Review of Banditos Tacos & Tequila

A google search for “Banditos” turned up an extensive online allergen menu, so yesterday I went to the Banditos restaurant in Fulton, MD for dinner. Weirdly, the in-store menu says NOTHING about allergens. The hostess didn’t have any allergen info, either, but she assured me that the waiter would help me order a safe meal. The waiter, however, knew only that I should order corn, not flour tortillas. He seemed confused by my questions about cross contamination. Eventually, the manager assured me that I’d be safe as long as I ordered from the list of GF items from their online allergens menu, and as long as I informed the waiter that I needed the kitchen to take allergen precautions. He told me that those precautions include changing gloves and using freshly cleaned utensils and cooking surfaces. That info made me feel comfortable enough to eat there that evening, despite my initial reservations about the place. Nevertheless, I ended up getting very sick later that night. As a celiac, I realize that not every gastrointestinal disorder I experience is necessarily the result of eating gluten, but, as a celiac, I also feel obligated to warn others that this is probably not be a safe place for celiacs to eat.

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

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the 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?

— Good