Chains: Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em
Happy Dining!
In this post I’m going to rate restaurant chains. Please feel free to email me with information about other restaurants if you’ve dined with allergies. Thanks!
My Favorites the “Love ‘Em Group” click the restaurant names for menu or allergy info.
Five Guys
(NOT safe for peanut allergies!!!):
(Photo of little hamburger in lettuce wrap)
When I tell the cashier at Five Guys that I have food allergies they put protocols in place. I just say, “Nobun due to gluten allergy.” I can eat their fries because they are fried in peanut oil without any other breaded products.
Bravo is excellent for being willing to work with you and your allergies. They have gluten free pasta, can leave dairy off items, and are patient and helpful. Gluten free items are currently marked on the regular menu.
(Photo of filet and asparagus. I also had the chopped salad.)
Chipotle
Tell the employees you have a food allergy and they will change gloves and wash their hands.One location even used small cups to scoop my food so they weren’t using the same spoon that may have touched a burrito.
PF Chang's
Excellent for food allergy diners. They sometimes have a separate gluten free menu and sometimes include it on the regular menu. There are a couple options without soy if you are allergic like I am. Servers are generally knowledgeable and managers more so. PF Chang’s uses different plates and red cups for sauces. Be sure you get the right dish (red stripe, different shape) and red sauce cup. Once I did not. I spoke up and was told I had been served gluten free food, but the special dishes were all dirty. It felt like I was digesting glass. I’d been glutened. Never again!
Excellent for food allergy diners. They sometimes have a separate gluten free menu and sometimes include it on the regular menu. There are a couple options without soy if you are allergic like I am. Servers are generally knowledgeable and managers more so. PF Chang’s uses different plates and red cups for sauces. Be sure you get the right dish (red stripe, different shape) and red sauce cup. Once I did not. I spoke up and was told I had been served gluten free food, but the special dishes were all dirty. It felt like I was digesting glass. I’d been glutened. Never again!
Red Robin is one of my favorites because they have a gluten free bun. However, their servers do not generally know about food allergies. If you ask questions you are told to use their app to look up ingredients.
From my understanding the fries contain milk. They can make gluten free fries in a designated fryer, but as always double check that at your location.
I order a burger (don’t know what chicken may be marinated in) with the gluten free bun and no cheese. I order a side salad with no cheese and no croutons with oil and vinegar dressing.
Places I Avoid at All CostsI don’t want to be negative in this blog, but there are some chains I avoid:
McDonald’s, Burger King
Most bars and pubs (everything is fried in the same oil and staff usually are not trained in allergy protocols)
Chili’s (twice after ordering off the gluten free menu and telling them I would get sick they put bread on top of my meal 🤦♀️)
Hot Head Burritos: I told the employee about my allergy. His look said, “So?” He didn’t change gloves. He touched the spoon to Tim’s burrito then to my food. Such a difference from Chipotle!
More from Friends:Jersey Mikes and Chick Fil A are allergy friendlyplaces. At Jersey Mike’s they clean the cutting machine and switch out gloves and some places use a different counter.
Any you’d like to add? Send me a message or comment. Thanks for reading!My next post will be travel related with regional successes.
For more on allergies in restaurants check out Allergy Eats.
McDonald’s, Burger King
Most bars and pubs (everything is fried in the same oil and staff usually are not trained in allergy protocols)
Chili’s (twice after ordering off the gluten free menu and telling them I would get sick they put bread on top of my meal 🤦♀️)
Hot Head Burritos: I told the employee about my allergy. His look said, “So?” He didn’t change gloves. He touched the spoon to Tim’s burrito then to my food. Such a difference from Chipotle!
More from Friends:Jersey Mikes and Chick Fil A are allergy friendlyplaces. At Jersey Mike’s they clean the cutting machine and switch out gloves and some places use a different counter.
Any you’d like to add? Send me a message or comment. Thanks for reading!My next post will be travel related with regional successes.
For more on allergies in restaurants check out Allergy Eats.
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