Five Guys And Fries

[justlisa]

I really haven't eaten out since going gluten-free (it's a trust issue)...

But... Today, after my husband took me to my mri appointment, he was starving. So, we went to Five Guys and Fries so he could eat (I figured I would just sit, drink my bottled water, and watch him...lol). I mean.. I didn't ever really eat "fast food" BEFORE I went gluten-free so, I didn't really see it happening now, ya know?

Was I ever surprised!

They were VERY helpful and accommodating. And, to be honest, it was just about as perfect a scenario for no cross contamination as one could hope for really. The buns which are kept separate from the other foods and are grilled on a dedicated grill...just for buns. Fresh, hand-cut french fries...dedicated fryers. The don't deep fry anything else there!

I could watch the guy who prepared my food (donned new gloves).

I have to say it was a terrific experience and I felt so comfortable eating...confident.

Just wanted to share...

[emaegf]

Isn't it great? The first time I was there all the employees stopped and the Manager told the ones who were touching the buns to play statue and not move until she tapped them on the shoulder again. She and two others were the only ones able to touch anything until they handed my bag to me. It was like a well rehearsed dance. I was very impressed and made sure I let them know before I left and emailed the store and the corporate office letting them know how much I appreciated their efforts and the food. So nice to be able to go somewhere and not have to worry about being sick afterward.

[justlisa]

  On 8/18/2012 at 5:56 AM, emaegf said:

Isn't it great? The first time I was there all the employees stopped and the Manager told the ones who were touching the buns to play statue and not move until she tapped them on the shoulder again. She and two others were the only ones able to touch anything until they handed my bag to me. It was like a well rehearsed dance. I was very impressed and made sure I let them know before I left and emailed the store and the corporate office letting them know how much I appreciated their efforts and the food. So nice to be able to go somewhere and not have to worry about being sick afterward.

I was very impressed...still can't quite believe it was a "fast food" place...

The first time, since gluten-free, that I went to a restaurant (a very nice little restaurant which happens to be on the gluten-free Registry) as extremely disappointing to me. I asked for their gluten-free menu. The waitress told me that they didn't have a gluten-free menu, really, but she said the dishes could be made with gluten-free pasta, gluten-free bread basket and gluten-free pizzas. Needless to say, I was skeptical(about all of it)...but, I asked her if the gluten-free pizzas were made in the same oven with the regular pizzas. She laughed and said,"well, yeah, we only have one pizza oven...it's not like they're going to get contaminated or something "...

I just drank ice water and watched the hubby eat...

[brendygirl]

Thanks for sharing such a positive experience! Since moving to the Eastern part of the country, Five Guys is a new favorite for me!

[GRUMP 1]

Love Five guys, cant wait to try them with my new found gluten free buns from Franz.

[RonSchon]

Ugh...

Just got glutened from 5 Guys.

I've read so many positive reports, that today I was running errands after work and didn't have any meat thawed at home, and the parking lot to the Grocery was packed, so I decided to go to 5 Guys.

It was right at 5:30pm, and only a couple of diners and no queue. Good signs... You get undivided attention.

The shift leader is running the cash register... Another good one.

I tell him I have celiac disease, it's a severe gluten allergy. Blank stare.

I should have just turned around right there, but no, I make 2 mistakes... 1) I tried to explain to him how it needed to be handled and 2) I didn't stand there and supervise.

By the time I finish my burger I'm ballooning right on out.

I am so upset with myself. It just keeps happening.

For any Phoenix folks, it was the one at 44th St and Thomas. They do not have any gluten training.

[Lisa]

  On 8/21/2012 at 1:49 AM, RonSchon said:

Ugh...

Just got glutened from 5 Guys.

I've read so many positive reports, that today I was running errands after work and didn't have any meat thawed at home, and the parking lot to the Grocery was packed, so I decided to go to 5 Guys.

It was right at 5:30pm, and only a couple of diners and no queue. Good signs... You get undivided attention.

The shift leader is running the cash register... Another good one.

I tell him I have celiac disease, it's a severe gluten allergy. Blank stare.

I should have just turned around right there, but no, I make 2 mistakes... 1) I tried to explain to him how it needed to be handled and 2) I didn't stand there and supervise.

By the time I finish my burger I'm ballooning right on out.

I am so upset with myself. It just keeps happening.

For any Phoenix folks, it was the one at 44th St and Thomas. They do not have any gluten training.

Maybe Ron, you are exposing yourself to unknown avenues. When I

walk into a restaurant, I assume 100% responsibility for what I order and what I put into my mouth, especially at a fast food joint, by any name. If I get ill, the blame is mine

Do you really expect that a fast food restaurant is going to be knowledgeable in gluten free training?

