Always ask for the manager at the restaurant. Due to heavy turnover all employees may not be trained. Don't feel embarrassed to be aggressive and explain exactly what you expect of the establishment.
Print the gluten free menu the establishment has on their web-page in case they don't have the menu in the restaurant.
Remind them about cross contamination. Your food must be prepared with all clean utensils and away from other foods that contain gluten. Also, they can't use wooden utensils!
If you feel like the place you are eating doesn't understand what you are requesting, find another place more gluten friendly to eat!
Ask if you can bring your own condiments. For example, while all baked potatoes are okay (ask that they be left in the aluminum foil they were cooked in), the butter, sour cream, cheese, and especially imitation bacon bits may NOT be. Condiments may be where you find all your hidden glutens that you should watch out for!!
Here are some places that members of Knoxville's Celiac Support Group have success with. Some have gluten free menus, others have just been "gluten friendly". Use your own judgment depending on how comfortable you are about the chances of cross contamination. Don't forget to use our "tips for dining out" when going to these places!
PF Chang's China Bistro
Bonefish Grill
Carraba's Italian Grill
Outback Steakhouse
Don Pablo's
Wok Hay
Olive Garden
Chili's
MiMi's Cafe
Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy
Romans Pizza Gluten Free Pizzas (Coming Soon!)
Resources Online For Dining:
http://gfkitchen.server101.com/GlutenFreeGuideTo_Eating_Out.htm
Do you know of a gluten free restaurant? Please share it with us! Just use the Comments Tool below!