You can’t stay home all the time. What are some strategies for eating out at a restaurant?
- Plan ahead
- It’s way easier if you preview the menu before and figure out if this is somewhere you can eat. You should have an idea of what you want to eat.
- Once you have an idea of an option. Contact the restaurant ahead of time. The more notice you give them the better they can help you. If you don’t have time to call ahead use a reservation service like Open-table. We have had great results by requesting a knowledgeable server and explaining we have allergies.
- Where possible avoid “the rush” as you will get better service visiting restaurants that aren’t getting slammed.
- Ask if the restaurant has an allergy protocol.
- Honestly, eat at a chain restaurant. They usually have well established allergy protocols.
- Use the word “Allergy.”
- If this doesn’t trigger a visit from the manager/chef, you are in for a bad time. This means they don’t have an allergy protocol and you are relying on your server to protect you. This can be a crab shoot so watch out.
- Work with the menu.
- Ask for substitutions.
- Ask for pre-made sauces on the side or eliminate any sauces completely.
- Ask if what you want can be “Made to order?” (Watch our for BBQ dishes. They are often pre-made and can’t be “clean” as they usually have rubs on them.) This typically means you have a chance to modify it. As they will make the dish when it’s ordered. If it’s pre-made then you will have a harder time.
- We have found it’s easier to discuss everything that is going to show up on the plate. Menus do not always tell you everything. Ask about garnishes. What is pre-made? What is made to order?
- Be Brave!
- Mistakes happen. If you get a dish that doesn’t match what you discussed let your server know immediately.
- If you spent all the time following the above steps and what your discussed doesn’t show up, let the restaurant have a chance to make things right. You aren’t being an a**hole, you are being kind to give them a chance to recover.
- Be Loud with your praise.
- If they get it right post and let others know!