P.F. Chang's Pesky Gluten-free Disability Lawsuit Won't Go Away Just Yet

This lawsuit is going to make it more difficult for those of us with celiac to go out to eat. What restaurant in it's right mind should have to lose money on me whenever I eat there. We all know it costs more to eat gluten-free. Therefore it costs more for restaurants to provide me with gluten-free pasta, buns, soy sauce, pizza dough, etc. Therefore if I want to eat gluten-free foods, I will need to pay more to do so. Restaurants are in business to make money. They provide a service to customers. They name their price. If you do not like the price, then don't eat there. You have no RIGHT to expect the same price for gluten-free food when it costs more for the restaurant to buy and prepare for you than it's non gluten-free counterpart. If you don't want to pay for that luxury, then eat elsewhere.

All this lawsuit is going to do is decrease the number of restaurants that offer us gluten-free options when we dine out. I for one and ecstatic to have the opportunity for myself and my daughter to get to eat at a restaurant and have a semblance of a "regular" meal. I for one do not expect someone else to subsidize my celiac disease. I for one am rational and am happy to pay for the privilege of eating a yummy gluten-free burger with an actual bun -- not lettuce wrapped around it. Or to eat a great tasting pizza. Or to eat excellent Chinese food with gluten-free soy sauce prepared at a good restaurant.

What I am NOT happy about is that people like Anna Marie Phillips could ruin this for the rest of us who live in the real world. The rest of us need to speak up and let restaurants know we are delighted they offer gluten-free options and for $1 more we will pay for those.

If PF Chang's were providing the exact same food and service, but charging more because someone asks for it to be gluten-free, that would be discrimination. If it is providing something different--for instance, using a different preparation process to ensure non-contamination, using different ingredients--then it's hard to understand how one can claim discrimination based on a medical condition. While a store or restaurant might choose to price different offerings the same, I don't see how they can legally be compelled to do so. Should other diners be compelled to pay the cost of higher-priced ingredients for my benefit? Won't this just discourage restaurants to accommodate special needs? Be careful what you wish for; you might get it.

I'm afraid of what's going to happen with gluten-free menus all over the country if P.F.Chang's doesn't win again. In many places, you are getting a $1 or $2 overcharge for the gluten-free option. I'm afraid that restaurants will stop giving a gluten-free option if they can not charge for the trouble. I'd rather pay $2 more than my wife and be able to dine out than being forced of eating home because there's no gluten-free option. I know that celiac disease is not a choice. However, it's the restaurant owner's choice to give us a chance to eat out or not. Don't give them a good reason to quit offering it.

Anna Marie Phillips is doing a huge disservice to the celiac community. Restaurants will just quit offering gluten-free items in response to this. She should reconsider this lawsuit.

I don't mind paying a bit more for gluten-free choices and frankly, going to court over a few dollars is what's wrong with this country. However, what I would support is a ruling that said all restaurants must provide gluten-free alternatives for 20% of their main courses.

I agree with the comments everyone has made. I have been gluten-free for 5 years and have been to PF Chang's many times. They are the BEST Chinese food around and I appreciate the fact that I can go out and eat and not have to worry about contamination. I wish people would just accept the fact that you are going to pay more for gluten-free food.

Great, what we need is someone litigating so as to dampen the motivation for restaurants to be helpful to those of us who require gluten-free.

Oh for.goodness sake. Get a life. Yes, we pay more for a gluten-free meal. Thank you for taking the extra time and care with my meal. Yes, I gladly pay a couple extra dollars for your trouble. And no, you are not that disabled. Either eat at home or go somewhere else. You choose to eat where you want. I have no patience or this kind of person!

What would follow a win for Phillips would be devastating to all people with celiac disease; as similar law suits would certainly start to appear against manufacturers and grocery stores for charging more for a gluten free version of the same products. This would result is a lack of availability and take us back 25 years to when almost nothing gluten free was available; and even pasta had to be made from scratch by hand.

We were one of those families; and trust me Ms. Phillips, you do not want to go there.

We are more than happy to pay the extra few dollars for gluten free options; and are thrilled that restaurants like P. F. Chang's are willing to accommodate us.

This lawsuit is going to make it more difficult for those of us with celiac to go out to eat. What restaurant in it's right mind should have to lose money on me whenever I eat there. We all know it costs more to eat gluten-free. Therefore it costs more for restaurants to provide me with gluten-free pasta, buns, soy sauce, pizza dough, etc. Therefore if I want to eat gluten-free foods, I will need to pay more to do so. Restaurants are in business to make money. They provide a service to customers. They name their price. If you do not like the price, then don't eat there. You have no RIGHT to expect the same price for gluten-free food when it costs more for the restaurant to buy and prepare for you than it's non gluten-free counterpart. If you don't want to pay for that luxury, then eat elsewhere.

 

All this lawsuit is going to do is decrease the number of restaurants that offer us gluten-free options when we dine out. I for one and ecstatic to have the opportunity for myself and my daughter to get to eat at a restaurant and have a semblance of a "regular" meal. I for one do not expect someone else to subsidize my celiac disease. I for one am rational and am happy to pay for the privilege of eating a yummy gluten-free burger with an actual bun -- not lettuce wrapped around it. Or to eat a great tasting pizza. Or to eat excellent Chinese food with gluten-free soy sauce prepared at a good restaurant.

 

What I am NOT happy about is that people like Anna Marie Phillips could ruin this for the rest of us who live in the real world. The rest of us need to speak up and let restaurants know we are delighted they offer gluten-free options and for $1 more we will pay for those.

I agree 100%. This woman is doing the gluten free community a disservice by continuing with this lawsuit.

Very clear that most with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity/intolerance do not agree with the plaintiff. I'm grateful for having PF Chang's as a safe option for dining out. We should have some dine in/take out nights where we can band together to show our support for PF Chang's and other restaurants that offer safe options.

This lawsuit is going to make it more difficult for those of us with celiac to go out to eat. What restaurant in it's right mind should have to lose money on me whenever I eat there. We all know it costs more to eat gluten-free. Therefore it costs more for restaurants to provide me with gluten-free pasta, buns, soy sauce, pizza dough, etc. Therefore if I want to eat gluten-free foods, I will need to pay more to do so. Restaurants are in business to make money. They provide a service to customers. They name their price. If you do not like the price, then don't eat there. You have no RIGHT to expect the same price for gluten-free food when it costs more for the restaurant to buy and prepare for you than it's non gluten-free counterpart. If you don't want to pay for that luxury, then eat elsewhere.

 

All this lawsuit is going to do is decrease the number of restaurants that offer us gluten-free options when we dine out. I for one and ecstatic to have the opportunity for myself and my daughter to get to eat at a restaurant and have a semblance of a "regular" meal. I for one do not expect someone else to subsidize my celiac disease. I for one am rational and am happy to pay for the privilege of eating a yummy gluten-free burger with an actual bun -- not lettuce wrapped around it. Or to eat a great tasting pizza. Or to eat excellent Chinese food with gluten-free soy sauce prepared at a good restaurant.

 

What I am NOT happy about is that people like Anna Marie Phillips could ruin this for the rest of us who live in the real world. The rest of us need to speak up and let restaurants know we are delighted they offer gluten-free options and for $1 more we will pay for those.

Christine, that was beautifully and accurately said. I agree with you completely. The woman who is suing PF Changs for them charging $1 more for a gluten-free dish is a complete IDIOT!. This is going to only cause more restaurants for not be troubled with providing gluten-free foods. gluten-free foods DO COST MORE MONEY ! IT'S A FACT! Restaurants need to make money not lose money!