Rachel W.
Yelp
We are strictly gluten-free due to celiac disease and had one of the most stressful dining experiences we've ever had.
We ordered a pasta dish that was confirmed to be gluten-free. Halfway through eating, we double-checked with our server because it tasted like regular pasta. She realized the chef had made it with gluten pasta. She was sincerely apologetic, had the dish remade with gluten-free pasta to go, and even comped a dessert. She handled the situation with genuine care and professionalism.
When the bill came, it still included the $30 pasta dish and the $3 gluten-free upcharge. We asked for those charges to be removed, as my boyfriend will now deal with severe stomach issues and migraines for the next week because of the chef's error. He wasn't able to enjoy the dining experience at all. Our server understood and took the bill away to correct it. Unfortunately, everything went downhill once the manager (who we later learned is also an owner) got involved.
The manager came to our table a few moments later with the bill and immediately began berating us with accusatory questions. She never once apologized. She treated the situation as if it were a simple mix-up, like we received scallops instead of crab, rather than a serious medical mistake that will leave my boyfriend sick for days, missing work, and in significant pain. She questioned how much of the dish he had eaten and implied that because he ate half, we should still pay. That logic completely ignores the fact that we trusted the restaurant's assurance that it was gluten-free.
She also completely threw our wonderful server under the bus, blaming her for the negligence. However, the bill clearly showed the $3 gluten-free up charge. The kitchen made the error, not the server. The dish wasn't even delivered by our server.
When we said we wouldn't pay for the contaminated dish, the manager became combative and said, "How can you look at yourself in the mirror? I support my kids with the profits from this restaurant." Honestly, I can look in the mirror just fine. My boyfriend is the one who will be suffering because the kitchen served gluten to someone with celiac disease. She then defensively added that "cross-contamination is always a risk," as if it were our fault, despite the fact that he ate half a dish of full gluten pasta. A situation far beyond cross contamination.
She stormed off mid-conversation and returned later with a corrected bill. There was still no apology, no accountability, no empathy. We paid, tipped our server, and left feeling shaken, disrespected, and disgusted.
If you have celiac disease or any serious dietary restriction, avoid this restaurant. The manager's attitude toward a clear medical mistake was dismissive, unprofessional, and completely lacking compassion. She cared more about a $30 charge than a guest's health and safety. Our server was fantastic, but the management's behavior was absolutely unacceptable.
