Interesting situation at a restaurant...

[ducklite]

I don't understand this.
I have a shellfish allergy. And I don't prevent ANYONE from ordering shrimp at these places. I even encourage my DH to get some when we dine out because I don't buy it for home. I just tell the chef that I am allergic....and guess what the do? They simply cook my food prior to any shellfish. Does it make me rude? I don't think so and other people at the table have never treated me rudely. Of course DH and I act like civilized human beings and interact with other table guests. I don't think I'm highly sensitive to it to the pont of anaphylaxis, but if I were I'd totally avoid this type of place or carry an epipen.

Sounds to me this family should have gotten a private table or gone elsewhere.

I could have written this exact same thing--I'm not allergic to all shellfish, just scallops, but I simply tell the chef and they keep my food away from the scallops if someone orders them. If my allergy was deathly, I simply wouldn't eat at a place like that.

Anne

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would have ordered what I wanted. They chose to go to a restaurant where the guy would have allergy issues. They needed to take care of it with the restaurant to handle the allergies not other patrons who they don't know.

 

[yeartolate]

Order what you want - tell the large family you are ordering shrimp and let the allergic man figure out what to do. It is not mean cruel or insensitive.

 

[lulugirl]

I would have ordered the shrimp.

 

[jbdreamer]

I agree - if I was deathly allergic to seafood, then you wouldn't see me at a resturant that served it. Who knows what they are doing in the kitchen. I think his family is at falut for dragging him there. You shouldn't feel guilty for ordering what you want at a resturant.

 

[luvwinnie]

I would have gotten shrimp.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I would've ordered whatever I wanted.
The other patron knew what kind of environment he was going into & yet he chose to go there anyway.

BINGO!

 

[Shugardrawers]

Had someone politely asked me to refrain from ordering shrimp, especially if there were no other available tables, I'd not have had a problem with complying. BUT, since he was there of his own free will and no one asked you had no obligation to restrict your own menu. Allergic persons need to be informed and aware but it's not anyone elses duty to change their menus for them. The only exception I would think would be in the case of perhaps a child who can be so tempted and not understand the consequences. If the guy were that allergic he'd probably have picked somewhere else to eat. Since you weren't a part of his party it's not your responsibility.

 

[ItsonlyExperiment626]

I think he was being the most thoughtful of all his family. Why limit 7 other people, especially people who are not even in your party for just one person and especially when food from the kitchen was available. I would have gone ahead and order the shrimp.

 

[Mercy]

Well first, off... who was sitting at the table first, your family or the larger family? If the larger family was there first, I would have just asked to be moved to a different table. From your post, it seems that the guy with the allergy's family was willing to forego the shrimp for his sake. I understand not wanting to cater your meal around him, so I would have just asked to be moved.... no big deal!!!

If your family was there first, then the restaurant should have found them a table where no seafood would be cooked. I don't know why everyone's jumping on the guy with the allergy like this is all his fault... afterall they are billed as Japanese STEAK Houses.

 

[Blondie]

I would've ordered whatever I wanted.
The other patron knew what kind of environment he was going into & yet he chose to go there anyway.

Yep, same here!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

The GF seems incredibly rude to have rolled her eyes at you. You and your DD aren't responsible for her BF's health. They could have told the staff of his allergies and requested a table to themselves. I would think they would easily have accomodated him, due to the seriousness of the allergy.

Plus, it's not ordering from the kitchen is so horrible. He still got to enjoy the show. I don't care where my food comes from, as long as I get it, and it's good.

 

[HollyJoy]

I would have ordered what I wanted too. If his allergy was so severe, then it should have been told to the restaurant staff, and had them sit them w/out anyone else so that they could order off the grill. It is totally UNFAIR of them to ask or even assume that you would change your entire order for them. RUDE.

 

[ReneeA]

I am deathly allergic to shellfish...my whole head and airway swell up/shut if I'm exposed to it. I've spent time in the hospital a couple of times when i was young due to accidental exposure to it. My MIL (passed away now) had a slight allergy to it, and might break out in mild hives. DH's family don't understand that there is a difference between her allergy and mine. They aren't very understanding and choose restaurants like that where exposure is possible and have said, "She's not going to DIE from it!"

Uhhhh, yes, I could.

I went to a place with a group like that and just ate the salad because I was worried that shrimp was cooked on the grill previously and it wasn't cleaned off good enough. I don't think anyone else should suffer on account of me, so I just don't eat. I also know not to go to restaurants like this anymore. If other arrangements aren't made, I just stay home.

I don't think you should have to give up shrimp, but his group should have picked another place to go.

ReneeA

 

[Marseeya]

Well first, off... who was sitting at the table first, your family or the larger family? If the larger family was there first, I would have just asked to be moved to a different table. From your post, it seems that the guy with the allergy's family was willing to forego the shrimp for his sake. I understand not wanting to cater your meal around him, so I would have just asked to be moved.... no big deal!!!

If your family was there first, then the restaurant should have found them a table where no seafood would be cooked. I don't know why everyone's jumping on the guy with the allergy like this is all his fault... afterall they are billed as Japanese STEAK Houses.

We were there first.

I don't mean to make it seem as if the guy was being a pain in the butt, because he really wasn't. The family wasn't really either. It just got me to thinking when they were all willing to go without shrimp, what kind of spot it put us in having to have our food cooked on the same grill. My husband and I were just looking at each other like, "Uh oh, what now?" but then the guy solved it for us by telling them not to do that.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

If that man's allergy was severe, he shouldn't have been in a restaurant serving shrimp in the first place. How could he know there wouldn't be cross-contamination in the kitchen!!! As well, to eat off a grill where shrimp were cooked also puts him at risk for contact. That family shouldn't have been in that restaurant at all.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

What a strange coincidence!

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=nation_world&id=3805766

Not necessarily the same situation, but still...