A Few Things I Have Learned While Dining Out

[Rowena]

So a few weeks ago, I went to Winger's, a western US restaurant chain, that has gluten free items. This was the second time going there, and the first time we had an excellent experience. The second time, I learned some very valuable lessons.

1. Tell them right as you enter that you are a gluten free diner.

2. Make sure you have a gluten free menu (duh)

3. Ask your server a million times if something they bring you is gluten free

4. Don't be shy or ashamed to ask

5. Double check BEFORE you taste your food

6. If your server doesn't know what gluten free is, explain a million times that you can only have certain things and they can't be touching anything that would possibly contain wheat/gluten

7. Don't go if you have important things the next few days....

[etta694]

Isn't eating out fun... and full of surprises.. sigh..

I tend to just not go out. I haven't been out since January. (thank you for that reminder of how to do it.. I haven't actually done that yet.)

[Meatballman]

I used to love eating out.Diagnosed with Celiac last October.I hate eating out now I don't trust anyone even if they have a gluten free menu.My wife cooks everything I need at home now.We do go to P.F.Changs however they seem to be on the ball and I feel ok after eating there.I really miss being out and just popping in to any old place to get a bite to eat.

[brendygirl]

Yes, I must say that I have had MANY safe and tasty gluten free dining out experiences, but I am all too aware that all it takes is one careless or unaware person...

Yesterday at Chadwick's, a restaurant in Alexandria, VA, (also in Georgetown) that I frequent, my cobb salad came to the table loaded on a tray where the plates were overlapping! And my bf's buddy's (whose meal came with toast)-the bread was tilted at the edge of the plate! And whose salad do you think was underneath? Mine, of course! What a sinking feeling... after thinking I did my best to prevent what I could.

I took care of it and got a nice salad without a problem, but it's like there are always new methods of cc popping up, even in the most tried-and-true places.

[ndw3363]

I hate the look of pity I get from the server when I ask for the gluten free menu. Some places are very good about it (i.e. Stircrazy, Scotty's Brewhouse), but others just look at you like you're an alien. I hate not being able to go "just anywhere". I used to be very low maintenence....not anymore!! Bf has been great about it, but I'm SO frustrated (gluten-free for 3 weeks now). We used to love going out to eat a couple times per month. Now I dread it.

[NateJ]

if there is a phobia from eating out I for sure have it. I traveled for the last five years and I can't tell you how many times I would get sick from meals when no one else did. I always ordered safe stuff too, like red meet well done or salads. It took me a while to figure out that they were probably preparing the meals in pans or on counters that had been contaminated.

I remember in Maine I ate a famous diner called Governor's. It was in Presque Isle. Great food, fantastic service

but boy did they get me with something. No one else I ate with got sick, but the next day I had to fly home

and I must have stopped 6 times driving to find a bathroom and then i had to take like 4 imodium for the plane ride. After that I haven't eaten out but maybe once or twice since then. Its to nerve raking wondering what

those people in the kitchen are doing? are they wearing gloves? did they wash their hands? did they drop a spoon on the floor and not get another? did the teenager who brought my food touch it or sneeze on it?

ugh no thanks, i'll eat at home.

[cap6]

if there is a phobia from eating out I for sure have it. I traveled for the last five years and I can't tell you how many times I would get sick from meals when no one else did. I always ordered safe stuff too, like red meet well done or salads. It took me a while to figure out that they were probably preparing the meals in pans or on counters that had been contaminated.

I remember in Maine I ate a famous diner called Governor's. It was in Presque Isle. Great food, fantastic service

but boy did they get me with something. No one else I ate with got sick, but the next day I had to fly home

and I must have stopped 6 times driving to find a bathroom and then i had to take like 4 imodium for the plane ride. After that I haven't eaten out but maybe once or twice since then. Its to nerve raking wondering what

those people in the kitchen are doing? are they wearing gloves? did they wash their hands? did they drop a spoon on the floor and not get another? did the teenager who brought my food touch it or sneeze on it?

ugh no thanks, i'll eat at home.

