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

Carrabba's And Other Restaurants


jjc

Recommended Posts

jjc Contributor

My family went to Carrabba's last night and enjoyed a pretty good gluten free meal. However, I really think that waiters in these types of restaurants should have more specific training regarding allergens. Our waiter saw that me, my daughter and my husband were all looking at our own gluten free menu. My son, who is not gluten-free was reading a regular menu. He said "oh, you are gluten free " when he took our order, but then he proceeded to put the bread right in front of my daughter's plate, not my son's, and he asked more than one time what kind of pasta we'd (all) like and whether we all wanted more bread. :rolleyes:

Maybe it was because my teenage daughter is cute (!) I don't know, but it was like he wasn't aware of the whole gluten thing AT ALL. One more thing he said: when we asked him about the chicken soup (which the menu suggests ordering without pasta) he said that they just take the noodles out of the soup and then it's gluten free. yikes! I will be calling the restaurant tomorrow and also their 1-800 number. I sure hope he was wrong about the noodles. :blink:


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



digmom1014 Enthusiast

I have never had a problem with the soup. The Carraba's by my house adds or doesn't add the noodles to each persons soup separately.

I always have the Chicken Marsala, which is delicious. Can anyone suggest something they have liked from that menu? I get stuck in a rut! I know that item is good and I won't get sick so, I re-run it over and over.

Gemini Experienced
I have never had a problem with the soup. The Carraba's by my house adds or doesn't add the noodles to each persons soup separately.

I always have the Chicken Marsala, which is delicious. Can anyone suggest something they have liked from that menu? I get stuck in a rut! I know that item is good and I won't get sick so, I re-run it over and over.

Try the chicken breast stuffed with fontina and proscuitto....it's absolutely delicious! The Carrabba's near to me does an outstanding job with the gluten free menu.

They never put bread in the bag with gluten-free meals and I don't even have to go through the whole spiel with them. I just say I am ordering from the gluten-free menu and they get it right every time. It highly depends on each restaurant and how well a job the manager does.

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Try the chicken breast stuffed with fontina and proscuitto....it's absolutely delicious!

i second this one, this was my favorite plate before i stopped eating dairy.

my husband rocks, whenever we go to carabbas, he always asks them not to bring any bread (b/c he knows i loved it). i've never had any glutening problems at carabbas (just dairy...).

harp1 Apprentice

What do you order that has no dairy at Carrabas? Susan

Jenny (AZ via TX) Enthusiast

I like the Caesar salad with shrimp.

Sweetfudge Community Regular

The last time I went, I ordered a side salad (they brought me some oil and vinegar to put on it, but you could also bring your own - Kraft Italian dressing is DF last time I checked). They also made me salmon cooked in olive oil w/ herbs, and some steamed asparagus in olive oil. It was pretty good.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Treen Bean Apprentice

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Insalata Johnny Rocco! It is A-MAZING! The chicken soup is delicious too!

once and again Rookie

I have had all of the chicken dishes and have trouble deciding which one to order. They are all good. We can also have the steak - I think it's Steak Florentine? without the grill baste.

Did you know that Outback, Carraba's and Bonfish Grill all are connected and allhave =gluten-free menus? I highly recommend Bonefish Grill.

  • 1 month later...
Cackleannie Newbie
i second this one, this was my favorite plate before i stopped eating dairy.

my husband rocks, whenever we go to carabbas, he always asks them not to bring any bread (b/c he knows i loved it). i've never had any glutening problems at carabbas (just dairy...).

I know what you mean about the yummy bread! Thought I'd tell you what I do...not nearly as good, but I still get the herbs&olive oil. I take two slices of gluten-free bread along in a sandwich bag. My favorite of all the breads is the rice-pecan...the rice almond isn't bad either. They are made with the brown rice flour, so don't crumble at the slightest touch as do the white rice breads. Even better, if you toast it ( lightly! ) before you go. ( Actually, I always lightly toast my bread before making a sandwich even...it holds together much better, and the toasting enhances the flavor too. )

I never have trouble after eating at Carrabbas...love the house salad!

  • 2 weeks later...
Lady Donna Newbie

I too love Carrabas and have never had any issues with G. The last time I was there I had the .......Brian....can't remember the full name. It had goat cheese on it and it was wonderful. If you can eat dairy I would recommend it.

QueenTechnoGeek Newbie

Carabba's is my friend for sure. We all had Chicken Bryan there last night (that's the goat cheese dish). MMMMmmmm. DS2 and I had the gluten-free version (no grill baste). It was just a tad different that the regular, but still very very yummy. I was pleased that the wait staff seemed knowledgeable. Not only did the waiter know what needed to be done for the chicken and the salad, the server who brought the food set the plates down before DS2 and I stating that these were the gluten-free ones.

The only problem I had was heart burn during the night since we ate VERY late and I went to bed as soon as I got home. I know better than that!

  • 3 years later...
Lizanne Newbie

I tried Carrabba's for the first time last week since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. It was one on my favorite places before. I had my old favorite dish - Chicken Marsala which was on their Gluten Free menu. Our waitress was very knowledgable and made me feel comfortable. Food was delicious as usual and I did not get sick. I will continue to dine there.

NGG Newbie

Carrabbas is one of the few places we go when we go out to eat. We have a wild 3-year-old, so it's partly because of her and partly because of the gluten. But I've always had really good luck with them. The one by me is really good about it.

Archived

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

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - ShariW commented on Scott Adams's article in Frequently Asked Questions About Celiac Disease
      4

      What are Celiac Disease Symptoms?

    2. - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

    3. - Scott Adams replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      1

      My only proof

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,908
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    ebrown
    Newest Member
    ebrown
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • klmgarland
      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
    • Scott Adams
      Based on what you've described, it is absolutely possible you are dealing with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.   Your situation is a classic presentation: a negative celiac panel but a clear, recurring pattern of symptoms triggered by gluten. The symptoms you listed—particularly the extreme fatigue, bloating, neurological-psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety, and even the skin manifestations like facial flushing—are all well-documented in research on NCGS. It's important to know that you are not alone in experiencing this specific combination of physical and emotional reactions. The only way to know for sure is to commit to a strict, 100% gluten-free diet under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian for a period of several weeks to see if your symptoms significantly improve. It is also crucial to rule out other potential causes, so discussing these symptoms with a gastroenterologist is a very important next step.
×
×
  • 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.