1st Trip To Outback

[SGWhiskers]

I'm planning dinner out with a friend on Monday. I have a 50/50 record of glutening while dining out, so I gave up restaraunts. Outback is a convenient 1/2 way meeting spot, so I'm gonna give it a go. I'd consider myself a super sensitive. What advice do you have for making this a success. I'm scared of being sick all week.

[jerseyangel]

I'm planning dinner out with a friend on Monday. I have a 50/50 record of glutening while dining out, so I gave up restaraunts. Outback is a convenient 1/2 way meeting spot, so I'm gonna give it a go. I'd consider myself a super sensitive. What advice do you have for making this a success. I'm scared of being sick all week.

I'm super sensitive, too and really only eat at either PF Changs or Outback. Both outlets in my area are excellent, the manager, chefs, and waitstaff are well versed in cooking gluten-free. It goes without saying that success varies with the individual location and staff.

With that said, I have no problem with the Victoria Filet. I don't chance salad--I would suggest either the mashed potato, baked potato, and/or the veggies. Be sure to order everything without the seasoned butter--it contains gluten. They will bring you a little dish of plain whipped butter if you ask.

I did have a mild issue with the sirloin--it is prepared with "seasonings". I think something in those got to me. Not a terrible reaction, but enough that I wouldn't order it again.

Be sure to let the waiter know of your concerns and ask to speak with the manager. That can really give you a

"feel" for how well they understand and deal with cross contamination.

Hope you have a great time!

[captaincrab55]

I took my wife to OutBack for her birthday back in July.. It was my first restaurant outing since going gluten-free in early June of this year. I requested a gluten-free menu and I was informed of the staff's awareness of gluten & cc.

The food was good, great gluten-free experience out and will return to OutBack...

I hope your OutBack experience is as Great as mine was in Perry Hall, Maryland...

[Heidi S.]

Outback is my favorite gluten-free restaurant chain.

I am very sensitive as well. The Outback's in Georgia are VERY knowledgeable! The ones in North Carolina that I have been to are not as much but still great!

I normally get the Victoria filet as well sometimes the outback special. I love the garlic mash potatoes and if I get a caesar salad I ALWAYS ask for dressing on the side. I have ordered many of their entrees though and never had a bad one.

I do remind the waitress even if she/he knows to change gloves/wash her hands and mix the salad in a separate bowl, although with dressing on the side they normally just put the salad in your bowl no mixing.

The outback desert Thunder Down Under is awesome and they make it gluten-free. Makes you feel like a normal person with a full meal!

Remember inform all waitstaff and ask for the gluten free menu. I make it very obvious that I am sensitive and they need to be very careful with my food. I always judge their knowledge by the number of Gluten free menus (1 menu for the whole restaurant=not as trained, several menus=very familiar)

Hope you have an awesome time!

[SGWhiskers]

Do I need to ask for the fillet cooked on foil?

[elle's mom]

.............if I get a caesar salad I ALWAYS ask for dressing on the side. I have ordered many of their entrees though and never had a bad one.

I do remind the waitress even if she/he knows to change gloves/wash her hands and mix the salad in a separate bowl, although with dressing on the side they normally just put the salad in your bowl no mixing.

I have a question about getting the dressing on the side; I have read this before and wondered. So if the dressing is gluten-free, then why would you need it on the side; is it just so they will make you a fresh salad in a clean bowl? I haven't mastered the restaurant thing yet either, always feel weird making special requests, and just wish I could order a gluten-free item and not have to say another word about it. I know, can't do it.

[Heidi S.]

I have never asked for my steak to be cooked on foil at Outback. They are certified GIG and have a code in the computer for gluten-free steak, I am not sure how they prepare it but my husband who worked for Outback back in college said they certain parts of the grill for steaks and all their steak seasoning is gluten-free so I think that is why I am ok when I eat it.

Gluten free test Outbacks like the Roswell, GA (near Atlanta) even have gluten-free buns and appetizers!

