Rudy's Not Gluten Free

[virginiagl]

Yesterday the office called in an order to Rudy's to reward us all for being such hard workers. Naturally no one asked for my input at all about alternatives for me...guess I better just accept this will never happen(today they ordered in Pizza for everyone but didn't ask me what I would like). So I get on the phone to talk to Rudy's because everyone says oh girl you can meat...it isn't wheat! Errrr no...that isn't quite right...

So anyway, I call Rudy's, tell them I can't have any gluten, and the girl says oh hey we have a card for that and she starts to read a pre-printed card that states only their side dishes have gluten. So I am still skeptical and I grill her(no pun intended)about further and she assures me that I will be safe with the meat. I said what about your marinades and bbq sauces and spices? She says they are gluten free too.

Well guess what? I had a reaction. And so I called back today and spoke with a manager and they can't guarantee their meats are gluten-free and that was supposedly on that card and the person I spoke with failed to understand it. Argggghhhh I hate being gluten intolerant! I truly hate this!

[Reba32]

that really sucks. Management really should teach people how to properly understand their nutrition and allergy information, they could do someone some serious harm!

[psawyer]

[T]hey can't guarantee their ... are gluten-free

The reality is that nobody can, and anybody who claims that they can is misinformed (or lying). Cross contact (or human error) can occur at any point on the supply chain, including items purchased by this company from a third party. Even the best testing for contamination (if it is done at all) has limits on sensitivity. The most common test will detect 20 parts per million (ppm)--a small amount, but not zero.

[skigirlchar]

that really sucks. Management really should teach people how to properly understand their nutrition and allergy information, they could do someone some serious harm!

HAHA - no, i'm not laughing because i think it's funny, but because i understand

i had the same issue and had to explain to the staff at Tevana that while I was buying a tea pot and cups from them i would never be buying from them because i had just watched them used the same scoop in 3 teas and the cross contamination could kill me

[virginiagl]

yeah cross contamination might be what happened to me at Rudy's for all I know. I am just barely starting to understand how cross contamination is really a factor. I have a bunch of wooden spoons that are years old...I guess they are probably gluten laden and will need to be thrown away.

In Rudy's defense though, I do know they try hard. When I spoke to the manager she was very nice and supportive. They are going to report this to their corporate office and I will probably be hearing from them. I really don't want to have to give up on them too on top of everything else I am being deprived of.

[jenngolightly]

I'm sorry this happened to you. This has happened to me so many times... I'm afraid to eat out anymore. I think this happens to many of us - we become paranoid and, in turn, reclusive. When our coworkers decide to go out to lunch or order in, we run in fear, take cover, and sit cowering in the corner to make sure that their gluten food doesn't flies through the air to land on our precious home-made lunch.

BTW - I'm at the anger stage of grieving.

[mbrookes]

Just a suggestion... Thai Kitchen makes several dishes that are gluten free. They do not have to be refrigerated, so you can do like I do... keep a couple in a desk drawer and when everyone orders pizza (or whatever) microwave your Thai lunch and enjoy the comraderie at lunch.

[kareng]

We have a nice ($$$) restuarant here with this on the gluten-free menu "...dressing contains a potato starch that is the same as flour" & "No Potato Products". Makes you feel real confident that they know what gluten-free means. Got a response from the head chef that basically said that they think potatoes have gluten.

[Bella001]

I pulled their info online today. None of their BBQ sauce or meat except for the pulled pork contain gluten...or so they say! All desserts are OUT, which doesn't surprise me. I noticed that the BBQ sauce does contain sulfites...maybe that is what you reacted to?? I know that is a problem for a lot of people.

[MelindaLee]

I believe the most important thing to do is to keep talking to all restaurants and educating them. I am lucky, there are several in our area, including the pub down the block from my office, that carry gluten free menu's. I too have been glutened, and it stinks, but I always use the opportunity to complain to(I mean educate ) the management. We need to advocate for ourselves. We are making progress, given the number of establishments who are educating themselves and their employees on gluten-free diets.

[Rowena]

Unfortunately, It sucks when this happens. I had this experience just last week, and I called this restaurant that had a gluten free restaurant. I completely grilled them about their supposed gluten free menu. Fortunately the guy I talked to didn't say that it wa absolutely gluten free, like your person did. Anyway, after grilling him, I realized that most restaurants DON'T completely realize gluten free means gluten free. Thankfully we didn't end up going to said restaurant. But like it sounds like you called before hand, which I recommend doing, and thus the blame does fall on them. Sucks you had to be so sick afterwards, but at least they are trying to learn. And that the other person you talked to at least seemed to have a better understanding. Anyway...

[Austin Guy]

I eat at Rudy's amd fine if I eat only the meat.  Can't do the slaw as it contains eggs and can't do the sauce as it contains fish.  I just had turkey and sausage from there today and feel pretty good.

[kareng]

I eat at Rudy's amd fine if I eat only the meat.  Can't do the slaw as it contains eggs and can't do the sauce as it contains fish.  I just had turkey and sausage from there today and feel pretty good.

These posts were from about 4 years ago. Hopefully, they are better at gluten free now? I have found that some places that said they wouldn't even try to do gluten-free 4 years ago are really into it today (2014).

[AndrewSATX]

Me and my fiancee just ate there she got sick. I told here they serve bread (and lots of it) and it is cross contaminated all over the serving stations.

[ponstott]

Rudy's is one of my favorite places to eat, but you do have to be VERY careful due to cross-contamination.  I always get the cutter's choice brisket, some form of potatoes (new potatoes or baked potato), pinto beans, 3-bean salad and use generous slathering of their regular BBQ sauce, not the Sissy Sauce.   My daughter has gotten sick a couple of times dining with us at Rudy's, but we have narrowed down the culprit to cross contamination.  She usually orders the stuffed baked potato, gets brisket (chopped up)--not the chopped BBQ, and asks them to use a new plastic knife to  cut open the potato.  They use tissue to pick up the chopped meat and put it on the potato which also comes with sour cream, butter/margarine, and grated cheddar cheese.  They have always been very courteous about accommodating us.  This has eliminated my daughter from having reactions.  (The regular metal knife had been used on bread.)  I also reach over the tray as it is being filled and place one of their paper tissues over my meat or potato so that when they place my husband's bread slices or sandwich (made with regular bread), crumbs won't get on my food.  I am so thankful for Rudy's--it is so good--and with taking these precautions, I believe it is relatively safe.  

[Qwerty-]

I just went there last week and the lady was very helpful. She came back to our table several times to ask about the meal and I was fine afterwards.

[TexasJen]

Since this post is going around again, I thought I would add my recent experience at Rudy's.  The staff was very helpful and accommodating. I ordered my family's food first put it on a tray and then ordered mine separately.  I ordered only chicken and turkey. The staff changed gloves and used a new cutting board and knife. My server washed his hands, wiped down the scale and put my meat separately into a tray. I washed my hands before I ate. I did not eat any of the side and brought my own fruit to go with it.  

Since I don't get immediate symptoms, I can't tell you if that was enough. But, their meat (except the pork - maybe ) is gluten free.  I think I did everything I can to avoid CC and the staff was extremely helpful . This is the only restaurant I have eaten at in 4 months if that tells you anything.

I love Rudy's!!!