Re: Red Robin

[Guest guest]

Is it a chain? Is it owned by a larger chain? I've never heard of

it before. But if it's a chain in an area where I'm likely to be

at some point, I'd write a letter that would sound legitimate.

Esther in RI, who has never heard of Red Robin in RI or MA (the

two places I've lived my whole life).

>

> ... After the meal

> was over Dave asked if I would be willing to go onto the web site to

> request that a gluten free menu be developed. He felt after doing the

> research on the internet and learning how many more people are

> becoming

> diagnosed now that we are realizing it is not a rare disease that it

> was

> really important to have a gluten free menu. I could have kissed him.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Is it a chain? Is it owned by a larger chain? I've never heard of

> it before. But if it's a chain in an area where I'm likely to be

> at some point, I'd write a letter that would sound legitimate.

> Esther in RI, who has never heard of Red Robin in RI or MA (the

> two places I've lived my whole life).

>

>

Well, I'll be danged! There are TWO in MA, and one is not so far from

me as to be unfeasible! I'll be writing my letter! Thanks for the

heads-up!

Esther in RI

[Guest guest]

>

> ... I

> was curious if we could all write to this restaurant and maybe a few

> others requesting a GF menu.

Here is the letter I sent to relations@...

Hello.

I'm a gluten-free diner who lives near a Red Robin. I'm interested

to visit the restaurant now that I've read a GLOWING review of it

on my e-mailing list for gluten-free eating. I'd like to take the

opportunity to paste the GLOWING review I read.

<begin pasted letter>

> We went out to eat at the Red Robin in Exton, PA last night and had a

> wonderful experience. We had never been to a Red Robin, but the fact

> that they have free refills on French Fries was a seller with the

> kids.

> I called ahead to speak with the kitchen manager. I ended up speaking

> with the General Manager, Dave. He had recently accommodated another

> customer who was on a gluten free diet and had taken the time to go

> online and learn all about the diet. He told me that they had a

> dedicated fryer for French Fries, but he felt that was not enough

> because it is a possibility that something can fall in by mistake. He

> asked me to call about 30 minutes before we would arrive so he could

> heat separate pot of oil on the stove to prepare French Fries just for

> Eddie. When we sat down I asked the waitress to meet with him. He

> came

> right over and explained that he would be preparing Eddie's meal

> personally so there was no chance that a contaminated glove from one

> of

> the cooks would come in contact with any of Eddie's food. He also

> explained that he would rerun a plate through the dishwasher and allow

> it to air dry so again there was no chance of cross contamination. He

> instructed our waitress to ring Eddie's meal separately to make sure

> one

> of the cooks didn't attempt to prepare it by mistake. After the meal

> was over Dave asked if I would be willing to go onto the web site to

> request that a gluten free menu be developed. He felt after doing the

> research on the internet and learning how many more people are

> becoming

> diagnosed now that we are realizing it is not a rare disease that it

> was

> really important to have a gluten free menu. I could have kissed him.

> But that probably wouldn't have gone over well with my husband....

>

> Anyhow, just wanted to share a great gluten free experience.

<end pasted letter>

Based upon the above letter that appeared on my e-mailing list, I'm

now quite interested to dine at Red Robin with my family.

And based upon how well the manager in Exton, PA treated the gluten-free

diners in this story, I'm eager to honor that manager's request.

I, and thousands upon thousands of other current or potential Red Robin

diners who eat a gluten-free diet, would be GREATLY aided in our

dining enjoyment by:

a- a gluten free menu that makes it easier to determine which foods are

safe to eat or not

b- training for managers about how to handle the meal for a gluten-free

diner

c- corporate policy about how to serve a gluten-free diner.

I am grateful on behalf of the diner in Exton, PA for the wonderful

experience she and her family had, because of the Dave the manager's

concern, diligence, and attentiveness. It's a rare thing to be treated

with such concern.

I must say that before we started gluten-free dining, my family ate

out at restaurants frequently. Because of the gluten-free restrictions,

we've found it MUCH harder to dine, and have crossed restaurant after

restaurant off our list of acceptable dining venues.

