Eating out - What you want versus what you get!!

I#m not a big believer in places having to take into account food tolerances.

However so many places do things these days that show, for example, caesar salad and then an extra charge for chicken...that I can't see why they couldn't do it the other way round. I never eat bread out and it would be a nice gesture to take off the cost of a bun etc.

Went to see SATC last night and despite paying 16 euro for tickets and the same for food etc. they couldnt replace a soft drink with water....
 
seriams said:
Recently I found out that I was wheat intolerant so now when I eat out I need to steer clear of bread. I won’t go into details but basically in my local deli I was told that if I were to order soup – I would get soup and brown bread for €3.95 and that they couldn’t give me anything to substitute the brown bread and that I would have to pay €3.95 even if I did not ‘want’ bread.

It wasn’t a matter of want; I love bread but have no choice. The same applied had I wanted their yummy salad bowl that comes with bread. Even though I couldn’t eat the bread I would be charged and they couldn’t instead offer me soup or discount or give me soup and add on the difference.

Am I being unreasonable? It’s only now that I have to steer clear of wheat that I have noticed how our nation put up with these absolutely ridiculous menu rules. Surely you should be allowed to eat what you want when you want it. As for me? I’m sticking to my packed lunch!!
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Yes you ARE being unreasonable. I have been a diagnosed coeliac for over 10 years now and I would not expect a restaurant/cafe or deli to pander to my needs. When I go to such an establishment I outline what I can and cannot have and usually ask the chef to recommend something- in the early years of my diagnosis this was very difficult but in later years I find it easier and easier.BTW most soups have wheat in them as a thickener, so something you should check out.
 
Ate in Eco's in Douglas last night - for a place that gets great reviews I found it so-so...anyway, what was interesting were the packets of Aldi tagatelli over the counter when I walked in!!! At least they are showing you what you're getting -sorry if this isn't 100% related..
 
I remember being drunk in McDonalds in Cork one time (just the once and it was years ago) and asking for Lobster. It was all done in good spirits and the girl behind the counter saw the funny side. The next day I thought about how nice she was but I now realise that she was actually just being unreasonable because "Surely you should be allowed to eat what you want when you want it".:rolleyes:
 
Think I might have seen you there purple. You were the one with the red hair and the large round-toe shoes? - hilarious
 
Purple said:
I remember being drunk in McDonalds in Cork one time (just the once and it was years ago) and asking for Lobster.
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Yeah, but what was just the once? Being in Cork, being in McDonalds, being drunk or asking for Lobster?
 
Purple said:
I remember being drunk in McDonalds in Cork one time (just the once and it was years ago) and asking for Lobster. It was all done in good spirits and the girl behind the counter saw the funny side. The next day I thought about how nice she was but I now realise that she was actually just being unreasonable because "Surely you should be allowed to eat what you want when you want it".:rolleyes:
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Hi Purple,

I had lobster once in McDonalds...in Maine see here

http://bostonphoenix.com/archive/food/98/07/16/NOSHING_SIPPING.html
 
Vanilla said:
Yes you ARE being unreasonable. I have been a diagnosed coeliac for over 10 years now and I would not expect a restaurant/cafe or deli to pander to my needs. When I go to such an establishment I outline what I can and cannot have and usually ask the chef to recommend something- in the early years of my diagnosis this was very difficult but in later years I find it easier and easier.BTW most soups have wheat in them as a thickener, so something you should check out.
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Hmmm, its debatable (which we are doing I suppose) - Im also Coeliac and it is annoying that I have to pay for that bread I cant eat. For me I just avoid the whole thing but its a pity if you are in the mood for a salad and cant order it as youve to pay for something that is poisonous for you. I dont expect establishments to specifically cater for me so I usually just avoid the item but I agree with the poster regarding the extra charges for chicken etc. I dont think it would be major step for those establishments to remove the bread/cost. Ill stop rambling.
 
casiopea said:
Hmmm, its debatable (which we are doing I suppose) - Im also Coeliac and it is annoying that I have to pay for that bread I cant eat. For me I just avoid the whole thing but its a pity if you are in the mood for a salad and cant order it as youve to pay for something that is poisonous for you. I dont expect establishments to specifically cater for me so I usually just avoid the item but I agree with the poster regarding the extra charges for chicken etc. I dont think it would be major step for those establishments to remove the bread/cost. Ill stop rambling.
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Why not get someone else to eat the bread? That way it won't bother you later as eaten bread is soon forgotten... :p
 
seriams said:

Am I being unreasonable? It’s only now that I have to steer clear of wheat that I have noticed how our nation put up with these absolutely ridiculous menu rules. Surely you should be allowed to eat what you want when you want it. As for me? I’m sticking to my packed lunch!!
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Other than price though the real issue is choice, I believe that Ireland has a high rate of coeliac disease relative to other nations and its not really something that is addressed by any food outlets in this country, its not a lifestyle choice or diet fad on behalf of the sufferers, and they are not exactly few and far between.
 
casiopea said:
Im also Coeliac and it is annoying that I have to pay for that bread I cant eat. For me I just avoid the whole thing but its a pity if you are in the mood for a salad and cant order it as youve to pay for something that is poisonous for you.
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You do not "have to" pay for the bread. You can take your custom elsewhere. Or you can choose to pay for the lunch (including bread) and just not eat the bread.
I dont expect establishments to specifically cater for me
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So why do you find it annoying when they don't?! :confused:
 
ClubMan said:
You do not "have to" pay for the bread. You can take your custom elsewhere. Or you can choose to pay for the lunch (including bread) and just not eat the bread.
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I know and I do.

ClubMan said:
So why do you find it annoying when they don't?! :confused:
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I dont regard not charging for the bread as catering for a diet. As I said, and a previous poster wrote, establishments charge extra for chicken (in a salad), some places charge extra for the little ketchup sachets etc. It wouldnt be a big thing to charge for the bread separately.
 
casiopea said:
It wouldnt be a big thing to charge for the bread separately.
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I would imagine that some food retailers might disagree with you there and argue that fixed priced meal options with no substitutions/variations are a more suitable option for the majority of their customers and for the smooth running of their businesses.
 
ClubMan said:
I would imagine that some food retailers might disagree with you there and argue that fixed priced meal options with no substitutions/variations are a more suitable option for the majority of their customers and for the smooth running of their businesses.
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I agree, for some retailers its not feasible however for some it would be.
Also its becoming increasingly more and more common for retailers to provide a glutenfree option for bread (glutenfree bread or ricecakes) if you request it as so many people adhere to a glutenfree diet (not just coeliacs).
 
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