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Below are some more personal experiences list members sent me about
chain restaurants in the last couple of weeks...

Dawn @ the Jersey Shore

FRIENDLY'S
"Unfortunately, most of the items on their menu are not gluten free. I
usually get a burger without the bun (and tell them I'm not on the
Atkins diet). If you get the grilled chicken salad, don't get the "corn"
(brain cramp) thingies. I was told they have wheat in them. Of course
cross contamination is always a problem at Friendly's. One look at the
kitchen and you can see why."

CHARLIE BROWN'S STEAKHOUSE
"[...] we went to Charlie Browns for a late lunch. We went to the CB in
Highland Park. I have been to the one in Morganville/Matawan border and
it was not as good as this one. Matter of fact, we won't go to that one
anymore even though my son lives nearby. I always order one steak - the
top sirloin coz it is the only one they do not marinate. The salad bar
was neat, no spillovers and the service was very good. I made sure the
waiter understood that I didn't want spices on my steak or butter served
with it. If you don't like the salmon swimming in butter, you should
tell them you want it dry. I always order it that way.
My baked potato was "fat" and fluffy. I am allergic to milk so can't
have anything on it, but sometimes I squeeze a lemon it and it tastes
like salt which is limited in my diet too due to high bp. I find that
each restaurant in the chain differs. Maybe it is the manager of the
restaurant. I have had great success with Outback also and Lone Star
Steak House. Never get sick and never had a problem."

"I much prefer Outback over [Charlie Brown's]."

BICKFORD'S
"This past week I was in Mystic, CT, and we stopped there.  The waitress

assured me my chicken would not be from a marinated batch, but only told
the
cook to keep it plain.  Well, plain to them meant adding nothing.  After
a
few bites, I knew it was marinated chicken.  When I told the waitress,
she
laughed and explained that the "cooks don't speak a lick of English."
Then
the manager came out w/the packaging for the chicken, which was indeed
marinated.  One of the ingredients was wheat.  He was very apologetic,
but
the damage was done.  We need to be really careful at these chain
restaurants.  I guess w/every restaurant we need to be as vigilant as we
can.  I won't ever eat out again w/out speaking to a manager first.
Good luck."

PERKIN'S
I did not like the way I was treated in Perkins  They acted when I asked
questions about foods  that I  was a pain  I asked what kind of turkey
and you think I spoke another language.  She  refused to ask the cook as
he was cooking We never went back

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