What Speech Do You Give To Waiters And Mangers

[dhiltonlittle]

What do you usually tell your waiter before ordering out? is there a quick way of telling them all of the details without scaring them off : )

[Jestgar]

I smile, warn them that I'm annoying, and list the things I can't eat. If they seem like they understand what I'm talking about, I just ask that they check for the unexpected (spices on fries, for example) and ask that they double check my intended order.

If they look a little clueless I go into more detail, and give them specifics on what to ask the kitchen.

[summerteeth]

What do you usually tell your waiter before ordering out? is there a quick way of telling them all of the details without scaring them off : )

I have my dining card from Cecilia's Marketplace. I usually ask the waiter or waitress to show it to the chef and/or cook. It has helped IMMENSELY - especially since I was kind of shy about mentioning it when going out to eat. I bought two - my fiance carries one in his wallet and I carry one in my purse.

[Ahorsesoul]

If I know ahead of time, I call to let them know I'll be eating at their restaurant and need to eat gluten free. If I walk in off the street, I have the waiter ask the chef what items on the menu can be made gluten free and hand them one of the gluten free dinning cards. I eat in the Twin Cities and in very small towns. This seems to work for both places. I do not give them a long detailed story and I do not apologize. I leave big tips for people who go that little extra to make my meal enjoyable.

I do let the place know if I have symptoms of being glutened after eating at their place of business. They need to know for the next gluten free person.

[luvs2eat]

We eat out pretty infrequently, partly because there are few restaurants where we live and partly cause we're cheap... and like to cook. We tend to go to casual places w/ gluten-free menus (Chilis, Outback, and the fanciest, PF Chang once in a blue moon) and literally pat the seat and tell the server to take a load off for a min. I tell them I can't eat gluten... many have at least heard of it... and then I tell them it's serious and if the salad comes w/ croutons, I'll have no choice but to ask that another salad to be made... or another burger if it comes on the roll. In reality... if/when it DOES happen? I don't think I'll ask for another and just won't eat... I've worked in restaurant kitchens... 'nuff said.

We're friendly and tip well... we've never/very rarely had a problem.

[luvs2eat]

I do let the place know if I have symptoms of being glutened after eating at their place of business. They need to know for the next gluten free person.

Very good point and idea!!

[Skylark]

I have had too many bad experiences with waiters. There is no possible way to ask all the right questions, and even if you do they will make stuff up. I called one restaurant where I was meeting friends for lunch and they said they could handle gluten-free. I spoke to the waitress and ordered carefully. Even with all that work, I was served a salad with a soy sauce based dressing because the waitress had taken it upon herself to determine what was gluten-free rather than asking the kitchen. I sent it back and spoke to the manager.

My most recent glutening was at a pub where I usually only eat salad. I talked to the waiter looking for something more filling, and he went to the manager and came back saying I could eat the french fries or potato skins. I asked about shared fryers and we realized the french fries were not gluten-free. He swore the potato skins were broiled and not fried. I ate a couple, then went to the manager (who is a friend) to let her know about the french fries and celiac. Turns out the potato skins were also deep fried. I was up to 2 in the morning with diarrhea.

If the restaurant doesn't have enough celiac awareness to have a gluten-free menu prepared in advance or send out a chef who clearly understands celiac to talk to me, I'm only eating plain salad or a whole, plain baked potato from now on. Waiters and managers will poison you out of ignorance and misinformation.

[LynnJ]

I usually check the restaurant's website first and download a gluten-free menu, if one is available (I have a file folder I keep them all in for handy reference). If the website doesn't have one, I explain that I am gluten-intolerant and ask if they have a gluten-free menu, If they don't, I ask if he or she would please ask the chef what entrees do not contain wheat, rye, barley, or malt and if gluten-free foods are prepared and cooked separately. I have had good luck in most restaurants. When in doubt, I just have a plain salad.