People with celiac disease or gluten intolerance struggle to find safe eating options when dining out. An increasing number of restaurant chains are adding GF menus to their selections. With the National Institutes of Health estimating that 1 in 133 people in the U.S. has celiac disease, and gluten intolerance on the rise, the market for gluten-free choices is worth capturing. P.F. Chang's GF menu is one of the best for safe eating on a gluten-free diet.
P.F. Chang's
With more than 200 restaurants in the United States, P.F. Chang's China Bistro provides a mellow, relaxing atmosphere with vibrant food and innovative service. For customers who choose to dine in, the restaurants accept reservations online or by phone. Many locations are built into major malls as well, so GF patrons can combine shopping with dining if there is a slight wait for a table.
Ordering out is easy as well. Customers can call in an order or go online and order through the chain's web form. You select the location, enter the order (gluten-free folks choose from the GF menu online), and either pay online with a credit card or pay in person. The website can save your order if you tend to eat the same favorites, making the next take-out session that much easier.
P.F. Chang's Gluten Free Menu
Many diners on a celiac diet know the drill: ask for a manager, explain your dietary needs, cross your fingers and hope the chef understands GF diets. Or, ask for the gluten-free menu and get a hastily printed sheet of paper with three items, including the ubiquitous grilled chicken salad with oil and vinegar dressing that celiac patients know all too well.
At P.F. Chang's the experience is a 180 degree turnaround. The GF menu is on the regular menu. When your server comes to the table, inform him or her that you're ordering off the gluten-free menu. P.F. Chang's provides GF soy sauce and all GF dishes come on special plates, for no confusion in the kitchen or at your table.
Chinese Food on a Celiac Diet
But what about taste? The P.F. Chang's gluten-free menu is constantly expanding, with appetizers that include the famous P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps, and entrees such as Chang's Spicy Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Buddha's Feast and more.
On a recent night out we dined at the Natick, Mass. location, tucked into the Natick Collection Mall on Route 9. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about celiac issues and explained that the GF sauces would be delivered in red cruets vs. white cruets for regular sauces. Our Chang's spicy chicken (the restaurant's version of General Tsao's chicken) was perfect and not too overcooked, with the right combination of sweet orange sauce and spicy red pepper flakes, while the Dali Chicken was crispy and tasty.
We ordered the Shanghai Cucumbers to help cut the spiciness of the Dali Chicken but found it wasn't necessary; the Dali dish wasn't quite as hot as we expected. Two gluten free desserts - the flourless chocolate dome and a new GF dessert, the Triple Chocolate Mousse - topped off the meal.
While the food was great, the experience of eating at a large chain restaurant that understands the needs of celiac patients was even better. On our journeys throughout the Northeast we now seek out P.F. Chang's, from Providence to D.C. to Boston. For more information about the chain or their celiac diet options, call 866-732-4264 at their corporate office.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
Comments