Marco Pierre White Restaurants
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ALLERGY ISSUES - NOT KNOWN OR CLEAR
We were bought a gift voucher for experiences and chose to visit the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Bar & Grill. As my daughter was coming with us and is coeliac, needing a gluten free diet we emailed ahead to check on what she would be able to have. We were sent and response with a copy of the children's menu highlighting what food she could have. This indicated chicken, steak, salad, and mash but we were also advised to inform staff on our arrival. We thought this was a good start and my daughter was looking forward to it... On our arrival we handed the voucher in and told the staff member who greeted us of my daughter's allergy - we weren't asked this but in most restaurants now you are asked if there are allergies - we just got "OK". Sat at our table and the waitress came over - we told her of the allergy need and wanted to check on the email. They advised they would get the food matrix to guide us further. In this menu there was no information on the children's menu, and we pointed this out - they advised they would get a manager. No manager came over, but the staff member returned advising of another list of foods that my daughter could have listing garlic breads, pasta dishes etc. We asked if these were the gluten free as it was different guidance to the email - the response "think so". The risk of "think so" was not one we could take so stuck to the steak and mash. When asked how she wanted the steak the staff asked us rather than my daughter who asked for medium rare - to be told "no children's is pink or well done". We had the meal which to be honest was all right not a great deal of fuss over it! With drinks we asked for no paper straws as they can at times contain wheat to bind them - we had two served with straw's, but staff did change them. On to puddings they gave us a list of what my daughter could have - she ordered the ice cream for staff to then come back and say it's only vanilla ice cream she could have! The bill needed to be corrected three times and then we left... I've mailed twice to the restaurant and had one reply stating they will forward my reply to a manager no reply so emailed back with more concerns and FSA guidance - still no reply. We can go to local pubs who offer more understanding with gluten free and even my local chinese takeaway can do it! A worrying concern that a place like this cannot clearly show or understand allergies!! Oh and be aware if you want to sit by a window there's and extra charge!!