Red Robin YIKES!

[Joyius]

So last night we decided to head out to dinner and a movie. We headed to a restaurant nearby picking Red Robin over Applebees. Let me tell you. Momma left wishing we had picked Applebees.

So we get there, hang out by a game at the front while waiting for little brother to come in from the parking lot(Some drunk idiot thought it'd be a good idea to try and drop kick the truck. Truck won.) Step-dad got a seat. Now I'd like to mention, this place isn't packed but it isn't empty either, quite a bit of open booths and tables, a little Christmas party nearby but they were fine. Eventually we go and sit down, and by this point, Step-dad had been waiting at least five minutes and we sit and wait some more...and we keep waiting...and waiting...and waiting. We had been waiting for TWENTY MINUTES while a waitress went and checked on everyone else but us, no one had taken our drink orders, nothing. So the waitress comes up and Mom tells her that they had been waiting for a while and we order our drinks and food, turns out mom can't get anything cause she has a gluten allergy and wanted their spinach and artichoke dip but they had sent their shipment back due to quality issues, so mom just gets a drink. The manager comes over, apologizes about the dip but mom explains she's mad about the very extremely unnecessary wait. After we eat we leave, head over and get some ice cream and head to amc.

Now we cut to today, early this morning I'm helping mom wrap up late Christmas presents when we get a call from the Washington Red Robin Franchise owner! So they go and talk and it turns out that the waitress mom had complained about in the little survey had other complaints before, and that they, guess what have a SPECIAL gluten and allergy free diet menu for those with allergies! Funny how the waitress didn't mention this when mom explained her allergy. He apologized, and stated he normally doesn't do this, but sent us a 100$ gift card and wants us to come back many many times. We certainly will consider going back.

A little off topic. Anyone been to an AMC theater recently? OMG we go there and there's freaking luxury leather recliners in there! We just reclined and relaxed in style! It was AWESOME!

[fma_fanatic]

Red Robin has always been good responding to those surveys. We're both loyalty card members and decided to take advantage of the free shake promo they had this past month. We go dutch and when I mention I have a loyalty card, would like the shake and order a monster sized, I'm told that I can only get it classic sized. I had to search for the email I got to inform the waitress that it was both sizes.

From that moment on, the service was not the best it could have been. When I asked for a to go box for the two fillets of fish and fries I had to take home, I was given the smallest box they had. DaDairyDruid had to use his packing skills to I could get it all packed.

So when the survey came the next day, I filled it out and submitted it. I got a call later that day from the general manager who was very unhappy that we got bad service. She sent us a $20 gift card.

Was it a Dine-In Theater you went to? ?If so - OMG yes! We love going to ours, especially the adult side.

[Joyius]

Was it a Dine-In Theater you went to? ?If so - OMG yes! We love going to ours, especially the adult side.

Unfortunately not, but it was pretty cool to have recliners.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

A little off topic. Anyone been to an AMC theater recently? OMG we go there and there's freaking luxury leather recliners in there! We just reclined and relaxed in style! It was AWESOME!

You suck.

The one and only movie theater in my city is located in the bad part of town, and features old, torn seats and you don't wear your good shoes there because they will become permanently bonded to the floor by the time the movie's over.

I'm exaggerating there, but only slightly.

[Food Lady]

^ Ripon is so small they only have 1 theater, with 1 screen!

[Aislin]

Most chain restraunts don't bother to train about allergies. They have the menus but expect the waitstaff to just know and don't bother to have a training plan. I am gluten intolerant and I have had to explain to dozens of worker, yes your chain has a gluten free menu and here is where corprate expects you to keep it. Other places are great about training and teaching staff. Pita jungle, and Jason deli have a great training program. They also have disclaimers stating they can't garentee gluten free food.

[PepperElf]

Most chain restraunts don't bother to train about allergies. They have the menus but expect the waitstaff to just know and don't bother to have a training plan. I am gluten intolerant and I have had to explain to dozens of worker, yes your chain has a gluten free menu and here is where corprate expects you to keep it. Other places are great about training and teaching staff. Pita jungle, and Jason deli have a great training program. They also have disclaimers stating they can't garentee gluten free food.

