Going Out To Eat With Friends

[Googles]

Hello.

I need some advice. I have friends who are coming to my area to visit. They want to take me out to eat. But we don't know exactly when they will get in. Since they are going to pay, I want to let them decide where to eat. I have only gone out a couple of times since I was diagnosed last year and have moved since then so don't know a lot of the restaurants in my area. I don't think they know my area well. I haven't seen them since I was diagnosed. I know they have a couple of friends with celiac, but I don't know how much they know about it. I do know they are worried about me getting sick from going out to eat, and they don't want that (neither do I). How do I deal with this situation. It is really new. I don't want them to feel restricted. But they are just planning on calling me when they get into town and then picking me up to go out. I don't know what to expect. I haven't seen my friends in a couple of years. Any advice would be really helpful.

[Gfresh404]

Hello.

I need some advice. I have friends who are coming to my area to visit. They want to take me out to eat. But we don't know exactly when they will get in. Since they are going to pay, I want to let them decide where to eat. I have only gone out a couple of times since I was diagnosed last year and have moved since then so don't know a lot of the restaurants in my area. I don't think they know my area well. I haven't seen them since I was diagnosed. I know they have a couple of friends with celiac, but I don't know how much they know about it. I do know they are worried about me getting sick from going out to eat, and they don't want that (neither do I). How do I deal with this situation. It is really new. I don't want them to feel restricted. But they are just planning on calling me when they get into town and then picking me up to go out. I don't know what to expect. I haven't seen my friends in a couple of years. Any advice would be really helpful.

I think you'd be surprised (as I was) to discover how many restaurants now offer gluten-free menus. I would just simply do some research on the restaurants in your area, find out which ones offer gluten-free menus. And then let your friends choose from those restaurants. If they're worried about you getting sick, I doubt they'd mind at all.

[Skylark]

I think you'd be surprised (as I was) to discover how many restaurants now offer gluten-free menus. I would just simply do some research on the restaurants in your area, find out which ones offer gluten-free menus. And then let your friends choose from those restaurants. If they're worried about you getting sick, I doubt they'd mind at all.

That's exactly what I do when I go out with friends. I suggest a few different places that have something I know I can eat and let them choose.

[Tina B]

I've been doing this since 1990 and eat in all kinds of restaurants and not just here in the US. It's only been in the last few years that restaurants are offering special menus. It doesn't matter, I have not had a problem ordering off of the regular menus. Last week we went out and I had shrimp cocktail appetizer followed by a nice grilled veal chop, baked sweet potato and grilled asparagus. On another occasion things like scallops in bacon, rosemary baked chicken etc. Just a few examples. Look through the menu for grilled or baked. Ask about toppings if not sure. Most restuarants have no problem finding out if a particular dish has a crumb topping or is breaded and will be willing to leave it off. Avoid anything with a sauce because they may have been thickened with flour. also, if you are going to a chain restaurant, many of them offer gluten free info on line. I just typed in )gluten free menus chain restaurants in google and got a whole page of info.

There is soooo much on the regular menus that is OK. Just speak up. I was in a restaraunt on another time and and asked about a topping on a fish dish. The waiter said "is it a gluten thing?" I said yes and he said "let me talk to the chef." He came back with many more entree suggestions that the chef could do gluten free. I don't mind telling waiters it is an allergy (even though it isn't) because if they think you will swell up immediately and pass out in their restaurant they are definitely willing to avoid that :-)

[Ahorsesoul]

You do not need to worry about what your friends will think. Real friends will not mind, the other kind of friends do not matter.

Do check with the restaurants before your friends come. I suggest you go in during off hours to talk with the owners and chef about what you can eat. Take along one of the free dinning cards to hand them. I always have something in my bag to eat just in-case. I have no problem sitting while other people eat if I get into a situation where there is nothing for me. I'm there for their company so I just enjoy.

For dessert I will ask what brand ice cream they serve. If it's gluten free I order vanilla with Kahlua to make an adult sundae. Many times other people in the group will change their dessert order after hearing what I ordered. If the ice cream isn't gluten free I order coffee and Kahlua. Just make sure your favorite liqueur is tolerated by you. Just having a cup of coffee or tea in front of you will often put other people at ease if you are not eating.

Your attitude about being gluten free will make all the difference. I just will not eat if I think I might get sick. I do not whine about having nothing to eat if that is the way it turns out. I still enjoy the time with my friends.

[sandsurfgirl]

They have other friends with celiac and are worried about you. These friend are keepers!!! You pick the restaurant. They will understand and what's more, they are tired from traveling. They will appreciate you doing the research and just saying "Let's go here."

[summerteeth]

I have a few restaurants that I know I can go to (2 Asian restaurants, 1 Mexican restaurant, 1 chain, 1 local/American-ized food) so between these restaurants we always have somewhere we can go. If for some reason we want to try something new, I try to find their menu online and then call the restaurant at a non-hectic hour (like 2 in the afternoon on a Thursday or whatever) and ask A LOT of questions (such as: are you familiar with a gluten free diet, do you have anything that can accommodate me, what kind of sauces do you use, can you make a certain dish "naked", etc). Then, I always bring my dining card and mention that I spoke to so and so previously. This usually works for me.

[Googles]

Thank you all for the advice. I've never eaten out here and only once or twice before I moved. I'm a very poor student so don't go out to eat so it is all really new. You all make this so much easier. I'm just so scared about getting sick because they are coming in the middle of the week and I can't miss class or I fail. I don't have to tell you all how bad it is. I hate food. Thank you all for the advice. You are all amazing.