Olive Garden
Category: Restaurants
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Posted:
Jan 26, 2010
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Location:
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Name:
HS
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36 BACKUS AVE.
16854
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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DANBURY,
CT 06810
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We called ahead to ask if they had GF options and they claimed that they had a whole menu. Upon arrival I was tossed a wrinkled nutritional fact menu which had a list of 4 options. The waitress then came by and laughed at me for looking up the nutrition facts, when I told her I was GF she had no idea what that was. I simplified it for her saying no wheat products. She then proceeded to bring me a salad with croutons on it and could not figure out why I was upset. She could not have cared less about my condition and the entire staff was very uninformed and insulting. I was furious to have to pay for a meal I wanted no part of. I would HIGHLY recommend if you are the area to STAY AWAY from this Olive Garden and from the sound of it my experience was not isolate to this location.
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Posted:
Jan 16, 2010
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Location:
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Name:
Mare
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4125 ROUTE 31
16870
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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CLAY,
NY 13041
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UGH! What a tremendous disappointment! I asked for a GF menu and received a dirty wrinkled one. Ordered a salad and was informed my only option was Fat Free Italian dressing. I said that would be fine, and then order the pork dish on the GF menu. There was not any listing of pasta options on the GF menu I received. I then was informed that no, they didn't have ANY GF options for salad dressings. Later, I was asked to choose a different dish because they were no longer "selling" the GF Pork because it wasn't popular. So I switched my order. I was so disappointed that their "GF" menu actually doesn't exist. Fortunately, a manager finally came to our table (at the end of the meal) and cleared our bill. That was the only saving grace of the entire experience. Do not go to Olive Garden if you need to be Gluten Free.
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Posted:
Nov 29, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Mom 2 AB
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3147 ERIE BLVD EAST
16820
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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SYRACUSE,
NY 13214
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The wait-staff we dealt with was completely unaware of gluten-free options.
Finally, our 6yo son was served his plain pasta but AFTER it was eaten, the manager came over. She did apologize and admit that it was not gluten-free. She explained that their GF foods are all pre-packaged & just heated up, then served. No ability to accommodate taste at all.
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Posted:
Oct 30, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Very Angry
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8133 LEESBURG PIKE
16778
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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VIENNA,
VA 22182
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DON'T GO HERE! I ordered their gf pasta off the gf menu (of which they had a grand total of ONE copy) and expressly told the waitress it must be gluten free. She served me the pasta and told me she had double checkedand that this pasta was definitely okay, and then ten minutes later the cook came to tell me they had made a mistake. This was wheat pasta. So it turns out I ate a half plate of wheat pasta withouth knowing it. The staff is not educated at all in terms of gluten intolerence
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Posted:
Oct 22, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
meg
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1631 RING ROAD
16641
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
???
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CHESAPEAKE,
VA 23320
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before going to olive garden (which was one of my favorite restaurants before i went gluten free) i called to ask what was on the GF menue. The host gave me a list of very yummy sounding options off of what I believed was the GF menue. When I got there, after driving an hour, i learned that my only pasta option was a microwave meal that I could get from the grocery store for $5. They not only LIED on the phone but also had only 4 options to choose from, 3 were plain meat with veggies and the fourth, microwaved pasta...definitely not what I was told on the phone.
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Posted:
Oct 6, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Disappointed
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12980 FAIR LAKES CTR
16853
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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FAIRFAX,
VA 22033
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They had a GF Menu that had no selection to chose from. 4 items. Had chicken & beef with brocolli, the chicken was awful, the beef OK, they had put a dressing on the salad even after we make sure there was no croutons & it was to be gluten free.. Disappointing to even have this restaurant listed as a GF restaurant. Won't go there again.
