When I look back at all the restaurants I’ve eaten at since finding out that I was sensitive to soy, one stands out. The Keg Steakhouse & Bar. First, they get kudos for having an allergen info chart for all the items on their menu. Having those as a starting point really makes things run smoother (and a lot faster) for the restaurant and the consumer! It is not available online, but can be seen while eating there. As soon as I mentioned my soy issues to our waitress she told us she’d be sending the manager to our table to help us. He lead the conversation by legitimizing my concerns for avoiding soy and was sympathetic to how hard it is to avoid it, since it is in everything.

That type of attitude was so refreshing, since so many restaurant employees seem like they’re annoyed to be dealing with the issue. I’ve had many restaurant employees tell me they can’t be sure about if soy is or isn’t in multiple items, not offer to go look at ingredients boxes in the pantry and then just expect me to order blindly. Obviously, those people aren’t cut out for the hospitality industry like the people at The Keg are. The manager cheerfully went back and forth from our table many times, thoroughly checking ingredients and keeping us updated. After we had decided on my order, the waitress returned to our table and repeated back my order with all the modifications before taking The Helpful Hubby’s order.

All of The Keg’s salad dressings contained soy (a common issue), so he offered an oil and vinegar mix. I accepted, as I’m used to that being my only option, even though I don’t really like the taste. I hadn’t shared that feeling with the manager, but he brought a cup of dressing by our table that he had mixed himself, in the kitchen. It was a lot better and I really appreciated it. The manager even dropped his card by and told us we should ask for him when we come in, in the future – wow! I hope you’re fortunate enough to have The Keg in your area. I know some locations have also made donations to Arthritis Walks in their area.

What restaurants have worked well to accommodate you?

Yum!*

*Image Credit: from The Keg’s Facebook page