Cross Contamination Worries

I started to think dining out was getting better in the greater Boston area for people with food sensitivities.  The menus might be limited but they existed.  And servers seemed to know about the issue, as in really know, not just the lip service like having to wash your hands.

I was wrong.  Recently we went out to a couple of different restaurants.  One was a steakhouse in Weymouth, MA.  The other was all-American fare in Quincy, MA.   The both got things wrong, much to our detriment, although one more than the other.

In Weymouth, we figured a steak house was a safe bet.  Beef has no gluten.  Now many of the sauces, demi glace or whatever will have gluten.  They usually use flour to thicken them.  However, ordering a steak without sauce should be fine.  It didn't turn out that way.  We ordered after informing our server several times about gluten allergies, and asked questions about specific dishes regarding gluten content.  That still was not enough apparently.  My lovely date ordered filet with a lobster tail.  Now for her I will give the benefit of the doubt that it may have been the lobster.  It came out dull with brown edges instead of the bright red that one would expect.  Our guess is that it was cooked well ahead of time and just reheated when served.  You CAN'T do that to lobster.  I ordered sirloin.  It was a little tough but the butter on top may have had some additive that made me sick.  That is only my guess, there could have been something in the mashed potato.  In any event the food was somehow contaminated.  That is inexcusable in light of informing the server of our food allergies.  What should have let me know was that the same server brought the food.  Previously in other restaurants a designated food allergy server brought out the actual food as a way of insuring against cross contamination.  One place even uses slightly different shaped plates also.  This steakhouse did not.  And we paid for it.

The Quincy restaurant was a bit better.  The server acknowledged our food allergies and even went to check with the chef about our questions on some dishes.  Even with all that there was still something possibly wrong.  I am only mentioning this to highlight the food sensitive's need to be ever vigilant.  She ordered a Cobb salad with steak tips.  The steak was obviously marinated in something, presumably teriyaki.  That may have been good except she cannot have any marinades, and most teriyaki contains soy sauce, which has gluten.

Even with the best of places, and when doing everything a person should do when food allergies are involved - reviewing ingredients, asking questions, informing servers - there is still a significant risk of becoming ill when dining out.  Restaurants are not automated, they are run by people.  People make mistakes.  While that is a fact of life, that fact can ruin another person's day, or life.

Bonefish Grill - Review

The other day we went to the recently opened Bonefish Grill in Westwood.  This whole area along University Ave is being developed with a large shopping area featuring Target, Nordstrom Rack, and a Homegoods among others.  It will soon be home to a Wegman's grocery store, which could be exciting and start to give Whole Foods a run for its money.

Across the street is a new restaurant, Bonefish Grill.  Now this is a chain restaurant that started in Florida but is making its way up north.  The Westwood location is one of three in the area.  Burlington and Rhode Island are the other two, although there is also one off in Connecticut.  We went in between the meal rush hours on a hot holiday weekend.  There were probably about a dozen patrons there at that time, and several friendly staff.  With plenty of space available I am glad we were quickly shown to a nice booth.  It would have been a little disappointing to have to wait for a smaller two person table in the middle of the room, which has happened in other places.  

It has a nice, contemporary decor.  The darkness was very welcome after being out in the hot sun, yet the lighting was still subtle and sufficient between the natural light and house lighting to be able to carry on a conversation.  If it gets too dark I always want to speak briefly in hushed tones.  That stifles a free flowing conversation, but that might be just me.   

I did check out the menu on line and on my phone previously so pretty much knew the offerings.  Seafood, obviously, with some good meat and salads also.  After a quick glance at the menu we did ask for a gluten free version.  It was my fault we did not do this at the Hostess station.  The very friendly server was quick in getting them though.  Throughout the whole meal she was very pleasant and attentive.

The gluten free version of the menu is, like most places with them, a really pared down version of the standard menu.  I usually get a little worried when the gluten free menu does not have prices on it.  This tells me that it is more of an after thought.  The gluten free offerings may not then be updated when the standard menu gets its changes.  

We both ordered salads.  This is what my date settled on after some questions about the menu.  Fish was first considered but the gluten free sides were mostly potato.  We did ask why a sweet potato mashed was not gluten free.  The server asked the chef for the answer that the add cream.  Not pressing the issue that neither cream or sweet potato have gluten, we just assumed the product was not sourced from a gluten free facility.  She handled the questions well so there was no point in torturing her over it.  I went with the Caesar and added chicken.  It was hot out and I wanted something lighter.  My date had their Florida Cobb Salad with some minor modifications.  They both came out quickly but mine did have croutons.  Before I could ask about that, did they have gluten free bread?, by date mentioned it.  So the mortified server readily admitted that this was her fault, she neglected to mention the gluten free on that salad.  She quickly had it corrected and apologized several times.  I thought she might have just said sorry and moved on, blamed the kitchen or something, but no, she took full responsibility without any prompting.  That was a bit impressive and shows she has character.  I can appreciate that.

The salads were good.  They came out with a bit of theatrics, plated in a transparent tall ring mold which was then removed by the server to give a bit of a last toss. The Caesar is basically just lettuce with dressing and cheese.  The Florida Cobb has mangos and avocado with the tomato and blue cheese.  The mangos were a big hit along side the adored avocado.

Once the lunch was done I indulged in dessert.  Bonefish does have a macadamia nut brownie, which is flourless so is gluten free.  With ice cream and a raspberry sauce this sounded perfect.  When it was coming out, just before it reached the table, our server intercepted it.  Restaurants often use a dedicated server for food allergies.  This one person brings them all out to help insure mistakes are not made.  Apparently another mistake was made though.  Our server mentioned to the other person that the whipped cream was not supposed to be on it.  It was sent back before reaching us to be remade in the gluten free version.  (what gluten is in the cream was never explored and is another topic)  After the first occasion she was being very diligent.  The dessert was great.  A moist chocolaty cake with rich sauces and macadamia nuts.  I was expecting a lava cake as gluten free desserts seem to have trouble baking in the middle so places just go with it.  But no, it was a real cake 'brownie'.

Overall this was a good dining experience.  We certainly will try it again for dinner and see how the place does in a rush.  It is new so may be working out some of the kinks that happen with places no matter how well planned, but it is new so is certainly a different experience.  They didn't have in integrated menu accommodating food allergies, but did make reasonable allowances.  Though not perfect they tried.  That's a bit better than some places.