Jersey Mike's review

[jlbattin]

So, I've been seeing the signs and advertisement that Jersey Mike's Sub Sandwich shop has gluten free bread. I did a google search for their allergen menu and saw that most all of their meats are safe. My husband and I decided to try it out tonight. We have several in town and went to the closest one to our house. I won't go back to that one.

First of all, I told them I needed the gluten free bread and so they decided they needed to clean off the counter (such as it was). I didn't really pay attention to where they got the rag, but the next thing I knew, the young kid was cleaning off the slicer (they slice all of their meats and cheese for the sandwiches).........they have ONE slicer. So, I'm watching him wipe things around (and I see bread crumbs, cheese crumbs, all kinds of crumbs), and I'm thinking: WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO? He gets it somewhat clean (with what I doubt was a clean rag), and then the gal sliced the cheese first (for my husband's sandwich) and then the meats.

My gluten free bun was half the size of a regular sandwich (plus they charged me $2.00 more for the gluten free bun). I questioned them on that and said, "I'm not getting any cheese and not much else besides the turkey." He said, "Is this because you just want to be gluten free or an allergy?" I replied, "an allergy," because I knew that they would NOT understand sensitivities. And what business it is of theirs? So, I had turkey on my gluten free bun with a little bit of shredded lettuce and pickles. It wasn't a bad sandwich, but the bread wasn't all that great.

It really is just an overpriced Subway, at best. I didn't find it impressive at all, and I won't go back to that location. There is another location in town that specializes in gluten free and also has the Miracle Tarts that are so good. I will try that one if I decide to go back.

I took a gluten ease when I got home, and knowing full well that I got cross contaminated, I am just holding my breath that I make it through the night without a flare of some sort. Hopefully, I have enough healing under my belt that it will be just a minor setback if anything happens.

Lesson learned.............I'll keep you posted. Just thought I would let you know in case any of you have a Jersey Mike's. Be a little more persistent than I was..............

[tex]

Jari,

Thanks for the heads up. It's pretty obvious that they don't really have the training they need. Especially if they sliced the cheese before slicing the meat for your sandwich. They really should have a dedicated slicer, anyway, if they're going to offer GF sandwiches, though GF customers would still have to contend with the cheese cross-contamination (unless the chain decides to dedicate a slicer just for cheese).

Best of luck to you. Hopefully you won't have a reaction.

Thanks for sharing,
Tex

[jlbattin]

Thought I'd post a quick update. I am counting my lucky stars that I didn't have a reaction, and I definitely won't do that again. I had a little bit of a stomach ache when I went to bed last night, but slept most of the night, and woke up feeling great. No side effects or reaction in spite of the fact that I'm sure it was a dirty rag he used to clean things up and then the cheese was cut on the slicer before my turkey was..........I know I had to have gotten trace amounts of cross contamination. I'll chalk it up to good, clean, healthy, living the last 11 months and some great healing.

[tex]

Tex

[gac]

I learned the hard way about gluten free anything when eating out anywhere. If you want to eat gluten free, only eat what couldn't possibly be contaminated, like a baked potato that you put butter on it (no sour cream because we have to eat DF). Remind person that you are GF when you order.

If you must eat a meat, tell them no seasoning and it must be cooked in a pan, not on a grill with other meats as seasonings from other meats and coatings on other meats can contaminate your food.

Don't eat any sandwiches anywhere - they can't be trusted. I ate a lettuce wrap from Jimmy Johns that was tuna salad and it was supposed to be gluten free tuna salad. I'd eaten it before and had not gotten sick. I think the tuna salad got runny that night and someone added a binder to it like crushed crackers or something to thicken up the mayo in it and never thought about the impact on gluten free people. I was so violently sick I couldn't leave the bathroom for days and days and days. Too sick to even call Jimmy Johns and cuss them out. I've never eaten anything from them again and I won't.

I will eat breakfast food like a fried egg, grits, fried potatoes, bacon all cooked where I can see them or I tell waitress it must be prepared in a separate pan as I am GF and they do it. But once again, I am asking for separate tools/pan and basic foods with no seasonings and nothing mixed together.

Sandwiches are OUT. Mixed up foods are OUT. Eating out is OUT. Most menus may say gluten free but they are still not meant for MC people. GF is not the same as MC diet. It helps but it isn't the same. There's always all those hidden dairy items and spices and cross contamination that kitchens are so sloppy about.

Eating out just loses its charm after you get really sick. It just isn't fun.

[Marcia K]

Hi, Jari. Glad you didn't have a reaction! I want to be sure to take Gluten Ease along on vacation - just in case.