From doing some research - both online and at the restaurant prior to eating there - I knew that all the chicken salad offered at this new eatery was gluten-free. However, I was not aware of other gluten-free options like soup or sides. Below is a script of what happened when I tried to order safely at this place. While I didn't record the conversation, this is a very close representation of what was said by the counter girl (CG) at CSC and me.
Me: Are any of your soups or sides gluten-free? (I could tell by the look on the girl's face the question threw her so I suggested she ask someone in the kitchen).
CG: (After asking the kitchen) Yes - everything is gluten-free (huge smile on her face).
Me: Well, you don't have gluten-free bread or crackers so that's not actually correct...
CG: Oh, well, I mean everything else (still huge smile on her face)...
Me: (this time, I get to do the eye rolling...lol!) I'll take the Fancy something chicken salad with a side of fruit. I'm allergic to gluten so I can't have bread or crackers or anything like that touch my plate. Please make sure you either put that on my order in writing or tell a manager in person so that my meal is made correctly.
I pay, take my table tent (so food runner can find me) and go sit with the rest of my party. My food comes out and there is a cookie - a gluten-filled cookie - on the plate. I nicely explained my meal had to be remade (I didn't keep the plate, though I usually would) since I have a gluten allergy and told the order taker to make sure they knew that in the kitchen. The food runner actually said "I know your ticket says gluten-free so I don't know why there is a cookie on the plate". Duh...neither do I.
The plate was remade (at least it took forever to come back out) and I was fine. However, two doors down at Tom + Chee they really know what they're doing (or they have so far) when it comes to gluten-free meals. And they have gluten-free bread to boot!
It's disappointing that the location of CSC near us has not trained all "front of the house" staff in terms of gluten-free menu items. If someone who wasn't thinking things through could certainly order a sandwich with regular bread and a cookie and think it was all gluten-free. As always, buyer beware - especially when it comes to all these so-called gluten-free menus popping up every other day! As far as I'm concerned, if someone at a restaurant doesn't know that a customer who can't have gluten can't have a regular (gluten) cookie, I am simply not comfortable eating there.
I'm addicted to the chicken salad at Zoe's Kitchen so I'm glad to have that safe option around the corner. The portions are huge there which is another added bonus!
Me: Are any of your soups or sides gluten-free? (I could tell by the look on the girl's face the question threw her so I suggested she ask someone in the kitchen).
CG: (After asking the kitchen) Yes - everything is gluten-free (huge smile on her face).
Me: Well, you don't have gluten-free bread or crackers so that's not actually correct...
CG: Oh, well, I mean everything else (still huge smile on her face)...
Me: (this time, I get to do the eye rolling...lol!) I'll take the Fancy something chicken salad with a side of fruit. I'm allergic to gluten so I can't have bread or crackers or anything like that touch my plate. Please make sure you either put that on my order in writing or tell a manager in person so that my meal is made correctly.
I pay, take my table tent (so food runner can find me) and go sit with the rest of my party. My food comes out and there is a cookie - a gluten-filled cookie - on the plate. I nicely explained my meal had to be remade (I didn't keep the plate, though I usually would) since I have a gluten allergy and told the order taker to make sure they knew that in the kitchen. The food runner actually said "I know your ticket says gluten-free so I don't know why there is a cookie on the plate". Duh...neither do I.
The plate was remade (at least it took forever to come back out) and I was fine. However, two doors down at Tom + Chee they really know what they're doing (or they have so far) when it comes to gluten-free meals. And they have gluten-free bread to boot!
It's disappointing that the location of CSC near us has not trained all "front of the house" staff in terms of gluten-free menu items. If someone who wasn't thinking things through could certainly order a sandwich with regular bread and a cookie and think it was all gluten-free. As always, buyer beware - especially when it comes to all these so-called gluten-free menus popping up every other day! As far as I'm concerned, if someone at a restaurant doesn't know that a customer who can't have gluten can't have a regular (gluten) cookie, I am simply not comfortable eating there.
I'm addicted to the chicken salad at Zoe's Kitchen so I'm glad to have that safe option around the corner. The portions are huge there which is another added bonus!
