This is a collaborative post
My son ben has severe life-threatening allergies and we have to carry an Epi-Pen wherever we go. this can cause issues when wanting to eat out as some places are much more understanding than others. Do you have similar issues?
How to choose what to eat
It is much easier to choose your cuisine first, after all, if allergies were not an issue this is what you would do, isn’t it? Unfortunately, depending on the allergies you have, some cuisines are more difficult than others.
For example, if you have a gluten allergy, then pizza and pasta are much harder to enjoy than Chinese with rice. That said, it isn’t impossible. Nowadays so many companies have gluten-free options!
Online menus are an absolute Godsend when it comes to allergies, they mean you can look ahead and see if there are meals you like that you can safely eat!
If you are looking for an afternoon tea in London you might find that some venues have menus online whilst others don’t. This is why I recommend using a booking app like Square Meal where it is easy to see everything in one place.
Where to eat
Are you looking for somewhere with outdoor seating? If you don’t know the area this is another reason that a website can be helpful to compare all venues in one place. This is especially good if you are trying to organise something around work and have a busy day and not much time to organise your evening meal.
With the restrictions in the UK from Covid-19 gradually lifting you might still feel more comfortable eating outside and that is fine. It is always harder in cities to find places with nice outdoor areas but comparing reviews and photos can be so helpful. There is nothing worse than a beer garden on a busy road and not being able to hear your friends or partner talking, imagine being somewhere like that on a first date!
Do you enjoy restaurants in the city or prefer countryside venues? There are so many lovely places now aren’t there! I generally prefer to choose independent businesses when we can and support smaller businesses than the big chains but it really depends where we are and what I fancy eating!
My favourite meals out
Ben has allergies to cinnamon, nuts and sesame so it can make eating out tricky at times. We often avoid Chinese food as they often use nuts or sesame in recipes but Italian is usually a good choice. Indian food is also tricky as cinnamon is often used in meals and as cinnamon is not one of the listed allergens it involves asking restaurants directly to check ingredients.
If I am eating out with Stuart and without Ben then I love an Indian, it is definitely my favourite cuisine and we have an amazing Indian restaurant near us that I have to say is the best I have ever eaten. I also love vegan places as I am vegetarian and there are some lovely alternatives.
When it comes to allergies I always try and book a table somewhere in advance and check the menus before we go but when we do not have Ben with us it is so much easier and not always essential.
Where are your favourite places to eat out? Do you prefer to book in advance or just turn up and hope they can meet your dietary needs?
