Anyone who has to deal with food allergies, whether in themselves or their children, probably knows how tough it is to eat out in a restaurant. Leaving food preparation up to a stranger, especially for those dealing with severe allergies, can be both stressful and frightening.
But it doesn't have to be!
AllergyEats.com, the leading guide to allergy-friendly restaurants, recently released the 2014 list of the Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains nationwide.
AllergyEats lists more than 650,000 restaurants across the United States, which people can rate. The website also offers web links, menus and other resources for those dealing with food allergies.
AllergyEats.com used feedback from the food allergy community and then ranked the restaurants based only on how well they were able to accommodate diners with food allergies.
This list, unlike most "Best of" lists, does not take into account a restaurant's price range, service quality, food taste or overall ambiance. The feedback collected to compile this list was taken from the AllergyEats website as well as the AllergyEats smartphone app.
In a press release regarding the publication of this list, Paul Antico, founder and CEO of AllergyEats, is also the father of three food-allergic children and is a passionate food allergy advocate. He applauded the concerted efforts made by these restaurant chains to be accommodating for everyone.
Antico said, "these restaurants have demonstrated a superior willingness and ability to accommodate guests with food allergies."
Those dealing with food allergies understand the need to research any restaurants in advance. Looking up a restaurant's menu, ingredient list and any allergy statements can be a good first step. Getting real-life feedback from other allergy sufferers, like that found at AllergyEats.com, can also be extremely helpful.
Check out the 2014 list of the Most Allergy-Friendly Chain Restaurants below.
2014 Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurants
The list is broken down into three categories based on how many restaurants the chain has throughout the country.
Large (over 200 units):
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (4.45 rating)
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (4.43 rating)
Chipotle Mexican Grill (4.41 rating)
Outback Steakhouse (4.35 rating)
Romano’s Macaroni Grill (4.20 rating)
Medium (50-200 units):
Bonefish Grill (4.43 rating)
Ninety Nine Restaurant (4.28 rating)
Mellow Mushroom (4.26 rating)
Uno Chicago Grill (4.24 rating)
Bertucci’s Brick Oven Restaurant (4.17 rating)
Small (under 50 units):
Burtons Grill (4.90 rating)
Maggiano’s Little Italy (4.73 rating)
Papa Razzi (4.68 rating)
Legal Sea Foods (4.67 rating)
Not Your Average Joe’s (4.66 rating)
Sources:
AllergyEats.com. Web. 9 April 2015. "AllergyEats releases best rated restaurants."
http://www.allergyeats.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/AllergyEats-Release-Best-Rated-Restaurants-FINAL-140304.pdf
Myfamilytravels.com. Web. 9 April 2014. "Five tips for traveling and coping with food allergies."
http://myfamilytravels.com/content/50965-tips-traveling-and-coping-food-allergies
Reviewed April 10, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith