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DISCLAIMER - We did NOT have a good experience.  We are certain my DD
was glutened.  They were completely unprepared for us and provided
incorrect information on safe/unsafe items.

First, let me say that I would not trade the joy watching my girls
select an American Girl Doll right at the store!  However, as we all
know, eating out is RISKY.  So, let me recap our dining experience.

For starters, I had a lengthy telephone conversation with the person who
handles special diets, and the reservation was to note GF.  I was
feeling very comfortable after this conversation.  He personally placed
our reservation and noted the need for 3 GF diets.  (Our whole family is
GF at home; out my non celiac daughter is the only one who does not eat
GF).  We arrived early for brunch to allow for time to make sure the
reservation reflected our special needs.  When we checked in and asked
if our reservation noted the special diet, we were told it did not.
When we asked to have it noted, we were told to address it with our
server.  We were seated and anxiously awaited our server’s arrival.

When she arrived, amid the chaos of a packed dining room, she jumped
into introducing herself and attempted to take our drink order.  Without
a pause, she rattled off a list of drinks that were included and those
that were an additional cost.   When she came up for air, we replied
with the fact that 3 of us had special dietary needs at the table.  She
said she was aware that we had a shrimp allergy and we clarified that
the allergen was gluten and we needed 3 GF meals.  She apologized for
the mistake of shrimp v. gluten and said that the only GF beverages
available to my 8 year old were fresh juice, berry tea, and water.
Imagine the disappointment for my 8 year old.   (Picture a complete mood
change as my 8 year old learns she CANNOT have the hot chocolate with
marshmallow and a candy cane that she had wanted.  I asked her to check
with the kitchen to be sure that there was nothing else my child could
have and if that was the case, could she please find out what brand of
chocolate milk syrup they had on hand.  I was hoping it was Hershey’s
and she would be able to have warmed chocolate milk as a substitute.  

When she returned with our beverages, she informed us that she checked
with the kitchen nothing else was GF for beverages.  You know that gut
feeling that you are getting the brush off...?  (I decided we would
order and seek out a manager).  Our wait staff assured us she had talked
to the chef and the kitchen was aware of the special diet and prepared
to make a GF meal for her.  She listed the items on the menu that were
fine and we ordered from that selection.  The items she listed were the
same as those the person in charge of special diet had shared with me
when he and I spoke the week before our visit.  A least here we felt
confident that we had correct information.

Before the meal, they bring fresh baked cinnamon rolls.  For those with
an allergy to those, the kitchen was supposed to automatically per the
person I spoke to on the phone, prepare a fresh fruit kebob.  We had to
ask for this.  When it arrived, the strawberry was mushy and brown and
the melon pieces were either not fresh or covered with the bitter green
from the rind.  By now we were not happy.  We requested an edible kebob
and one did arrive. 

So, we ordered.  The long and short of this tale is that the AGC has no
clue about the GF diet.  They did not take steps to prevent CC as we
watched servers touch food items that were not GF then grab our plates
and place them in front of us.  They presented their honey granola as
GF, both in the phone call and at the café, so we ordered the fresh
fruit and granola plate.  When it came out, the granola visibly had oats
in it.  We removed the oats from the plate as they were in a small side
dish on the main plate.  However, we found pieces of oats/granola in the
fruit bowl on the plate.  Not pieces that had fallen, but rather pieces
that were evidently there through use of a shared spoon to scoop the
granola and the fresh fruit as they were stuck to pieces of fruit toward
the bottom of the bowl.  This was concerning as most plates come with
fresh fruit.

So, what about the manager?  It took 15 minutes for them to locate the
manager.  When I was able to speak with her, she apologized for the mix
up.  She was very pleasant, as was everyone at the café.  She assured me
that all the beverages were GF and she was checking on the candy cane.
She came right back and said it was GF.  She ordered a hot chocolate
with a candy cane for my daughter.  It arrived with no candy cane and
the perked up mood began to fade.   When we were leaving, I saw the
manager again and thanked her and her staff for all their help.  She
apologized for the mix up and I shared that it happens, that is why we
always mention it to servers when we eat out.  When I shared with her
about the granola, she had that deer in the head lights look and didn’t
reply.  I suggested that she share this info with the person who
oversees special diets so they can make a decision as to whether to
continue to present it as GF or not.  Again the deer in the head lights
look.

The moral of the story… EATING OUT IS RISKY.  Based on the rest of the
day’s behavior, we are CERTAIN that she was glutened.  

Sara, CT

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