Overall, I think this place is probably safe for non-celiacs who are sensitive to gluten, as they do take some precautions. But probably not safe enough for celiacs.
I called today and spoke with a manager who assured me they could offer gluten free bread, toppings and condiments from a separate area (squeeze bottles), change gloves, and use a different slicer than the other they normally use to avoid cross contact. Since I saw a positive review, I decided to give it a try.
By the time I arrived, the woman I spoke with was gone and unfortunately only teenaged staff remained. They were friendly and helpful but I just didn't feel terribly confident because it felt like they were not very well trained. For example they did use a different knife to spread the mayo on the gluten-free bread, but they still grabbed mayo from the main sandwich line, which was basically sitting in a vat near a bunch of bread crumbs. They should instead have a separate squeeze bottle in the back for gluten-free sandwiches.
So, I risked it because before knowing I have celiac, I loved Jersey Mikes subs. The roast beef sub was great, although the gluten free bread was a little bit dry, and I love their vinegar and herb topping. I don't feel sick, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a trace amount of gluten that could be causing problems.
My recommendation to Jersey Mike's is to make it easier and safer for celiacs to eat your food. For example, work with a dietician to provide a menu with very clear gluten free labels and make it clear which ingredients are safe for celiacs. Have procedures that you regularly train staff on. We know you'll never be 100% safe but take steps to reduce the risk to celiacs to "very low risk" and many will accept it.
— Somewhat
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Some
— Good
Staff was very knowledgeable! They knew all the procedures to keep my sandwich celiac friendly!
Yes
$2.50 extra for gluten-free bread. Sandwiches are good. They were pretty good with precautions. Still, if I were super sensitive, I’d be worried about the amount of wheat flour crumbs floating around.
— Somewhat
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Some
— Good
Service took a while. I ordered ahead of time even. I waited around 15 minutes once I arrived and was told it would take longer because of my allergy. Overall bread was hard and fell apart while eating it.
— Not very
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much/None
— Below Average
I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon to get a gf sub. They asked allergy or preference, wiped down the counter, put down paper, used a clean knife, changed gloves, and were cool about grabbing toppings from the back. They even moved the sandwich to fresh paper at the end of the line instead of wrapping in the paper that had sat on crumbs. Altogether I was impressed! At most locations I have to correct things as I go down the line, but the two staff who interacted with me here seemed very well trained on gf protocols.
— Somewhat
— Some
— Good
They ask if you have an allergy or preference when it comes to the gluten free bread. After stating I have an allergy they cleaned the slicer, the counter, and all of the staff switched gloves. A new employee had accidentally used the mayo knife so they gave me new bread and then they use the squeeze bottle of mayo to prevent cross contamination. Everyone was very friendly, understanding, and aware of how to handle my allergy.
— Very
— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu
— Some
— Average
Amazing processes and protocols for safe handling of gluten free sandwiches to avoid cross contact. They explained their protocol to me without me prompting or asking any leading questions, showing me that know how to prevent cross contact.
— Very
— Most/All
— Excellent