Here is some information:

Open Original Shared Link

[justlisa]

  On 8/21/2012 at 1:49 AM, RonSchon said:

Ugh...

Just got glutened from 5 Guys.

I've read so many positive reports, that today I was running errands after work and didn't have any meat thawed at home, and the parking lot to the Grocery was packed, so I decided to go to 5 Guys.

It was right at 5:30pm, and only a couple of diners and no queue. Good signs... You get undivided attention.

The shift leader is running the cash register... Another good one.

I tell him I have celiac disease, it's a severe gluten allergy. Blank stare.

I should have just turned around right there, but no, I make 2 mistakes... 1) I tried to explain to him how it needed to be handled and 2) I didn't stand there and supervise.

By the time I finish my burger I'm ballooning right on out.

I am so upset with myself. It just keeps happening.

For any Phoenix folks, it was the one at 44th St and Thomas. They do not have any gluten training.

Wow, Ron...that's such a shame...

Are Five Guys different in different states? Different food? I just assumed they were all the same (menu, anyway). Just the fact of such limited gluten exposure seemed like such a winner...

That's a real bummer... I was so impressed with the one I went to in Shrewsbury, MA.

[RonSchon]

  On 8/21/2012 at 2:04 AM, Lisa said:

Maybe Ron, you are exposing yourself to unknown avenues. When I

walk into a restaurant, I assume 100% responsibility for what I order and what I put into my mouth, especially at a fast food joint, by any name. If I get ill, the blame is mine

Do you really expect that a fast food restaurant is going to be knowledgeable in gluten free training?

Here is some information:

Open Original Shared Link

Lisa,

Did you not see me accept responsibility for not first of all turning around and walking out when I saw that they didn't understand at all, and then also for not staying and supervising what they did?

Did you really not see that, or are you just interested in piling on a person already frustrated to an extreme level?

What you have done here is pushed me to not be an involved party here.

If you want to bully people, that is fine, but I'm not going to be a party to it.

[MrsVJW]

I've had minor reactions to Five Guys before (I have skin allergy and digestive reactions to minuscule amounts of gluten) and I've noticed it usually tends to be when I have my burger loaded up with other toppings. No "all the way" for me... either plain burger or plain cheeseburger - our Five Guys is close so I usually bring it home and load up my own sauces/toppings. It's just the nature of the beast that is a bun... crumbs are going to get flung around and possible end up in other containers, on sauce bottles, etc.

[justlisa]

  On 8/24/2012 at 3:58 PM, MrsVJW said:

I've had minor reactions to Five Guys before (I have skin allergy and digestive reactions to minuscule amounts of gluten) and I've noticed it usually tends to be when I have my burger loaded up with other toppings. No "all the way" for me... either plain burger or plain cheeseburger - our Five Guys is close so I usually bring it home and load up my own sauces/toppings. It's just the nature of the beast that is a bun... crumbs are going to get flung around and possible end up in other containers, on sauce bottles, etc.

Good point... I, also, think it's cc....(i don't order the toppings...even if they're "safe").

If you think about it...yes, they can be vigilant when serving you (new gloves...special handling, etc), but how many times prior to a gluten intolerant customer are those gluteny gloves divimg into the bins of tomatoes, onions, etc.???

I don't risk it....therefore cc exposure is reduced even more.

[Jestgar]

  On 8/21/2012 at 2:35 PM, RonSchon said:

Lisa,

Did you not see me accept responsibility for not first of all turning around and walking out when I saw that they didn't understand at all, and then also for not staying and supervising what they did?

Did you really not see that, or are you just interested in piling on a person already frustrated to an extreme level?

What you have done here is pushed me to not be an involved party here.

If you want to bully people, that is fine, but I'm not going to be a party to it.

Dude! Chill! It's a blanket statement around here "You are responsible for what you eat". Don't think anything is directed at you personally.

[tom]

  On 8/21/2012 at 2:35 PM, RonSchon said:

...

What you have done here is pushed me to not be an involved party here.

...

I hope you'll reconsider. Gluten can have some weird effects.

In a couple days, if you re-read what was written, I think you'd see it in a different light.

[psawyer]

Ron, I share your frustration. Eating out is a challenge, and a risk most of us take from time to time. I'm sorry your experience was unpleasant. You have had some replies that were not very supportive, and I regret that that happened here. This place is supposed to provide support and help.

[Jestgar]

Actually, I would say that reminding someone that they are their own, best safeguard is very supportive. Like Tom, I suspected Ron's extreme negative response to a post was due to a gluten exposure. Taken by itself, Lisa's post is really pretty innocuous. I can't figure out why anyone would see it as anything else, except under the influence of gluten.