A Little Squirrely Down At The Red Robin

[The Fluffy Assassin]

I decided that I had starved enough trying to live off my own cooking (Tip: don't try to go off sugar and dairy at the same time unless you in fact know what in hell you are doing) so I rolled across town to Red Robin. Was seated and asked for the gluten free menu. They handed me a couple of sheets, marked in bold black all-caps to the effect that the information on this menu was no good after 1/1/09. (It was dated, as I recall, 11/28/08; not a lot of lead time at Red Robin.) Oddly, they didn't have any hamburgers, no bun on the menu; in fact they had no sandwiches or wraps at all.

I got the chicken fajitas with rice in place of the flour tortillas. Came with grilled onions and peppers, salsa and guacamole. Fructose malabsorption gurus suggest avoiding onions, but they were so good I didn't avoid them very thoroughly. Ate all the peppers, and they turn out to be legal. Guacamole is, too, but it was awful. Tomatoes are out, so I left them. It still turned out very, very nice. However, if I'm in fact celiac, I'm silent, so how could I tell if any of this was gluten-free? I don't know about their other locations; I thought I'd read nothing but good things about them. But at least in Columbia, I can't really recommend them to celiacs or to the gluten sensitive.

(I did suggest that the server mention to the manager that it's a little past 1/1/09 and that they might want to update the gluten-free menu. She said she would. She was very nice and tried in every way to be accommodating.)

[jststric]

you are like me.....have so many other issues besides just the glutens to worry about. You mention avoiding dairy. That's a no-no for me also. My first thought reading what you did eat was that often the veggies such as your onions and peppers are either sauteed in butter or a little butter is added to them before being plated for flavor and sauce effect. I often ask about cooked veggies being cooked in oil or butter. Unless the establishment is really making a concerted effort to accomodate the customers with food sensitivities, they usually do a pretty poor, haphazard job of it. It sounds like this particular Red Robin wasn't working too hard at being educated themselves or accomodating. I don't know if Red Robin, as a whole, tries to be or advertises that they are, but this one definitely seems lacking. You gotta get over being self-conscious about asking too many questions. And simply knowing how some foods are normally cooked, helps in knowing what questions to ask sometimes.

[The Fluffy Assassin]

you are like me.....have so many other issues besides just the glutens to worry about. You mention avoiding dairy. That's a no-no for me also. My first thought reading what you did eat was that often the veggies such as your onions and peppers are either sauteed in butter or a little butter is added to them before being plated for flavor and sauce effect. I often ask about cooked veggies being cooked in oil or butter. Unless the establishment is really making a concerted effort to accomodate the customers with food sensitivities, they usually do a pretty poor, haphazard job of it. It sounds like this particular Red Robin wasn't working too hard at being educated themselves or accomodating. I don't know if Red Robin, as a whole, tries to be or advertises that they are, but this one definitely seems lacking. You gotta get over being self-conscious about asking too many questions. And simply knowing how some foods are normally cooked, helps in knowing what questions to ask sometimes.

I'm not shy about asking questions, but had the strong sense that she didn't have a clue, the kitchen didn't have a clue, the management didn't have a clue ("THE INFORMATION ON THESE PAGES IS INVALID AFTER 1/1/09!") and my tastebuds can tell butter from oil, and it was oil. But thanks for the reply, and no, I don't think I'll be bob-bob-bobbin' to Red Robin again.

[The Fluffy Assassin]

On the return trip, things were much better. I got a much more experienced server, he produced an up-to-date gluten-free menu, and was much more clued in. (He reminded me not to get Red Robin Seasoning on the fries, either.) Burgers without buns were indeed on the gluten-free menu, and mine was wonderful. So huzzah! It is possible to have a gluten free meal with a fair degree of confidence at the Cola SC Red Robin.

[lizard00]

I'm glad to hear you gave them another try. We have two nearby, and I have not had a problem with either one. The manager always brings my menu out, and things have always been exactly as I ordered them. But, unfortunately, we are left to the mercy of the staff, and if they are not as well trained as others, it can be disasterous.

I always send an email to the customer feedback from the company's main website when I have a good experience with a restaurant who has taken the time to put out a gluten-free menu and train their staff. That way, they know that their efforts are appreciated.

[Juliebove]

I was going to say that we got the burgers with no buns and no cheese and didn't get sick. Took MANY tries to get them that way though. They just kept screwing up our order.

I saw the seasoning on our table and didn't see any gluten listed, but it does have soy so for that reason we asked not to have it.

Our last experience was so bad that I don't think daughter will ever go back.

[The Fluffy Assassin]

On the return, return trip, I had no gluten problems of any kind, but unfortunately the burger was overcooked and the fries were freezer-burned. So with all the good wishes in the world toward Red Robin for the scrupulousness of their gluten-free menu, I'm done with them because of the squirreliness of the cooking in general. Or maybe my own cooking just got that much better.

I decided that I had starved enough trying to live off my own cooking (Tip: don't try to go off sugar and dairy at the same time unless you in fact know what in hell you are doing) so I rolled across town to Red Robin. Was seated and asked for the gluten free menu. They handed me a couple of sheets, marked in bold black all-caps to the effect that the information on this menu was no good after 1/1/09. (It was dated, as I recall, 11/28/08; not a lot of lead time at Red Robin.) Oddly, they didn't have any hamburgers, no bun on the menu; in fact they had no sandwiches or wraps at all.

I got the chicken fajitas with rice in place of the flour tortillas. Came with grilled onions and peppers, salsa and guacamole. Fructose malabsorption gurus suggest avoiding onions, but they were so good I didn't avoid them very thoroughly. Ate all the peppers, and they turn out to be legal. Guacamole is, too, but it was awful. Tomatoes are out, so I left them. It still turned out very, very nice. However, if I'm in fact celiac, I'm silent, so how could I tell if any of this was gluten-free? I don't know about their other locations; I thought I'd read nothing but good things about them. But at least in Columbia, I can't really recommend them to celiacs or to the gluten sensitive.

(I did suggest that the server mention to the manager that it's a little past 1/1/09 and that they might want to update the gluten-free menu. She said she would. She was very nice and tried in every way to be accommodating.)

[conniebky]

On the return, return trip, I had no gluten problems of any kind, but unfortunately the burger was overcooked and the fries were freezer-burned. So with all the good wishes in the world toward Red Robin for the scrupulousness of their gluten-free menu, I'm done with them because of the squirreliness of the cooking in general. Or maybe my own cooking just got that much better.

I got a gluten free burger from Red Robin at work. They said the fries were gluten free one place and not gluten free in another place.

I took a bite of one and decided not to eat any more. The no bun burger was good but overcooked. LOL when I saw that someone said "squirrly" I knew you had to be a southerner!

[earthtoneNJ]

I've had good luck with Red Robin, but I always go to the same location (Clifton NJ) - maybe it varies from place to place. I ask for the allergy book when I walk in, but then I always order the exact same thing The book has a section for gluten, which I have to cross-reference with the section for dairy (better than flying blind, like I have to do with most gluten-free menus). I know the gluten-free menu says to order everything without the seasoning - I wouldn't want it anyway, it's so full of MSG. I don't order the fries bc I don't think they're in a dedicated fryer - not sure - besides, the steamed veg they sub are really tasty & colorful. I love the lettuce wrapped burgers and my glutenous fiance orders them that way too now. My order is always: guac burger with bacon, no cheese, no seasoning, lettuce wrap, no fries, sub steamed vegetables. Complicated, but I've never had an order come out wrong. (Oddly, I think the guac is awful on its own, too, but it's good on the burger).

[The Fluffy Assassin]

LOL when I saw that someone said "squirrly" I knew you had to be a southerner!

Most people just assume I was dropped on my head as a baby. (Ducking, running away)