They thought everyone did this!

I don’t mind choosing dinner beforehand but I struggle to choose breakfast the night before in some hotels or b and bs

Never thought to look on line !

As I am coeliac also, it's important for me to check beforehand what's on offer when eating out. Some places still don't offer much and i dont want to be ill!

We are meeting up with our 3 adult children plus 4 DGC for a meal in December. It will be the first time since 2010 (4 living abroad)) I will have seen all 3 children in same place at same time. Will mean the world to me. We have to pick our meals 2 weeks in advance at this restaurant however.

Umm, "Back in the day" Is that even an expression anymore? No one knew what was on the menu. I like that I am not completely surprised anymore since my husband is not a fan of certain menus. I will try anything, but if we are spending good money I want to enjoy the food as well as the ambience.

I rarely eat out but when there are family birthdays or other celebrations I either suffer the indignity of having someone read the menu to me - and then I forget the first choice by the time they've read the 10th.

Or I look online via my PC, which mercifully I can still see a bit.

I always look on line first, especially if I’m meeting a friend, simply because I know we’ll be busy chatting ???

I always have a look. It’s easier in your own time to choose rather than quick decision when everyone’s chatting etc. Always choose wrong dish in those circs!

I always check to see if there's anything I can eat as I have type 2 diabetes and am careful to control it as well as I can. It is amazing how limited my choices often are. Restaurants and shops are much more clued up to gluten than low carb and sugar free.

I often look up menus online if it’s a new restaurant. I don’t want any nasty shocks like invite a couple of friends, find parking , make huge effort to get there, sit down and find its £45 for sea bass and carrot purée and I’m embarrassed ? because I didn’t budget £250 and don’t always have that sort of cash floating about doing nothing .

I always look at menus on line in advance if they are available. I am dairy intolerant and ideally I like menus with a reasonable list of the contents of the dish so that I can work out what I can eat. Often 'the choice' comes down to one dish only, or maybe two, and if its something I dont like then we need to find a different place to eat.

I love looking at menus online even for places I'm not going to! However, I'm always keen to see the days 'special' and often choose it.

Unless I know the establishment, we always check out the menu. For us it's because we keep kosher and eat vegetarian when we're out. Some restaurants are very good at offering interesting veggie choices, others think we all eat nut roast! Not helpful for those people who are vegetarian and have an allergy to nuts!

Sometimes, when we book a lot of family (say 35 people) the restaurant wants an idea of what we'll order. We have to look at their ingredient list for the allergy information when we get there!

My son is vegan, so we always check to see if there is anything tasty for him. Some restaurants are very good, others have a couple of token, and rather boring offerings. Even airlines often get it wrong, and offer meals with egg or milk in
when vegan has been pre-ordered. Very annoying if it’s a long-haul flight.
I never decide what I want until I get to the restaurant, as I never know in advance what I will feel like.

I'm with MiniMoon and Annodomini! While we generally eat at our favourite Restaurant and I know most of the menu, I wait until I see the "specials" board, before finally deciding. The owners know us, as we have been frequent diners for several years, and they are willing to put on meals by "special request" if given advance notice. The food is always delicious and freshly made! Who could ask for more?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bit of a theme developing. I too check that there is at least one thing I can hope to eat without losing the following day to a vile wheat hangover. Check any menu with a view to avoiding wheat and you will see how this cheap ingredient is used to 'pad' everything.

i agree, but, if i know its a good scampi there, then i will order the scampi, but yes it depends how i feel at the time to what i have to eat.

Look first - to see if it’s worth going or if the venue should be changed. Also important to check there is Creme Brûlée for dessert ?!

Absolutely agree with all you say. I’ve often found that local village pubs will go out of their way to oblige with gf choices. They want you to return and/or recommend them to other Coeliacs, whereas chain restaurants really don’t care if you don’t eat there!

Being gluten free for more than 30 years has made me get into the habit of checking what gluten free options a restaurant has got before I go. Also I am SO bored with brownies, ice cream and flapjacks being the only gluten free desserts that I refuse to go anywhere that only offers those as a gluten free choice. The other big NO NO is when I get handed a huge ring binder of "dietary requirements" (as in Yo Sushi and other chains) to plough through. I hand it back and say "Thanks, but I will go somewhere else."

Since the rise of hipster veganism in the last couple of years I have found gluten free options are being sidelined and reduced - it's so much easier to do "vegan" - after all - who could tell if they used chicken stock in their "vegan" mushroom risotto!!!!!

Sympathise with other Coeliac’s. I was recently asked by a chef “are you severely Coeliac, or just a little bit.?” It makes eating out with others really difficult at times.

Looking at a menu beforehand would be just the same as knowing what I was cooking for dinner that night. Appreciate some folk with dietary issues would find it helpful though.

Occasionally I will check what is on offer, but never chose until I am in the Restaurant