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Well Now I Got In A Fight At Pf Changs.


conniebky

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conniebky Collaborator

We all ordered PF Changs at work today. 17 orders, ok, I know people are human, etc., but my friend came back with all the food and I see no gluten-free orange stickers.

Nothing in there looked like what I get. So I took what no one else took, it looked like the chicken that I usually get, I go over there and I go "this doesn't say gluten-free" and she looks at it and goes, "oh, it's ok, it's gluten-free".

I said, seriously, I don't want to be rude, and I'm not mad atcha, but I really don't feel cmfortable eating it, I will get very sick."

She repeats it. I go, "you know me, I come in here ALL the time, please, I don't want to chance this.

She argues with me about it.

So, here came the hillbilly. I put my purse down and said, "I ain't eatin' it."

"it's fine" she said.

"I ain't eatin it".

"it's fine"

So, we had a standoff about it.

So she takes it in the back and I could see the kitchen and it was interesting because they were all back there with their woks and one guy went over to the side and came out with a different, silver wok and scrubbed it out, stuck it in the sink, scrubbed it again and wiped it with a towel and threw my chicken in there.

So I guess they have dedicated woks there cuz all the others were black and there were plenty of empty black ones.

And maybe it was fine, and maybe I was being a brat, but what would you all have done? 17 orders, that's a lot, and each had to be paid for separately, would you have trusted it and taken the chance?


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Skylark Collaborator

I would have gone hillbilly too! They have procedures in place for letting customers know they got safe food. It's not my problem if they can't follow their own rules!

kareng Grand Master

The policy is to put the sticker on so you know. The owners of PF Changs are very committed to the gluten-free stuff. Go to the website. It has a phone number, address and I think you you can email. Let them know what happened and the location. Really, my neighbor is a part owner of some of them and if it were his store, that girl would be gone.

When you said he threw your chicken in, did he take it out of the box or start fresh?

txplowgirl Enthusiast

:lol: LOL, Sick em, Connie. Good goin girl, been there done that. If they don't like it that's their problem. You have to stick up for yourself and your health because if you don't who will?

I have been glutened at PF Changs even after I talked to the waiter and even talked with the chef. So, I stay out of restaurants except for a treat every so often.

Hang in there and keep your chin up. All us hillbilly's need to stick together. :P

Frances03 Enthusiast

I think you were totally correct. I probably would have been worse. I would have said "hey, this isn't marked and I want it remade" and anything she said after that I would have just kept repeating myself until it got thru her head :P I like what you did, totally called for!

conniebky Collaborator

Two things I forgot to mention.

What I brought back, she said, "well this is honey chicken, not the gluten-free chicken that you ordered" (from my receipt) and I said well then I can't eat that either. Why argue with me?

Also, she brought it out without the gluten-free sticker and goes, 'guess ya don't need a sticker now' :o

I'm so disappointed cuz I spend close to $50-60 a WEEK there and it's always delicious and never makes me sick. They even sent me a 10% off everything I order card for the love of mike!

Kareng - the chicken that he put in there was raw - I saw it.

...guess ya don't need a sticker now...... smart mouth.

And my friends and I had just decided on Changs instead of Mexican for our supper!

kareng Grand Master

Two things I forgot to mention.

What I brought back, she said, "well this is honey chicken, not the gluten-free chicken that you ordered" (from my receipt) and I said well then I can't eat that either. Why argue with me?

Also, she brought it out without the gluten-free sticker and goes, 'guess ya don't need a sticker now' :o

I'm so disappointed cuz I spend close to $50-60 a WEEK there and it's always delicious and never makes me sick. They even sent me a 10% off everything I order card for the love of mike!

Kareng - the chicken that he put in there was raw - I saw it.

...guess ya don't need a sticker now...... smart mouth.

And my friends and I had just decided on Changs instead of Mexican for our supper!

Please do email the corporate office. They can't fix stuff they don't know is broken. This is a company that cares about the gluten-free and allergen free food.


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Skylark Collaborator

You need to talk to the manager. They should not be treating a loyal customer that way and I bet they'll want to set things right.

tarnalberry Community Regular

Don't argue with the waitstaff. Just ask for the manager the moment they "talk back".

Aphreal Contributor

I would be afraid to take the chance too. There is a reason why you ask for gluten-free stuff. They should take it seriously.

precious831 Contributor

We all ordered PF Changs at work today. 17 orders, ok, I know people are human, etc., but my friend came back with all the food and I see no gluten-free orange stickers.

Nothing in there looked like what I get. So I took what no one else took, it looked like the chicken that I usually get, I go over there and I go "this doesn't say gluten-free" and she looks at it and goes, "oh, it's ok, it's gluten-free".

I said, seriously, I don't want to be rude, and I'm not mad atcha, but I really don't feel cmfortable eating it, I will get very sick."

She repeats it. I go, "you know me, I come in here ALL the time, please, I don't want to chance this.

She argues with me about it.

So, here came the hillbilly. I put my purse down and said, "I ain't eatin' it."

"it's fine" she said.

"I ain't eatin it".

"it's fine"

So, we had a standoff about it.

So she takes it in the back and I could see the kitchen and it was interesting because they were all back there with their woks and one guy went over to the side and came out with a different, silver wok and scrubbed it out, stuck it in the sink, scrubbed it again and wiped it with a towel and threw my chicken in there.

So I guess they have dedicated woks there cuz all the others were black and there were plenty of empty black ones.

And maybe it was fine, and maybe I was being a brat, but what would you all have done? 17 orders, that's a lot, and each had to be paid for separately, would you have trusted it and taken the chance?

LOL well done! You know I've gotten sick once at PF Changs. It hasn't happened since last yr. That person you spoke to is very unprofessional and I think you should talk to the manager or write a letter to headquarters.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star

Girl, with as often as you eat there, they should give you a free meal for your troubles. Write a letter to corporate about how rude they were. Include the time of the order and the person you talked to if you know their name. Be sure to mention how often you frequent their restaurant for their gluten free menu.

conniebky Collaborator

Girl, with as often as you eat there, they should give you a free meal for your troubles. Write a letter to corporate about how rude they were. Include the time of the order and the person you talked to if you know their name. Be sure to mention how often you frequent their restaurant for their gluten free menu.

I am going to contact the restaurant. Headquarters. I don't know why SO MANY people have those stinky little attitudes.

  • 2 weeks later...
Kelly&Mom Rookie

Huh, I wouldn't have eaten it either...... So far our local PF Changs has been wonderful except last time they forgot to mark which leftovers were gluten-free.......

Hope you get a good response and that wicked waitress learns a lesson or two about empathy and respect!

Cheryl-C Enthusiast

It sounds mean, but this kind of thing I would blame on the attitudes of people who are gluten-free by choice, as in, people cutting back the carbs to lose some weight or something. I've heard people say such things, "I eat gluten-free because it's a good way to lose weight," meaning if they get cc'd it doesn't matter. It undercuts those of us who make special requests for an ACTUAL reason.

Neal77 Newbie

Please let us know what they say at corporate

  • 4 weeks later...
StacyA Enthusiast

These situations are delicate. We get angry, and justifiably so, but I fear two things about getting aggressive: 1)having restaurants think people with celiac's are defensive and demanding and then cringe whenever they are faced with us, and 2)getting the staff angry enough they sabatoge my food when they're out of sight (people are human).

I tend toward assertive - which is between passive and aggressive. I give respect and ask for respect - kind of like Patrick Swayze in 'Road House' - "be nice - until it's time to not be nice". "Nice" is assertive. "Not be nice" is aggressive. If it's time to not be nice, then it may also time to not eat in that restaurant anymore.

I smile and say things like: "Food allergies and intolerances are sooo tricky, I know. I appreciate you all accommodating me, but it looks like there's a big chance this food will make me sick. Can I just talk to the manager? Thank you so much." (I always say 'thank you' before the person even moves, because I'm assuming they'll comply.)

Gemini Experienced

We all ordered PF Changs at work today. 17 orders, ok, I know people are human, etc., but my friend came back with all the food and I see no gluten-free orange stickers.

Nothing in there looked like what I get. So I took what no one else took, it looked like the chicken that I usually get, I go over there and I go "this doesn't say gluten-free" and she looks at it and goes, "oh, it's ok, it's gluten-free".

I said, seriously, I don't want to be rude, and I'm not mad atcha, but I really don't feel cmfortable eating it, I will get very sick."

She repeats it. I go, "you know me, I come in here ALL the time, please, I don't want to chance this.

She argues with me about it.

So, here came the hillbilly. I put my purse down and said, "I ain't eatin' it."

"it's fine" she said.

"I ain't eatin it".

"it's fine"

So, we had a standoff about it.

So she takes it in the back and I could see the kitchen and it was interesting because they were all back there with their woks and one guy went over to the side and came out with a different, silver wok and scrubbed it out, stuck it in the sink, scrubbed it again and wiped it with a towel and threw my chicken in there.

So I guess they have dedicated woks there cuz all the others were black and there were plenty of empty black ones.

And maybe it was fine, and maybe I was being a brat, but what would you all have done? 17 orders, that's a lot, and each had to be paid for separately, would you have trusted it and taken the chance?

Connie...you never fail to crack me up!!! Hillbilly? We should all become hillbillies then as I really respect what you did!

Personally, this new attitude in business of arguing with the customer, when they have a valid complaint, just floors me. No wonder businesses fail today. Was that the manager you spoke with? I would have contacted the district manager and made one loud, hillbilly complaint! :lol:

I have been to PF Chang's twice and will never go back. I do not think their food is very good...mediocre, at best. It's also extremely salty. That, coupled with complaints I have heard from other Celiacs about their very spotty service and questionable safe gluten-free food, drove me away. Good for you, lady! ;)

glutenfree-chick Newbie

We all ordered PF Changs at work today. 17 orders, ok, I know people are human, etc., but my friend came back with all the food and I see no gluten-free orange stickers.

I wouldnt have eaten it either. If they normally have a gluten free label then, they should always have it labeled.

I was told something was gluten free once, and turns out... NOT GLUTEN FREE!

I went back a few days later and the lady denied ever seeing me.

That was at a neighborhood restaurant though. Nothing big and corporate like pf changs though.

I like ordering my stuff online a lot of the time now.

Schwans has some gluten free stuff that they deliver.

also, my all time favorite place Guilt-Free Comfort delivers now too.

But I usually just stick to their desserts only though.

I have one hell of a sweet tooth.

VioletBlue Contributor

Also, she brought it out without the gluten-free sticker and goes, 'guess ya don't need a sticker now' :o

That would have sent me over the edge. Was she the manager? If not I would have screamed for the manager and given him/her a piece of my mind. Then I would have gone to my computer and contacted corporate through their website. Her attitude is unacceptible from someone who's JOB IT IS to provide food and customer service.

But that's maybe just me :P

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