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Posted:
Oct 4, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Glutenless in Grand Rapids - Sept. 2009
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3030 ALPINE AVE NW
16829
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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GRAND RAPIDS,
MI 49544
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I appreciate that Olive Garden is attempting to accommodate a gluten free diet, so I'll definitely check back in a year or so to see if things have improved, but my experience a couple weeks ago was very frustrating. There were all kinds of regular menu items that seemed like they should have been fine - no pasta, no creamy sauces, but the gf menu itself was VERY limited. The waitress disclosed that the gf pasta dishes were just frozen dinners that they heated up in the back - basically a $15.00 microwave dinner. I ordered one anyway since there wasn't much choice, and it was really terrible. It had almost no sauce or flavor at all, just a bunch of extremely al-dente noodles lightly tinged red with what must have once been a watery sauce. I ended up dumping the marinara dipping sauce for the bread sticks onto the pasta trying to improve it, (I had my own dish and brought my own bread,) and I thought, aren't there chefs in the back? Couldn't they think of that and pour some on before sending it out? I mean I understand it's a chain and they are in the business of providing decent food for a low price, but I'm no chef myself and I could have easily fixed up that pasta and made it edible. I would have been embarrassed to serve that at my home, let alone my restaurant. Seriously, just plop some sauce on it, saute up a few mushrooms, throw on some fresh basil, SOMETHING.
I think what sucks the most about the failed attempt at a gluten-free menu is that it lures people into going there with family, only to fight a bad attitude all throughout dinner while everyone else eats good food and I think about what's in the fridge at home that I can eat when the evening is over. It really would be better to have no gluten-free menu at all, then to have one that attracts people but then seriously disappoints.
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Posted:
Sep 29, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Princess Jessie
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41 HAZARD ROAD
16781
[Map]
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Rating:
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ENFIELD,
CT 06082
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I went out to eat with a group of my girlfriends that were home on winter break from college. One of my friends worked at the Olive Garden, and assured me that the GF menu would be safe. I went with the "safest" thing I could imagine on the menu... the grilled salmon and veggies. Everything seemed fine, and tasted great. Then we finished lunch, and went outside to take some pictures. As soon as I stood up, I knew... I took a few pictures, and made up some excuse that I had to get home for. My house is just barely 10 minutes away from the resturaunt, and I almost didn't make it home. I spent a few hours getting sick from this "wonderful" meal. Now after reading some reviews, I understand they cook thier veggies in pasta water?!? Definatly not gluten-free! Not worth my money or my time... Will NEVER try this resturaunt agian, atleast not until they are more educated.
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Posted:
Sep 20, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
katie
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3730 UNIVERSITY DR NW
16494
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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HUNTSVILLE,
AL 35816
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I ate the salmon and veggies. It tasted fine until I got home and then I spent four hours in the bathroom paying for it.
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Posted:
Sep 7, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
MD resident
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4101 TOWNE CENTER BLVD
16943
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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BOWIE,
MD 20716
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When I arrived at the Bowie restaurant I asked the hostess for their gluten-free menu. They asked, "what is gluten?" When I explained the girl outwardly laughed at me and said, "You do know what we serve here, right?" I then asked the waitress if she knew what foods were gluten free and she immediately said, "Oh, let me bring you our gf menu" After about 15 minutes of waiting she came back and said they couldn't find a copy.
Unless the restaurant actually offers the gf pasta (this did not) I don't think they are actually trained to cook gluten free, and even though items are listed on the gf menu I don't trust that they are not contaminated with gluten from the kitchen.
I gave it 2 stars because hopefully those with the gf pasta on their menu actually know what they're doing. This location, however, does not.
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Posted:
Sep 7, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Susan
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100 NUT TREE PARKWAY
17091
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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VACAVILLE,
CA 95687
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I "tried" to eat there twice. They don't seem to understand gluten free. The first time they served me the regular version of the meal I ordered off the gluten free menu, full of sauce & seasoning. While my friend ate I waited for them to make me a new meal. The 2nd time they got closer but my plate still included a gluten item instead of broccoli. When I asked the waitress she said she just ordered the meal I wanted w/o seasoning. There is no button for gluten free.
I don't think they truly get gluten free.
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Posted:
Aug 28, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Nell
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3060 HIGHWAY 69
17018
[Map]
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Rating:
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PRESCOTT,
AZ 86301
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Salad came with croutons, Venetian Apricot Chicken
was over cooked, vegetables were over cooked and their water was all over the plate. A very disappointing meal.
We will not be going back.
