P.F. Changs leads the pack!

[Polly]

Hi All,

Had a delightful dining experience last night at P.F. Changs! Of course, they have had a GF menu for years, but with my multiple intolerances, there was never anything I could eat expect for the chicken (minus the sauce) in lettuce wraps and the plain rice. When I told the waiter how limited my diet is, he grabbed a print-out for me that was a full-page listing of all of their offerings that are gluten, dairy, and soy-free! Dishes with none of the big three offenders - how about that!!! That left only corn that I had to worry about, and the menu states that cornstarch is used for most sauces. When I told the waiter I can't tolerate corn, he said no problem, the chef could individualize many of the dishes to eliminate the corn too. So I had the "better lemon chicken with broccoli" that was customized to be GF, DF, SF, and CF. And this was done on a very busy and crowded Saturday night.

It made me feel so good to feel like I was not a problem and that I could easily be acommodated.

Do I dare hope that other restaurants will jump on the bandwagon and offer yummy dishes without the big food ofenders? I guess I won't hold my breath. Someone high up in the P.F. Changs corporation must have multiple intolerances.

Hugs,

Polly

[maestraz]

Hi Polly,
I've had good luck with PF Chang as well.

Last time I was going to eat at Ruby Tuesday, I checked the menu in advance and they also have menu listing by food sensitivity. I had to cross check for GF/DF/SF, but found choices, and my meal was fine. I have taken to printing out the menu and writing my needs on it so I can just hand it to the server and avoid fuss, which they seem to appreciate.

I believe Chili's also has multiple menus.

In most other cases where the only alternative menu was GF, the servers have gotten my questions about DF/SF answered by the chef no problem.

[Gloria]

Great news, Polly! It's nice to know that they will accomodate individual intolerances. I've also shunned P.F. Changs since I've been unable to eat chicken and rice. I loved their Phillip's Lemon Chicken dish. I'll have to revisit their menu to see if there's a dish that could be modified for me.

Suze,
I like your idea of printing the menu and writing our needs on it. I'm sure the waitstaff appreciates it, too.

Gloria

[Leah]

I'm glad you had a good experience, but when I went there a couple of months ago and ordered something off the GF Menu ( it was similar to a sweet/sour chicken), I had the worst flare I had had since this whole thing started. I'm scared to try again.

Leah

[MaggieRedwings]

Leah,

I am with you on this one. One of the few places I get a reaction is P.F. Chang's and the sodium levels are beyone belief. I just stay home.

Love, Maggie

[carolm]

Applebee's and Chipotle Grill also have multiple menus. You have to cross reference them but they are online. Unfortunately for me Chipotle uses soybean oil in just about everything so that took a large number of items off the list. I've done well at Chili's with their margarita chicken, ordered without the corn chips which they fry themselves and server warned me about cross contamination. It's served with rice and black bean- I avoid the beans for now. But I've never had a bad reaction after eating this.

I haven't been to PF Changs in the last year but I do well at our local chinese restaurant where they will cook foods specifically to my order. I find people are more willing to listen and try to accommodate your needs than I thought they might be.

Carol