Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Response To Outback That I Copied From Reader's Digest


minniejack

Recommended Posts

minniejack Contributor

After being glutened for the 2nd time in a little over 2 years at the Outback, I sent them an email detailing why I was peeved. It took the manager over 2 wks to respond to me and he basically took no blame just that the Outback gets compliments all the time regarding their gluten free menu and how the waitress had just returned to work after being off for a while getting her teaching degree.

I promptly sent him back this reply which I copied from the March 2010 Readers Digest and I think I'm going to keep it in my stock pile of what to send from now on to restaurants when I get glutened--not often, but I think this response nails it.

Servers should have the maturity to realize that when a customer tells them about a food allergy, it's not to annoy them. We are trying our best not to have to spend the weekend in the bathroom, the emergency room, or the morgue.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



RideAllWays Enthusiast

That is fantastic.

  • 2 weeks later...
Black Sheep Apprentice

*wild applause* Fabulous! :lol:

CarolinaKip Community Regular

I've yet to eat at an Outback, been too afraid! I know it depends on who is the server and cooker...

MaryJones2 Enthusiast

I had the pleasure of going on a sightseeing tour in Savannah with about two dozen Outback managers and a regional manager for the southeast recently. Outback is very committed to serving the celiac community and spend quite a bit of time and money on training. Please contact Outback's corporate headquarters if you are having a problem with a particular Outback. I've eaten at a dozen or so and never had anything but positive experiences.

minniejack Contributor

I had the pleasure of going on a sightseeing tour in Savannah with about two dozen Outback managers and a regional manager for the southeast recently. Outback is very committed to serving the celiac community and spend quite a bit of time and money on training. Please contact Outback's corporate headquarters if you are having a problem with a particular Outback. I've eaten at a dozen or so and never had anything but positive experiences.

I, too, have had the pleasure of eating at the Savannah one and it is NOT my local Outback. So glad that you have had positive experiences, but I have not--and I complained on the corporate site with the local manager responding (St. Clairsville, Ohio store if you all want to know which restaurant).

Obviously, you are somehow in the Outback circle with the experience you just described--most of us do not have that pleasure and have to rely on ourselves or sheer luck to have positive experiences at Outback restaurants.

MaryJones2 Enthusiast

Minniejack,

Please reread my reply. I was not referring to the Savannah Outback location. I am not connected to the company in any way. I just don't think it's appropriate to bash all Outbacks because you had two bad experiences in two plus years at one location. We all eat out at our own risk. Mistakes are bound to happen. I am merely suggesting that if you have an issue with Outback to call the corporate offices.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



MindytheOrganist Enthusiast

Love the note! We have eaten at several Outback restaurants with no problems at all. We've also had no problems with Famous Dave's. Still, with my DH virtually symptom-free, we probably would never know if he was glutened.

He was glutened accidentally at Biaggi's, and inadvertently ate the regular bread that is brought to the table (I wasn't with him, so I couldn't warn him). Even knowing he was glutened, he had no symptoms. I'm glad he doesn't suffer from the distressing symptoms some people have, but it's not knowing for sure that is an aggravation. The only way we know he had improved is that his iron levels are back to normal.

minniejack Contributor

I did reread your reply and I came back with the same impression--I was not able to eat with Outback managers and it has been more than 2 experiences in 2 years. I actually googled and came up with some Outback experiences that I had had that I I'd forgotten about. I was not bashing as you say Outbacks, I was providing a pithy response for people that was copied from a magazine. Sorry that you could not use that reply in your efforts to uphold a company that I have had BAD experiences with. I won't be checking this thread again so don't bother with a response.

kareng Grand Master

Janetw, I think I understand what you said. You were going on a sight- seeing tour and some people from Outback and a family from Ohio and a couple from Italy were also on it. ( or some such assortment of tourists). :). You got to chatting with the folks from Outback. Might have talked to the 8 year old from Ohio, too.

It can be hard to make ourselves understood in this format. I will be happy to translate as needed. :)

Did I get this right?

Jestgar Rising Star

I rarely find that being rude gets me what I want in the end. If I really want a place to eat out I'll work with them to get them to understand my specifications rather than send off a sniping message.

It comes down to what do you want? To feel righteous or to have dinner?

CeliacAndCfsCrusader Apprentice

Seems pretty simple to me.

I patronize those restaurants that "get it", whether their Corporate HQ is interested in serving gluten-free patrons or not.

For example, I gave Ted's Montana Grill 3 chances (2 different locations), I got cc'd twice. No need to write to Corporate, I just gave up giving them my business.

If they were the only restaurant in town, maybe I'd make the effort, but they are not.

It's pretty apparent when all 3 of their servers had no clue about gluten-free dining, even though they have a separate menu.

On the other hand, if I DO find a restaurant that is a favorite and something suddenly changes for the worse...then I'm absolutely going to mention it.