My mom has had similar issues for her digestive system ... and it's one that many severs are unaware of: diverticulosis. Small food particles sometimes get trapped in her GI tract and cause painful inflammation (diverticulitis). Current thought is that seeds and nuts are the foods most likely to be trapped.

So she can have say, creamy peanut butter, but she cannot eat the actual nuts. Likewise she had to be very careful with seeded fruit, if the seeds cannot be easily removed (like strawberries, raspberries, etc.)

Sometimes she's lucky - in one restaurant one of the chefs also had diverticulosis so he understood what she couldn't have. However in other restaurants or fast-food locations, it's a bit of a toss-up if they'd understand - or if they'd just ignore the request altogether. Granted she had most of the affected tissue removed a few years ago, so I think she's had only one flareup since (seedless watermelon - turned out that they really do have seeds: smaller and harder to see), so she doesn't like taking risks.

[PhiSigGirl1988]

I promise you, not all Red Robin servers are like that. I actually know full well about the allergy menu and will offer it when someone mentions an allergy. And I don't spew incorrect info out of my butt regarding the Red Royalty offers. I'll ask if I'm unsure about something. As for the boxes, my restaurant seems to run out of large ones constantly. If that's the case, I'll bring out two smaller boxes.

For future reference regarding the gluten allergy, we have a gluten-free bun for the burgers. We also have lettuce buns. Make sure she gets no salt on the burger and fries. The patties and the steak fries are cooked with our seasoning salt, which contains ingredients that have gluten. There shouldn't be major concerns with cross-contamination. The cooks have to change gloves with allergies, and each fryer is used for separate things. I once had a guest with severe allergies and his mother mentioned that Red Robin was one of her favorite restaurants to come to because of the fact that they're so concerned about food allergy matters and she never worries that something will happen to her son because of us.

[RetailWorkhorse]

So they go and talk and it turns out that the waitress mom had complained about in the little survey had other complaints before, and that they, guess what have a SPECIAL gluten and allergy free diet menu for those with allergies!

*Perks up* What? Really?

For future reference regarding the gluten allergy, we have a gluten-free bun for the burgers.

YOU DO?! I can go to Red Robin?? YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! *Pony-dance*

[BearLeeBadenaugh]

Ripon? lol, amazes me that it stays open. I haven't been there in a couple years. I actually like the lil place, they just never have the movie I'm looking for. Like today, we're going to Le Mis for my wife's birthday and have to drive to Appleton. Showing in Oshkosh too, but only at 330pm, lol.

[dalesys]

*Perks up* What? Really?
YOU DO?! I can go to Red Robin?? YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! *Pony-dance*

Hide the bacon!
Fwooooosh!
Too late!

[Cooper]

I'll have to keep that in mind--not that I think there's a Red Robin anywhere near me, but my mom has a gluten allergy. Thankfully nobody's made a big stink about it yet--the worst was a guy who was rather confused when mom ordered a hamburger without a bun at Wendys--but the amount of food options she has is pretty limited. There are about four places in the area that offer stuff she can have, and only one offers an extensive menu. (They offer gluten-free pizza. It makes her life I think, that she doesn't have to give up pizza.)

[RetailWorkhorse]

Hide the bacon!
Fwooooosh!
Too late!

Bacon? What bacon? I saw no bacon whatsoever. Ignore the blindfold, I just happen to have a headache. Aye-yup. I'll be right over here. In my corner. Eating this bacon which I did not saw. See. Thing do. Whatever.

[dalesys]

... Ignore the blindfold, I just happen to have a headache...

Blindfold? Hah! More like a meatpie-rat bandananananana!

[Jester]

I once had a guest with severe allergies...

I have a friend who is allergic to (deep breath):
Dairy.
Eggs.
Coconuts.
Mushrooms.
Seafood.

And probably one or two other things I've forgotten.

Now, while the coconuts and mushrooms aren't that big a deal, and seafood is easily avoided, the other two make it very tough for her to order, well, anything really. No breads, no cakes, no baked goods; it's nuts.

She is good with most meats and most veggies, but still, her ability to order standard stuff off the menu is severely hampered. Usually when she sits at my bar, she'll get a cider and a side of fries. Or a vodka drink and a side of fries. Or sometimes she just won't bother with food at all, and just come in for drinks.