kate

[dbuhl79]

Kate,

Can I be nosey and ask what exactly your resturant cards say? I'm new to being gluten-free and have avoided resturants (except a horrid trip to Applebees). I'd love to make some up of my own, so I dont feel the need to avoid eating out completely!

Thanks!

[pixiegirl]

Yes I'd like the text of the restaurant cards too, I'm new to this and really need the help eating out!

Thanks!

Susan

[hapi2bgf]

I may have to get some of those cards too. I have had two servers at two different restaurans tell me that I could not have the potatoes. Their reason: Adkins or thought potatoes were a gluten containing item. And these are from restaurants with gluten-free menus that have the potatoes listed as gluten-free!!!

The pans should have been clean, but anything can happen in a kitchen. So tired of being afraid to eat for the ramifications of getting sick!

Does anyone call back the restaurant and read them the riot act? Or maybe after you have calmed down from being sick, explain to them that they made you sick even after they specified what would be safe.