Eating out gluten-free used to feel overwhelming for me because I never knew what questions I should ask. Over the years, I developed a few key questions that help me feel more confident so I can order gluten-free safely.

These questions should help you feel a little more comfortable when asked at a restaurant or bakery to make sure they understand gluten intolerance.

Do you have a gluten-free menu?

This to me says a lot. It tells me they have thought about the fact that some people have gluten intolerance or celiac disease and need to think about how they prepare their food.

If you go to a restaurant or bakery and their menu doesn’t mention anything about gluten or other allergies, that is a sign that there will probably be cross contamination.

Do you have a dedicated gluten-free fryer?

Common foods like fries, chicken strips, fish, and even donuts are fried and therefore if one fryer is used for gluten foods as well as gluten-free foods, there could be cross contamination.

Getting this question answered can go a long way in deciding if you want to eat at this restaurant or bakery.

Is your staff trained to handle food allergies?

If you ever want a quick answer about whether or not it would be safe to eat at a restaurant or bakery, just ask one of the wait staff if they have been trained on how to handle food allergies.

You can pretty much tell immediately if your food would be safe to eat or not.

So many times I have been to a restaurant and when I ask them this question, they don’t even know how to answer it. BIG sign that you better probably order a salad or not eat there at all.

Do you have a dedicated food prep area for someone with allergies?

If a restaurant or bakery is really serious about making sure you have a good experience and wants you to feel safe eating there, this question should be an easy one and be able to be answered by anyone who works there.

If they on the other hand, don’t know what you mean, laugh, or can’t seem to figure out how to answer the question, the answer is no.

Do you offer gluten-friendly choices?

If the answer is yes to this question, this tells me they are trying to capture more people and want to offer options for those who have to eat gluten-free.

This basically means they can alter your order to allow your meal to be gluten-free, such as offering a gluten-free bun with your hamburger and fries.

While I love this, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is okay to eat there because there could very well be a good deal of cross contamination, so depending on your intolerance, you would need to make a decision if you think it would be safe or not.

Take These 5 Questions With You

These questions have helped me feel more comfortable eating out gluten-free over the years, which is exactly why I created my Gluten-Free Dining Safety Checklist — so you can save it on your phone or take it with you when eating out.

Hope this helps you order gluten-free safely so you can feel confident eating out again!

Enjoy!

~Jen