Duffer’s Restaurant & Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor, a seemingly charming establishment, proved to be a deeply disappointing experience for a family with celiac children. This review details a series of unfortunate events highlighting a lack of gluten-free knowledge and poor customer service, ultimately leading to a frustrating and insulting dining experience.
A Gluten-Free Disaster Unfolds
The family’s visit to Duffer’s began with a specific inquiry about gluten-free options. Assured by the waitress that gluten-free brownies and buns were available, they proceeded to order. However, this initial confirmation proved to be misleading, setting the stage for a series of problems.
First, the issue of side dishes arose. With the fries being cooked in a shared fryer, corn was offered as an alternative with no mention of an upcharge. Then, the waitress returned with the devastating news: no gluten-free buns were available. This crucial information, had it been communicated earlier, would have prompted the family to leave. Trapped with a table full of friends who had already ordered, the only offered solutions were a burger wrapped in a tortilla or served on a bagel – neither a suitable substitute for a gluten-free bun.
One child reluctantly ate the burger wrapped in a tortilla, while the other found the burger-bagel combination too bizarre to consume. To add insult to injury, the $6 charge for two small servings of corn, a necessary substitute due to the lack of safe fries, felt exploitative. Furthermore, the bill included a charge for the unavailable gluten-free buns, a blatant error considering the circumstances.
The Brownie Sundae Debacle and Billing Errors
The dessert course continued the pattern of disappointment. While one gluten-free brownie sundae arrived as ordered, the other was missing the brownie entirely, despite a generous topping of M&Ms. Upon reviewing the check, multiple errors were discovered, including the aforementioned bun charge and being charged for two complete sundaes despite one being incomplete.
When the waitress was confronted, she offered a take-home brownie as a solution, claiming it was “easier for her.” The bun charge issue was also poorly handled, with only one charge removed despite two buns being unavailable. The overall experience left the family feeling insulted and discriminated against due to their dietary needs. The lack of understanding, coupled with the billing errors and inadequate solutions, compounded the frustration.
A Strong Warning for Celiac Diners
The family left Duffer’s Restaurant & Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor feeling deeply dissatisfied and disrespected. This experience serves as a cautionary tale for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities. The lack of gluten-free knowledge, poor communication, and insensitive handling of the situation highlight a significant need for improvement in accommodating dietary restrictions. For anyone seeking a truly gluten-free dining experience, Duffer’s is emphatically not recommended. The blatant disregard for dietary needs and the series of mishaps make it clear: Duffer’s is not a safe or welcoming environment for celiac diners.