To read such glowing praise about a place I've not yet visited truly

excites me. I look forward to a positive dining experience at a Red

Robin. I never even HEARD of Red Robin before today. Based upon the

wonderful letter pasted above, I went to the Red Robin web site and

found out about [a nearby] location. This would be an EASY

drive for us. I'd be THRILLED to have an experience as good as the

diner in Exton, PA received.

And I'd be THRILLED if you honor the request of your Exton, PA

manager, plus thousands upon thousands of gluten-free diners, and

develop a gluten free menu.

A training and management protocol for dealing with gluten-free diners

would be AWESOME, too. But I'll keep it simple and only officially

request a gluten-free menu. :-)

The number of people who have celiac disease, a lifelong condition

treated ONLY by a gluten-free diet, is estimated to be about 1/3%.

Doesn't sound like a lot when you hear 1/3%. But that's one in every

300 diners. That suddenly sounds a lot bigger, doesn't it! Add in

the number of diners who eat gluten-free because of other causes

of gluten intolerance, and the number of diners with autism spectrum

who eat gluten free to reduce autism symptoms. Your count of the

number of diners GREATLY aided by a gluten-free menu (and managerial

protocols) goes up quite dramatically. I'd hazard a guess that one

of every one hundred diners would be very grateful for a gluten-free

menu.

And believe me, I may be the only gluten-free diner in my family,

but all six of us are much happier when I don't eat gluten and don't

get sick. Therefore, while a gluten-free menu might directly benefit

one diner of a hundred, the number of people AFFECTED by the positive

dining experience at a Red Robin restaurant ripples quite dramatically.

Please consider creating a gluten-free menu and distributing it to

all your locations.

Thank you for your kind consideration in this matter.

My Name

My Location

[Guest guest]

There is one in Millbury, MA, just outside of Worcester at the Blackstone Valley Shoppes. I haven't eaten there yet but I hear they have GREAT burgers! Deannaesther_p210 wrote: Is it a chain? Is it owned by a larger chain? I've never heard ofit before. But if it's a chain in an area where I'm likely to beat some point, I'd write a letter that would sound legitimate. Esther in RI, who has never heard of Red Robin in RI or MA (thetwo places I've lived my whole life).>> ... After the meal> was over Dave asked if I would be willing to go onto the web site to> request that a gluten free menu be developed. He felt after doing the> research on the internet and learning

how many more people are > becoming> diagnosed now that we are realizing it is not a rare disease that it > was> really important to have a gluten free menu. I could have kissed him.>

Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

[Guest guest]

I have eaten at my local Red Robin and was told the fries were coated with flour before cooking. Apparently, it varies by restaurant. When I was there I had a choice of one salad and a milk shake that didn't contain flour. Everything else on the menu contained wheat,(But hey, at least it was a good salad and a cute restaurant. I was there to enjoy my friends, anyway, which I did).

Heads up on the Red Robin fries.

best wishes

from Oregon

Red Robin

This message was posted by a person on another celiac website and I was curious if we could all write to this restaurant and maybe a few others requesting a GF menu. Robin, VA-------------------------------------------------------Hello,We went out to eat at the Red Robin in Exton, PA last night and had awonderful experience. We had never been to a Red Robin, but the factthat they have free refills on French Fries was a seller with the kids.I called ahead to speak with the kitchen manager. I ended up speakingwith the General Manager, Dave. He had recently accommodated anothercustomer who was on a gluten free diet and had taken the time to goonline and learn all about the diet. He told me that they had adedicated fryer for French Fries, but he felt that was not enoughbecause it is a possibility that something can fall in by mistake. Heasked me to call about 30 minutes before we would arrive so he couldheat separate pot of oil on the stove to prepare French Fries just forEddie. When we sat down I asked the waitress to meet with him. He cameright over and explained that he would be preparing Eddie's mealpersonally so there was no chance that a contaminated glove from one ofthe cooks would come in contact with any of Eddie's food. He alsoexplained that he would rerun a plate through the dishwasher and allowit to air dry so again there was no chance of cross contamination. Heinstructed our waitress to ring Eddie's meal separately to make sure oneof the cooks didn't attempt to prepare it by mistake. After the mealwas over Dave asked if I would be willing to go onto the web site torequest that a gluten free menu be developed. He felt after doing theresearch on the internet and learning how many more people are becomingdiagnosed now that we are realizing it is not a rare disease that it wasreally important to have a gluten free menu. I could have kissed him.But that probably wouldn't have gone over well with my husband....Anyhow, just wanted to share a great gluten free experience.

