How would I appropriaetly ask to have a special dish made for me at a 5 star restaurant? I have food allergies

Question

I am going tappropriatelyek with some friends and we are going to four 5 star restaurants. These restaurants are amazing and well known. Now let me explain my situation. I am allergic to eleven types of food, this makes going out to restaurant's very hard. The food that I am allergic too include soy,which is in everything, wheat, yeast, cashews, milk, cheese, eggs, etc... Anytime I go to a restaurant I always ask to speak with the chef or the sou chef to have them pre-pair me a special meal that wont effect me but, I am in a entirely different situation here. These chefs are some of the top chefs in the world; I don't want to smother them with my questions. What do you suggest I do?

Answer 1

You don't ask them to make a special meal for you.  You ask if they offer anything on the menu that does not have the item or items that cause you a problem.  Or better yet if you have that big a problem with food allergies, stay home and make your own food.  I personally wouldn't want to be at your table when you start asking if menu items have this ingredient or that ingredient, especially at a 5-star restaurant.  Show some 5-star class and don't subject your friends to this.

Answer 2

While I concur with the advise you have been given so far... to call the restaurant ahead... might I simply add one suggestion for the future?

Type up, with your name on top, the list of the foods which you have difficulties with.  With such a LONG list, even the best of chefs could lose track and inadvertently add something you'll have problems with.  Keep the list in "small" print, so you can keep a few copies in your wallet or purse for use at anytime you go out.

When you arrive at the restaurant, you can hand the list to the maitre d' or wait-staff and they can give it to the chef for reference.

ENJOY your meal and most of all, the friends you share it with.

Have a polite day.

Answer 3

try calling the restaurant first and ask if they can accommodate you.

Answer 4

they should be able to accomodate you .just inform your server,or ask to speak to the chef[i prefer this].

i am a chef in a 5 star hotel and we get a lot of special dietary requests from allergies to orthodox kosher.

it should not matter who the chefs are they can and should accomodate you. you may wish to contact the place in advance so if they do not have something they have time to get it.

Answer 5

This is not an unusual request.  Call ahead to make the necessary arrangements.  Restaurants are used to doing this for their patrons.

Answer 6

I honestly have never been in a situation like this one, so I'm can't empathize, only sympathize with you. But here's what I recommend: (I don't know how much time you have, but if you have a day or two, then...)

Call ahead and when the hostess answers, say something to the effect of, "Hi, I'm not sure how to go about this, but I'll be eating at your restaurant in a few days, and I have some food allergies, so I kinda have to have my food specially prepared...is there any way that I can do this? Do I talk to you, or to the manager, possibly a chef?"

I think that something could be worked out, especially since it's a      5-star restaurant, and they'll want to do everything they can to please you (afterall, it didn't get 5-stars for poor treatment to the customers)

Hope everything works out!

Also, I would love to know if it works out, just post it when you choose best answer or something, or add it on to your question. Thanks!

Answer 7

Call ahead.  Better to smother them with questions than smother you with anaphalaxys.