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Posted:
Aug 22, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Gluten review
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392 PATRIOT PLACE, SPACE 3
17168
[Map]
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Rating:
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FOXBORO,
MA 02035
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We ordered the mixed grill of the garden fare menu. In there defense a trainee waited on us. The meal came out with the roasted potato which is not gluten free. I questioned the waitress and immediately she came back and told my daughter not to eat it(she had already eaten one bite). They did have to make her a whole new mixed grill with steamed veges. The rest of us were done before she received her meal. Even though there was an error made I give this Olive Garden a B+ for effort.When the manager found out what happened he immediately came to our table and asked if my daughter was ok and if there was anything he could do for her. They took her meal off the bill even though she did eventually get a meal. The most impressive part to me was the manager approached my daughter at eye level and apologized for the error. He then handed her a $20.00 gift card and hoped she would try them again. Now I know nothing can take the place of a safe meal, but this location tried hard to accommodate my daughter and I do appreciate it. After all that happened she did not have a full blown reaction. I would definitely try them again and so would my daughter.
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Posted:
Aug 9, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
The Registrar Team
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8531 BROWN DEER RD.
16840
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
???
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MILWAUKEE,
WI 53224
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Thank you for posting your comment. Just because their corporate office claims they have a gluten-free menu (http://www.olivegarden.com/menus/garden_fare/nutrition_alternatives.asp), doesn't mean all of the individual locations can actually live up to it. Your feedback, both positive and negative, is the most important information on our website. It helps others decide if a particular restaurant, or restaurant location, is appropriate for their needs. Thank you again for posting your comment.
Sincerely,
The Registrar Team
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Posted:
Aug 9, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Maggie
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8531 BROWN DEER RD.
16840
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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MILWAUKEE,
WI 53224
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They absolutely do not have a gluten-free menu!! Even the salads are impossible unless you take them without dressing; all the salad dressings contain gluten. I asked the manager what I could safely eat, and after a long pause, he admitted there was nothing on the menu I could eat 'as is'. It is very misleading to put this restaurant on the gluten-free registry. Makes me not trust the site at all.
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Posted:
Jul 5, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Anonymous
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18180 BLUE MOUND ROAD
16675
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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BROOKFIELD,
WI 53045
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They used to accomodate us very nicely UNTIL they came up with the gluten-free menu. There is nothing appealing on this menu, especially when everyone around you is eating pasta. Go to Maggiano's instead.
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Posted:
Jun 29, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
stevenstlou
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3105 GLENSTONE AVENUE
16590
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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SPRINGFIELD,
MO 65804
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THey davertise they have a gluetn free menu but then after you read it tell you non of it is gluten free. They can make anyof them plain if you like very mis-leading the manager didn't even come over to appologise, the waiter said oh he just left!
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Posted:
Apr 26, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
EPH
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1525 COUNTY ROAD C
16682
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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ROSEVILLE,
MN 55113
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I was pleased to find a reasonably priced kids menu item for my Celiac daughter at Olive Garden (just over $5), though there is only one GF kids menu item. She had no reaction to the food and the staff was very friendly and understanding of cross-contamination issues after I explained that clean utensils and water needed to be used to prepare her food.
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Posted:
Apr 22, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
celiaclady
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1880 ADAMS STREET
17073
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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MANKATO,
MN 56001
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can not figure out why this is even on here---it is not safe, they even cook their veggies in the pasta water
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Posted:
Apr 13, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
Mama K
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1405 N. KINGS HIGHWAY
16753
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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MYRTLE BEACH,
SC 29577
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My daughter can't eat gluten. We tried eating here and they weren't very friendly about the situation. Even put croutons on the salad after we explained the situation. I was disappointed.
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Posted:
Apr 10, 2009
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Location:
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Name:
NAN
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696 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
16950
[GF Map]
[Map]
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Rating:
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NEW YORK,
NY 10010
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I asked for the gluten free menu and there were about 4 items to choose from. I ordered the ceasar salad. The ceasar salad included a plate of lettuce with parmesan cheese and tons of ceasar dressing. That's it. I was disappointed as it still cost $10. I ended up sick after eating there, so I'm not convinced they understand the cross contamination issues. Totally not worth it!
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