Eating Out, Part 1: Nationwide Chain Restaurants

I love eating out, especially at restaurants where the chef prepares everything from scratch and you can ask lots of questions about the menu and be sure you can eat it. This isn't as easy at some chain bars and restaurants as the chef has no licence with the menu and many of the meals are not possible to deconstruct and remove the item with the gluten or wheat. Sometimes the chef isn't fully trained and doesn't quite know what gluten is. But don't despair! There are a few chain bars out there that you can get a gluten free meal at, here is what I know so far and I have given each place a star rating out of five for food quality (FQ) and suitability for a gluten free diet(GF). This piece is a work in progress and I will add more info as I find it. If you don't have time to read all this, go get a number 37 at Wagamama, you wont regret it.

Wagamama FQ**** GF****
Two meals on the nationwide menu are guaranteed gluten free these are #37 Chicken Itame and #38 Yasai Itame, try the Chicken Itame its lovely. Be careful though, once I was given Chicken Kare Lomen by accident and nearly ate it till I realised it wasn't what I ordered (it was red, not green). Always give the number of your dish as well as the name, and mention your requirements. On the website is also a list of dishes waga's will alter for you so you can eat them. Yumyumyum!

Ma Potters FQ? GF?
Never eaten here, had a look on the website and there isn't any info on gluten free products, but much of the menu looks pre-assembled. If you are eating here I would call ahead. I will try and find out more, but to be honest I'm not tempted to give the place a test drive.

Nandos FQ** GF****
Not really a 'restaurant' more of a chicken fast food bar where you can sit down, so don't think this is a swanky evening out! I have only given it two stars for food quality, as it doesn't really compare to somewhere like The Living Room or Wagamama, but its a little unfair to Nanados as it is just a fast food place, and for that sort of place the food is good. You can eat the chicken, rice, coleslaw and sweetcorn. Avoid the chips. The gluten free FAQ is here on the website.

The Living Room FQ*** GF***
The menu alters every month, and each restaurant has some of its own specials. But the staff are knowledgeable and can tell you what you can eat on the current menu. Nice simple food, well prepared and nice staff (at the Leeds and York branches anyway!).

HaHa! Bar and Canteen FQ*** GF***
Similar to Living Room, the menu is set for all restaurants, but the food is fresh and the staff will ask the chef what you can eat and will return with a good list of dishes you can eat. The online menu does note that the descriptions don't mention all ingredients so you should ask.

ASK FQ*** GF**
Italian pizza and pasta bar so you are onto a looser already. The do six salads at the moment, and two chicken man meals, no indications if the dressings and sauces are ok so its best to ask (umm no pun intended). I haven't eaten here since I have gone GF, the sight of all that pizza and pasta is too much for me. Food is good here, but I'm giving this place only two GF stars due to the pizza and pasta, but then its that sort of place.

EST EST EST FQ*** GF**
More pizza and pasta, though here there are some fish dishes and meat dishes for you to eat. If you are going with friends, make sure they are not looking to order one of the 'Con Amici' Italian type menus for everyone to eat as you will get loads of pizza and pasta and you will have to eat all the antipasti. Ask the server when you get here what is suitable, the food is good though and you should have enough choice. Once again I have not eaten there since going GF and the place gets a low GF score from me as its pizza and pasta.

Slug and Lettuce FQ? GF?
Never eaten her myself, but plenty of people do! Looking at the website its become quite ethical which is nice, using local produce, naturally reared meat and fish that is caught ethically, good for them. As usual the menu says you need to ask about the dishes if you have an allergy, and looking at the menu the choice is good. Maybe we will go have some food here one lunch time and give it a test drive for you.

Ok, that's as far as I have got, here are the ones I'm working on at the moment... come back soon!

La Tasca
Pizza Express
Zizzi
Iguna Bar
Agraah Indian Restaurants
Livebait