Everyone is different, but life is too short to fight each and every battle.

mbrookes Community Regular

I find that using humor, tinged with sincerity, works for me.

Server: My name is Ted and I'll be taking care of you tonight.

Me: My name is Marilyn and I am the customer from hell (laugh)

No, really, I have a special problem that I need your help with.

Then I explain what I need and ask the server for reccommendations. Just about always works.

  • 2 weeks later...
momo2cuties Newbie

I got sick there just last night!!! Thank you for the note!

quote name='minniejack' date='02 October 2010 - 09:12 PM' timestamp='1286075555' post='643638']

After being glutened for the 2nd time in a little over 2 years at the Outback, I sent them an email detailing why I was peeved. It took the manager over 2 wks to respond to me and he basically took no blame just that the Outback gets compliments all the time regarding their gluten free menu and how the waitress had just returned to work after being off for a while getting her teaching degree.

I promptly sent him back this reply which I copied from the March 2010 Readers Digest and I think I'm going to keep it in my stock pile of what to send from now on to restaurants when I get glutened--not often, but I think this response nails it.

Servers should have the maturity to realize that when a customer tells them about a food allergy, it's not to annoy them. We are trying our best not to have to spend the weekend in the bathroom, the emergency room, or the morgue.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - knitty kitty replied to CeliacPI's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      Lymphocytic Colitis with Celiac

    2. - knitty kitty replied to lmemsm's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      5

      Finding gluten free ingredients

    3. - knitty kitty replied to KimMS's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      14

      Gluten free thyroid medications

    4. - knitty kitty replied to Rebeccaj's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      symptoms.

    5. - Rebeccaj posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      symptoms.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,506
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Celiac731
    Newest Member
    Celiac731
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Do discuss this recent article with your doctors.  Thiamine Vitamin B 1 is important to intestinal health.  Thiamine deficiency can occur in Celiac Disease due to malabsorption.  Supplementing with a B Complex, Benfotiamine, and Vitamin D can help symptoms.   Thiamine deficiency aggravates experimental colitis in mice by promoting glycolytic reprogramming in macrophages https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39890689/#:~:text=Our mechanistic study revealed that,necessary to protect against colitis. "Conclusion and implications: Our study provides evidence linking thiamine deficiency with proinflammatory macrophage activation and colitis aggravation, suggesting that monitoring thiamine status and adjusting thiamine intake is necessary to protect against colitis."
    • knitty kitty
      Do keep in mind that most gluten free flours are not enriched nor fortified with vitamins and minerals like gluten containing flours are required to do.   Consuming a diet high in carbohydrates without sufficient B vitamins to digest and process them into energy can lead to High Calorie Malnutrition and weight gain. Deficiency symptoms of B vitamins resemble gastrointestinal symptoms when after eating gluten.  Gastrointestinal Beriberi is a form of Thiamine deficiency.   Do talk to your doctors about supplementing with essential nutrients while on the gluten free diet, especially if you're consuming processed foods.
    • knitty kitty
      Do be sure to talk to your doctors and dieticians about supplementing with a B Complex and extra Thiamine (Benfotiamine, TTFD, thiamine hydrochloride) and other nutrients one might be low in due to malabsorption of nutrients in Celiac Disease. This study shows that Thiamine deficiency and Vitamin C deficiency is frequently found in Hashimoto's.  From personal experience, Thiamine and Vitamin C has helped my Hashimoto's. Hypothyroidism Complicated by Vitamin C and Thiamin Deficiency in Surgical Patients https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37278003/  
    • knitty kitty
      Hi, @Rebeccaj, Those Villa that get damaged by eating gluten are the same billion that absorb nutrients from our food.  Damaged villa can't absorb nutrients, vitamins and minerals well.  If we don't get sufficient nutrients, our body can't function properly.  We can get brain fog, pins and needles or neuropathy, feeling off balance, and even worsening digestive symptoms. Talk to your doctor or dietician about taking vitamin and mineral supplements while healing.  The gluten free diet can be low in nutrients, especially if you eat gluten free facsimile processed foods.  Gluten containing breads have vitamins added to them to replace those lost in processing.  Gluten free facsimile foods usually are not enriched nor fortified with vitamins.   Taking a B Complex, Benfotiamine, Vitamin D, and magnesium help the digestive tract heal, lowers histamine, and regulates the immune system.  
    • Rebeccaj
      What are some symptoms people have experienced when someone has cooked toast? Also, pasta? I've been diagnosed with celiac disease 5 years ago but sometimes symptoms then other times no symptoms its weird.?  so neurological   is brain fog, off balance, pins and needles, inflammation, also if eat it's like high inflammation then the villas affected!  Has anyone experienced this because I'm really starting to get confused but have diagnosis from blood test also endoscopy but it's just an ache. 
×
×
  • Create New...