My first post... I had a run in with a waitress yesterday over the words "gluten free substitutes" on a menu and I have been fuming since... I am a regular at this breakfast place... a little note about "gluten free substitutes" appeared on their menu a couple of weeks ago. The first waitress I asked about it said I could substitute a fruit cup for an English muffin on my omelete order. Yesterday you would have thought I asked another waitress for her kidney...but all I said was I wanted to substitute a fruit cup... I did not say I wouldn't pay extra (although the first time I was not charged extra.) We showed her the note about "Gluten Free substitutes on the menu. Then she assumed I did not want potatoes.

I went to their website today and their Gluten Free Diet Information offends me. I don't believe anyone needs to tell a gluten intolerant person that a restaurant pancake or an English muffin has gluten...

The line "However, due to occasional product substitutions or potential for changes in product ingredients without the knowledge of XXXX XXXXX, Gluten intolerant guests are urged to use tremendous care in choosing from our menu." is offensive to me.

The addition of : " XXXX XXXXX provides this menu information as a service to our customers. XXXX XXX assumes no responsibility for its use and any resulting liability or consequential damages is denied. A Registered Dietitian prepared this information (which has not been verified by XXXXX XXXXX Restaurants). Patrons are encouraged to consider this information in light of their individual requirements and needs." only makes it more offensive.

Most of what the website says in their Gluten Free
EGGS AND OMELETTES
The Works - no muffin
Bacado - no muffin
Fowl Play - no hollandaise, no muffin
Omelette Ole - no muffin
Acapulco Express - no muffin
Killer Cajun - no dressing, no muffin
Greek Fetish - no muffin
BASIC OMELETTES
Three cheese - no muffin
Ham / Bacon / Sausage / and Cheese -
no muffin
"Veg Out" Veggie - no muffin
Mushroom and Cheese - no muffin
"Far West" - no muffin
TRADITIONAL "DAYSTARTERS"
All egg, meat and side items listed here are suitable except for the English muffin
THE MIDDLE GRIDDLE
Note: there are NO suitable items here
SIDE LIST / EXTRAS
Ham / Bacon / Sausage / Potatoes
Note: avoid all bread products
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Siesta - no granola, no muffin
Veggie Roll-Up - no tortilla
Tri-Athlete - no muffin

The only information of any value to me is what salad dressings might be OK unless of course there's been a substitution or potential for a change in a product. I always order eggs with no muffin. I wish I had not seen this disclosure... It makes me hate the chain more than I have since yesterday.... but maybe I am just irritable.

Do many restaurants put useless information like this on their website to protect themselves? I have been on a gluten free diet for years... I understand 'no muffins.' I did not even really want the fruit cup..."

Mo

As bad as it sounds,

I did not think some items had gluten in them until a year after diagnosis:

Corn Muffins
Corn Bread
Oatmeal

I think what the company did is good (legal and in general)

It doesn't offend me when folks are trying to look out for my well-being.

Remember, many people have horrible doctors, nutritionists, and get bad advice generally -- they need all the help they can get!!

Which restaurant is it?

You may know those things, but not everyone has been on the diet for years. So they're trying to cover the bases with not only *all* their potential customers (gluten-free savvy or not), but also it provides a reference for the waitstaff and workers who have no reason of knowing about the gluten-free diet.

The disclaimers are standard, and - in this day of litigation - very important. I'd much rather a restaurant have one of those, because if they don't, they're *very* unlikely to try to accomodate the diet, since they could be held liable if someone got sick. (Reference the McDonald's lawsuit over the hot coffee...)

Besides, pancakes and the like can be made gluten free, and some restaurants DO do that. So I'd rather have them cover all their bases.

Yes, most businesses cover themselves with disclaimers, and with law suits going on about every little, sometimes stupid thing ... who can blame them. They are actually giving out more information than most places, and that's a good thing.