I had an incredibly disappointing experience at Pub W in Norman, Oklahoma, and I feel compelled to share my frustration. I have Celiac disease and Crohn's, so I take my dietary restrictions very seriously. When I ordered the filet with balsamic brussel sprouts as a side at Pub W, the staff assured me that it was gluten-free and safe for me to eat, even going so far as to mention they have a separate fryer specifically for the brussel sprouts. However, to my horror, they did not clean out the fryer basket, and battered and fried onions were mixed in with the brussel sprouts. This is something I specifically cannot have due to my condition, and it was a major oversight on their part.
I immediately informed the bartender, and she sent over a manager who filled out an incident report, apologized, and seemed genuinely concerned.
As a result, I spent the next two days in severe discomfort, having to take time off work to recover. This could have been avoided had they been more diligent with their food preparation. When I called the following day to speak with a manager, I was told the General Manager would reach out to me, but unfortunately, no one ever did. The only actions taken were filing the incident report and comping my meal. However, I never received an apology or any follow-up.
I understand that mistakes can happen, but the lack of communication and follow-through is inexcusable. Had I eaten any more (I only had one bite of the onion), I could have ended up in the hospital. It's not just about the physical toll this caused me, but the total disregard for my health and safety as a customer. Given this experience, I believe they should remove all "Gluten-Free" indicators from their menu if they can't properly accommodate guests with dietary restrictions.