Dig in the Ribs is a restaurant in Preston Street in Brighton. Those of you who know Brighton, will know that Preston Street is a street of many restaurants so, if you’re in the area, you can easily change your mind about going to Dig in the Ribs.
I was dining with someone who does not eat pork and the waiter was unsympathetic and unhelpful when asked about the contents of one item. Poor service, but not the end of the world until….
You’ll know from a previous post that I have coeliac disease which means I am unable to eat foods containing wheat flour (or, more correctly, gluten). I provided the waiter with the Dietary Card (which I also mentioned in the earlier post) and explained that I am unable to eat foods with gluten in them and asked him if he knew whether there was anything in the nachos. The waiter’s initial reaction was to say “I don’t know”!
I was surprised because when eating in many restaurants in Brighton, London, Paris and elsewhere, I have rarely been treated to that reaction. Normally a waiter(ess) offers to go and find out. I suggested gently that he did that.
On his return the waiter said that a lot of their food was sweet and that “very, very, very little” could be eaten by me. I did not bother to explain to the poor chap that I can eat steak, as I had previously, but I did explain that gluten is not glucose.
The chef (maybe) had seen the Dietary Card which is not subtle in explaining what I am unable to eat, so the reference to sweetness is extremely worrying. Companies have, since the Disability Act came into force, been obliged to provide equal services for the disabled and able-bodied. I would not expect people to go to extraordinary lengths, but to tell me I cannot eat anything when I can identify items on their menu myself, is terrible for a restaurant.
Because we were on Preston Street, we went to Cafe Royal instead. Cafe Royal were told the story (but not shown the card) and I referred to my food intolerance by talking about wheat flour. On dishing up my modified food (no sausage and two eggs instead of one) the waitress said “One gluten free breakfast”. 10/10 for Cafe Royal, 0/10 for Dig in the Ribs.
The following restaurants go to extraordinary lengths to help provide gluten free food:
- Donatello’s, Brighton (they even provide gluten free pasta)
- Pinnochios’, Brighton (they even provide gluten free pasta)
- The Emperor of China, Brighton Marina
- Imperial China, Worthing
- The Old Ship Inn, nr. Lewes
- Thai Elephant, Peacehaven
- Memories of India, Brighton Marina
- A Taste of India, Brighton
- Nooris, Brighton
- Others I am sure I have forgotten…
Dig in the Ribs – one to avoid!
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