Restaurant/company issue to share

As I mentioned in another post, I am trying to gather information from various restaurant chains about their policies for WLS customers. I've only gotten 4 responses so far, but I'm not giving up. This is the e-mail I sent out, plain simple and straight forward: "I am doing research for a website I am putting together. Part of the site will be dedicated to major restaurant chains and their policies regarding customer's who have had bariatric or weight loss surgery. Does have any such policy? How would you expect a server or manager to respond to an adult customer who identifies himself as a bariatric patient and wants a children's meal or a half/smaller adult portion? Thank you for your time." This e-mail arrived today from the parent company of TGI Friday's and I wanted to share it with you because I was just amazed at how rude it came across. "Thank you for your interest in Carlson Restaurants Worldwide (CRW). CRW is owned by Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, a privately owned company, and is not traded on the stock exchange. The last annual report available is from 1989. At Carlson Restaurants Worldwide it is our policy to always try and satisfy any inquiries. Unfortunately, we do not provide specific information on the subject matter mentioned. Any information we have available may be found on our website. Our website address is www.FRIDAYS.com We appreciate your interest. Sincerely, Katrina Guest Relations" I was just livid that they sent such a canned response to a simple question. They couldn't even take the time to say they didn't have a policy or ask the local manager or even "Listen fatty we don't want you eating here anyway, it's bad for our trendy reputation." At least one of those responses would let me know they actually bothered to read my information request. I responded and told them (politely even) how I felt about their answer...but I'm still just so irritated. I for one will never set foot in one of their restaurants again (even if I weren't having the surgery).

That's a HUGE company They wouldn't know which local manager to send ya too But also, they have franchises....individually owned restaurants....not all of them our corporate owned. May have better luck contacting the actual local ones in Indiana. Just a thought. And for the record....Flying J will not allow ordering off the kids menu...for anyone except kids...not even employees...I ran into that when I worked there this past summer. As for Friday's....I love their Jack Daniels Steak...haven't had that since before surgery...but it is sounding pretty good right now But I have ordered off their kids menu at the one in Greenwood...they had no problem with it. And Denny's allows ordering off the Senior menus.

mmm...Jack Daniels steak! Anyway...I know they are huge which is at least why I contacted Friday's themselves and not the parent company, it was passed up to them I guess. I wasn't sure if they were franchises or not so I thought I'd start at the beginning. Even with franchises they do usually have some corporate policies that have to be followed. Applebees (though not owned by a bigger company) is franchised and they at least had the decency to let me know it varied by location and to ask the local manager (no names or contact information were provided) not some canned "we can't comment on that" type response. LOL I guess just the wording of it was really off putting to me more than the fact that they didn't have an answer. I'll make a note about Denny's and Flying J Thanks for the info.

Bob Evans Camby will allow you to order from the kids menu.. and some places I have gone suggest the Sr menu.. I order Senior menu alot.. they arent allow to ask how old you really are.. (they can tell you are over 12). AND I have had places to help me in SOOO many ways to adjust the menu to me at a reduction of the price.. Just telling the waiter/waitress you have had surgery and cant eat over so many ounces has opened so many door for conversations with them and people sitting around me. My shy husband doesnt even mind talking about me and what I have gone thru. Bless his heart Linda

This will probably be an unwelcome response, but here it goes anyway. I was a restaurant Mgr for 10 years, and when I was, it was 12 yrs ago and there wasn't many WLS patients then. But, we were in the business to make money, and that meant bring in the most money, not the least. The restaurant didn't make the decision to have the surgery, you did. It not up to them to modify the menu for the minority, but to serve the massive group of people that wants to most for their money. With some creative thinking, you can order just about anything from most restaurant's. My wife and I always share an entree. Or, I order soup or a salad. If I do order an entree, I just take most of it home with me, to eat later. I hope I didn't offend anyone. It time to remember that this whole surgery process is about learning to make new life choices and how to change our whole way of thing about our life, and not expecting everyone else to change their thinking about how I need to live my new life. Sorry, so forward. But, at 3 years out, I've learned alot of new things about myself and how to change my new life. Thanks for your time, Butch

Not offended at all. I don't expect any place to make special arrangements because I decided to have WLS. I know they are trying to make money and I can respect that (couldn't we all use more money?). My issue isn't with anyplace that doesn't have a policy or refuses to make one, that is fine. It's then my choice to eat there and take home pounds of left overs or go elsewhere. If this response had said "I'm sorry we don't offer discounts or other menu options" I would have been fine with it. It was just the canned "no comment" response that bothered me. Like I said, it is my decision to have the surgery and I am doing that to myself. But at the same time don't smokers choose to smoke (addiction aside, they made a choice at some point) yet there are entire sections of restaurants to accomodate them. Now, I understand there are A LOT more smokers than WLS patients but you said it's not up to an establishment to adjust for a minority...yet they do it all the time. That can't be about money because in places where they have bans against smoking the establishments aren't losing business over it. Just playing devil's advocate...I used to smoke so I've been on both sides of this argument.

FYI .. Cracker Barrel Restaurants let's ANYONE/ANYAGE order off the Children's Menu. No questions asked. Good Luck. -Kimmy A