[Guest guest]

We have them in MN and in WI. I have been there a couple of times,

but not since being GF. It is kind of like a throw back diner, but

bigger. It's good!!

Rhiannon

> >

> > ... After the meal

> > was over Dave asked if I would be willing to go onto the web

site to

> > request that a gluten free menu be developed. He felt after

doing the

> > research on the internet and learning how many more people are

> > becoming

> > diagnosed now that we are realizing it is not a rare disease

that it

> > was

> > really important to have a gluten free menu. I could have

kissed him.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

We've had the best luck at our local Red Robin. They are truly

excellent. When visiting Los Angeles, however, the two RR I tried

did not have the same menu and set up (dedicated fryer, for

example). Both of these RR are individually owned and

operated. That might account for your experience, Chris.

Don't give up! We just ate at the Gaithersburg MD RR last night and

had another fabulous experience. Try another that is really part of

the chain and not individually owned.

At 10:35 AM 3/23/2006, you wrote:

I have eaten at

my local Red Robin and was told the fries were coated with flour before

cooking. Apparently, it varies by restaurant. When I was there I

had a choice of one salad and a milk shake that didn't contain flour.

Everything else on the menu contained wheat,(But hey, at least it was a

good salad and a cute restaurant. I was there to enjoy my friends,

anyway, which I did).

Heads up on the Red Robin fries.

best wishes

from Oregon

[Guest guest]

>

> Is it a chain? Is it owned by a larger chain? I've never heard of

> it before. But if it's a chain in an area where I'm likely to be

> at some point, I'd write a letter that would sound legitimate.

> Esther in RI, who has never heard of Red Robin in RI or MA (the

> two places I've lived my whole life).

>

The Red Robin in Woodbridge was the same...our waitress went back

twice to check on some ingredients for different menu items and

seasonings and told me what we could substitute and then said the

manager would be out shortly too talk to us. Pretty soon the

manager came out, we discussed everything with him, and he prepared

my meal himself AND he served it. Impressed me and our waitress:-) I

made sure to fill out a compliment card and left an extra tip...and

I must have thanked him a dozen or so times. He even made sure to

tell me he cleaned the grill and counter himself before preparing my

food and double checked to make sure everything was ok.

Go to Google.com and type in Red Robin Restaurant and there's a site

that has a locater..they are all across the country.

:-) in VA

[Guest guest]

>

> We've had the best luck at our local Red Robin. They are truly

> excellent. When visiting Los Angeles, however, the two RR I tried

did not

> have the same menu and set up (dedicated fryer, for example). Both of

> these RR are individually owned and operated. That might account

for your

> experience, Chris. Don't give up! ... Try another that is really

> part of the chain and not individually owned.

>

The locations map shows you which is corporate and which is franchise:

http://redrobin.com/Locations.html

[Guest guest]

We have been to the one in Madison, on the west side, right off the

beltline. I know that there are more than that too. I think that

there are two others in the Madison area and then there are a couple

up in Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay, I believe. Where is it that

you live exactly? I am from that same area.

rhiannon

>

> Where in Wisconsin? Northwest? I've lived here all my life and

never heard of them before this. I'm about 50 miles northwest of

Milwaukee-originally from Milwaukee.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Michele

>

> Message: 12

> Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:28:33 -0000

>

> Subject: Re: Red Robin

>

> We have them in MN and in WI. I have been there a couple of

times,

> but not since being GF. It is kind of like a throw back diner,

but

> bigger. It's good!!

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

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