About the salad: What they do to evenly spread the dressing is use a large bowl that they put in dressing, croutons, lettuce, etc and mix it thoroughly. They are trained to use a new fresh clean bowl for gluten-free salads but I don't like to take the chance and the dressing is always a bit heavy for me anyway. So if you ask for dressing on the side, your salad is simply built ONLY in your bowl and never touches the community mixing bowl clean or unclean. They have many gluten-free salad dressings! You can add grilled chicken or shrimp too!

[jerseyangel]

Do I need to ask for the fillet cooked on foil?

I don't--they are supposed to clean a section of the grill for your food. Ask the manager/server about that.

[msmini14]

I love the Outback! I always ask for the manager anywhere I go and eat. I explain that I have Celiac and that I must eat gluten free and to please take pre-cautions while preparing my food. They always understand and will work with you.

I went to FL over this last weekend and I really did get sick of explaining myself at least three times a day lol but my trip was awesome and I ate some really good food.

Good luck to you and enjoy yourself! The desert at the outback is really good =)

[SGWhiskers]

Success! Thank you everyone. I ordered the sirlion without seasoning(just in case) and the incredible garlic mashed potatoes and unseasoned veggies. I wasstuffed, but got the dessert anyway! I was in heaven. I even had enough left over for lunch the next day. My waitress happened to have anaphalactic food allergies, and even though she didn't know what celiac was, she was all over the kitchen staff about following the gluten free rules. I got her name, so when I go back, we will ask for her again. I asked how often they had people ask for the glluten free menue and she said almost never, "so it is good you remind us about the precautions we need to take."

Thanks for the help. I now feel free from the chains of the kitchen.

[jerseyangel]

Success!

I'm so glad it all went well!!

[Heidi S.]

I'm so glad it all went well!!

Me too, very happy it worked out for you! It is extremely nice to have a full meal at a restaurant and be served

[minniejack]

glad you had great success. reading the posts reminds me that even though you are holding the gluten-free menu, you've eaten there a dozen times in the past year, and the waiter, who had just examined your menu because it was different, does not necessarily know what you're talking about. The waiter brought our salads loaded with croutons--and I was scared to death to eat them when he returned with new--I kept looking underneath for crumbs.

I've talked to the manager at our local Outback on several occassions and he has assured me that all of the employees go through extensive gluten-free training and he has a few employees that need to be gluten-free. Some training: I think it goes like this: Look, these are the gluten free menus, hand them out when a customer asks for one. Now, go wait on tables.

[LHerv]

I'm up in Idaho with my mom moving into my new apartment and vacationing. We went up to McCall today for a road trip and were told to go to this local restaurant with an amazing salad bar. Well, the "Amazing" salad bar was TINY! So i decided to get a burger without the bun and get the salad bar instead of the fries. When we asked the waitress if she could make sure they cleaned off the grill before grilling my burger she literally stared at us for about 15 seconds with the rudest look on her face! I was tempted to make a snide remark but refrained out of fear she would put gluten in my food just to spite me! I left feeling fine but still annoyed with the way she treated us. Then for dinner we were going to go get sushi (I brought my own gluten-free soy sauce) we walked into the place and immediately left out of fear of food poisoning! It was nasty looking! There was an Outback near by and I had heard they had a gluten-free menu. We decided to go there, I asked for the gluten free menu and they handed it to me. I saw the baby back ribs (my favorite meal before i was gluten-free) was on the gluten-free menu, i was hesitant because so many bbq sauces have gluten in them but found a disclaimer on the menu about all the sauces/dressings that were and were not gluten free! They were extremely knowledgeable and nice to me! The menu tells you everything to substitute or that will not be included when ordering gluten free! I left extremely satisfied and happy with the service! (minus not being able to enjoy their amazing bread! Their next step should be making that gluten free!!)

Long story short, Outback won MAJOR points with me tonight!