Istanbul Grill California

Today is the 4th time I’ve eaten here and the first time I’ve gotten sick. The other times the people working were incredibly knowledgeable about gluten. They even made sure I had cucumber for hummus and let me have some veggies instead of the rice, which has gluten in it. Melt in your mouth chicken kabobs (cubes). Wow!!!

Today was very different. Today was the first time we’d been in during the lunch specials. This was a horrible experience. I let the host (older lady) know I was gf and asked if I could have cucumber slices instead of bread. She said no. I informed her I was gluten free and would have a reaction to gluten and requested to pay for a side cucumbers and to have no pita due this. I ordered a chicken kabob, which was marked as being gluten free. I told her I needed the meal gluten free, which was offered on the menu. She was not friendly and my meal came with rice on the plate. The dessert was supposed to be the almond rice pudding, but it was something else.

The older people working today were not knowledgeable at all about gluten. If this were my first time in, I would’ve left and gone somewhere else. Bc I’ve had great experiences here before, I stayed. Big mistake. I’ve had 3 5-star experiences, but I got glutened today.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

The staff was wonderfully attentive to my needs. The food was excellent and the service fantastic.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I love this place!!! The service and food was excellent! Our waiter was very knowledgeable about gluten and I felt very well taken care of. The portions were large snd the seasoning was perfection. We had the Chicken Kabobs, Shepards Salad, and yogart drink. They normally serve flat bread with a flavorfull olive oil sun dried tomatoe dip as an appraiser. Our waiter was so thoughtful he brought me cucumbers so I could enjoy it also! We will be going back, its a new favorite place.

Celiac friendly?

Yes