Question:
Has anyone used the restaurant cards?

Have the restaurants been supportive? Any one been denied?    — Karen R. (posted on May 22, 2000)

May 22, 2000
My doctor gives us one at our first post op appt. I suppose he assumes that we won't be needing it for the first two weeks...LOL. I am four months post op and have only used mine once. I used it at the Pizza Hut buffet and they just looked at me quizzically and then said no problem. All the other places that I have eaten I have made choices from the regular menu and ended up giving most of the meal to my four children. They enjoy it and what ever is left I take home. Of course that lasts forever! I will probably use it more when I am not going straight home to the fridge (for the leftovers) or when I am dining with only a few people.
   — S S.

May 22, 2000
Hi. Yes, I've used my restaurant card often. Sometimes the waitress or waiter is a little confused as to what to actually do with it, but for the most part I've had no negative reactions to my request to order either off the children's menu or ordering half servings. Children's menus usually contain the same basic items in whatever restauant you go to...grilled cheese, hot dogs, spaghetti, chicken tenders, etc..., but I was able to order off the lunch menu at Olive Garden (for dinner) and ordered a half serving (and was actually charged a half fare) at Outback last week. My mother, who at first was not terribly supportive of my surgery, is so supportive of my restaurant card she feels the need to ALWAYS ask me if I have it with me when we go out to eat together. I think she wishes she had one of her own! (lol) I have never been denied the use of it, but sometimes the half serving don't equal a half fare, so you might want to ask before ordering just how much the half serving will cost. Good luck and God bless. cj
   — cj T.

May 22, 2000
I've had no problem at all using the restaurant card; in fact, I used it yesterday at Bonanza and paid $2.99 (kid price) for the salad bar. It's worth using ... and remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Cindy
   — Cynthia B.

May 22, 2000
I'm 12 weeks postop and have eaten out a number of times but have never had the occasion to use the card. I went out to breakfast Sunday morning and I ordered one scrambled egg and a side of sausage (my boyfriend ate the sausage) -- other times I order vegetable soup, or just an appetizer and ask for it to come with the entrees of the other people I'm eating with. The only uncomfortable experience I've had is I went to a bbq hosted by some friend's of a friend, and even though he explained to them that I had this surgery and could only eat an ounce or two, they made me a whole steak at the bbq and it pretty much went to waste. Here's a tip if you go to a picnic or bbq when you're not sure what they're going to have -- bring your own beverage (important if, like me, you can't tolerate carbonation) and bring some portable high protein food, low-fat string cheese or a protein bar for example. By the way, now 12 weeks postop from the lap RNY, down 60 pounds, and I'm finally tolerating more normal foods! I ate my first piece of carrot today, finally comfortable introducing small pieces of raw veggies. For those of you early post-ops with sensitive stomachs, be patient! I was on pureed foods for what seemed like FOREVER but your new stomachs will eventually settle down.
   — Elizabeth M.

May 22, 2000
I don't have one, but have never had a problem ordering an item from the children's menu when I desire. I don't give explanations, either. I just ask if I may, and have never been turned down. BTW - a tip at McDonald's - don't order a Happy Meal, you'll pay for the toy. Instead, order the All-American Meal. Same food, no toy, less money. It's not on all the menus, but they all have them.
   — Duffy H.

May 22, 2000
Yes, I've used my card 3 times. I've used it in 2 different towns with Golden Coral and once at at Ryan's. I've gotten the buffet bar for child's fare. Sometimes that's ok but I may start getting better quality by getting the smallest steak, or grilled shrimp. Lou Ann as I can eat that easily.
   — Lou Ann J.

May 23, 2000
I usually order a cup of soup or some other smaller item. I have used my card several times and most places are pretty polite about it. However, once at Red Robin the waitress was totally RUDE about it, she told me that the restaurant loses money on the kids meals and that she didn't think her manager would approve using my card. I almost asked to speak to the manager myself! Anyway, while my friend and I were eating our lunch this waitress kept coming by and looking at my plate like she expected me to be licking it clean and asking for more! She must have been surprised that I only ate about half of it. Anyway, I don't blame the restaurant, just the ignorant waitress who acted like she was paying for my lunch.
   — Morgan B.

May 23, 2000
I spoke to my surgeon about the resteraunt card and showed him a couple of examples. He said he was still low-tech and didn't think about that. I have gone to a few resteraunts and just asked for the childrens menu or the senior one. I have explained to the server about my gastric surgery, never saying why I had it. They have been very nice about it. I only tip those servers that are good servers. A rude or reluctant server gets no tip from me!
   — [Anonymous]