I agree! It they don't have a gluten-free menu and/or I don't feel 100% comfortable i won't eat there. Too much to worry about. At 1 year gluten-free I just feel like I don't have the time or energy to have a reaction and feel bad any more.

[chili]

if there is a phobia from eating out I for sure have it. I traveled for the last five years and I can't tell you how many times I would get sick from meals when no one else did. I always ordered safe stuff too, like red meet well done or salads. It took me a while to figure out that they were probably preparing the meals in pans or on counters that had been contaminated.

I remember in Maine I ate a famous diner called Governor's. It was in Presque Isle. Great food, fantastic service

but boy did they get me with something. No one else I ate with got sick, but the next day I had to fly home

and I must have stopped 6 times driving to find a bathroom and then i had to take like 4 imodium for the plane ride. After that I haven't eaten out but maybe once or twice since then. Its to nerve raking wondering what

those people in the kitchen are doing? are they wearing gloves? did they wash their hands? did they drop a spoon on the floor and not get another? did the teenager who brought my food touch it or sneeze on it?

ugh no thanks, i'll eat at home.

hahaha I totally agree with you!! I dread going out to eat, I am too paranoid!!!

[TSA]

Eating out is tough! Even though you try to get a meal thats gluten free, things happen! I tend not to go out. I do want to try P F Changs though! I've had several people say that their gluten free food is right on a "normal" menu. My husband always makes a point of telling the host, waitress, waiter, manager or anyone there about needing a gluten meal. I try and not make a big deal out of it. Not easy!

[NateJ]

hahaha I totally agree with you!! I dread going out to eat, I am too paranoid!!!

well I ate out last night and not sure if I got gluttened mainly because my stomach has hurt everyday for

3 months now. I had D but thats not abnormal for me. It was my wedding anniversary and I wanted to take my wife out. oh well, i guess sometimes its going to happen no matter what you do.

[RebeccaLynn]

well I ate out last night and not sure if I got gluttened mainly because my stomach has hurt everyday for

3 months now. I had D but thats not abnormal for me. It was my wedding anniversary and I wanted to take my wife out. oh well, i guess sometimes its going to happen no matter what you do.

Went on vacation to Southern Utah with my hubby (not gluten-free) and just about cried after we went to 4 restaurants that wouldn't cater to gluten free. I even peeked in one of the kitchens to talk to the chef, and it was SO dirty, we walked out regardless of gluten-free or not. So we ended up trying Cafe Rio, hoping for a salad or corn tacos for me - but when I saw the grill, toaster oven and countertops COVERED in cheese & flour dust (I am severely lactose-intolerant as well), we got hubby a burrito & I went back to the condo for my homemade Gluten-free Casein-free enchilada I brought from home, feeling really depressed, deprived and frustrated.

I am struggling so much with trusting anyone else to touch my food.I guess I am glad to hear that others are feeling this as well.

[NateJ]

Went on vacation to Southern Utah with my hubby (not gluten-free) and just about cried after we went to 4 restaurants that wouldn't cater to gluten free. I even peeked in one of the kitchens to talk to the chef, and it was SO dirty, we walked out regardless of gluten-free or not. So we ended up trying Cafe Rio, hoping for a salad or corn tacos for me - but when I saw the grill, toaster oven and countertops COVERED in cheese & flour dust (I am severely lactose-intolerant as well), we got hubby a burrito & I went back to the condo for my homemade Gluten-free Casein-free enchilada I brought from home, feeling really depressed, deprived and frustrated.

I am struggling so much with trusting anyone else to touch my food.I guess I am glad to hear that others are feeling this as well.

Yes you are for sure not the only one. I get near panic attack at just the thought of eating out. Luckily my new job I can bring my lunch every day and eat it here. I think i've just been poinsoned to many times from all the traveling I did.

Some people i worked with could eat anything. Off the back of those cards or trucks in NYC, any airport restaraunt, fast food at all hours. Not me, If i even looked at a TAco Bell or Chillis, or buffet. I was bed ridden for 2 days.