Why are there restaurants listed that are not celiac friendly?

We get this question a lot. It's a fair question and the answer isn't very obvious. We list these places for a couple reasons:

1. It saves you from visiting a restaurant that won’t work for you

Instead of removing a business from our app that doesn’t have gluten-free options, or is not celiac friendly, we want to leave the listing visible so our community knows not to visit that restaurant. Seeing a low rating and reading negative reviews will save you a trip from visiting a restaurant, only to find out there that it won’t work for your lifestyle.

2. It provides helpful information in case you find yourself stuck eating there

We may not always have a choice in where we eat (think work functions or a group get together). If you find yourself eating at a place that is less than ideal, reading the restaurant’s reviews on Find Me Gluten Free can help you make the safest dining decision. A review may advise you to stay away from menu items involving the fryer, but let you know that a salad or baked entree is a safe choice. Another reviewer could share that they had a negative experience with wait staff, but the chef was really knowledgeable. Worst case scenario, a review will let you know that you have little to no safe options at a given restaurant, which will let you know to stop for a snack beforehand.

3. Things change

It's just not possible to list only establishments that are celiac friendly at any moment in time. Menus, protocols, and staff are constantly changing. However, there is a lot of value in being able to read various experiences from members of the gluten-free community.