nordski Posted May 7, 2017 #26 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Thank you for your input. I'm glad I'm not the only one that needs to feel confident in eating the familiar foods. I used Burger King as an example. There are so many different spices and ingredients in different foods that I would love to sample but can't take that risk. I do appreciate the suggestions made and have been looking into hotels with onsite restaurants that I can email for information I would be prouder if it didn't take personal experience to discover the difficulties in dealing with these issues in unfamiliar restaurants. Although the landscape is changing, especially on cruise ships but also in restaurants, sometimes concerns are met with varying amounts of disbelief. In certain countries, for example. avoiding garlic can be a major challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotswold Eagle Posted May 7, 2017 #27 Share Posted May 7, 2017 There is a Burger King at Fenchurch Street station (quite near the Tower.) I think that one is more or less takeaway (takeout!) only? There might be a couple of tables, but it's not a large sit down restaurant, if that is what the OP is looking for. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h3rjp Posted May 7, 2017 #28 Share Posted May 7, 2017 If you have a serious allergy, all restaurants are required, by law, to have allergy information available. You'll normally find this on the restaurant's website or just chat to the server and they'll ensure that you food is safe for you to eat. They'll normally be documentation available if you ask. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeeder Posted May 7, 2017 #29 Share Posted May 7, 2017 What about the Pret a Manger chain of casual restaurants? There are tons of them in London, they have a website that lists all the ingredients and nutrition of their menu items, and I think they are way healthier than BK or McD's. I was just in London, stayed at the Hub by Premier Inn at Tower Hill (near Tower of London) and there were at least 3 Prets in close proximity. And they have a menu that's pretty familiar to Americans, basically similar to Panera's. Can you tell I'm a fan? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted May 7, 2017 #30 Share Posted May 7, 2017 On your second point, if that's what you think I suggested I didn't make myself clear. I thought I was arguing that, if it weren't for cruises and their increasing attention to dietary issues, we wouldn't have the freedom to travel as we do. ... We don't have a problem travelling in our own country, since McDonald's and BK are rather ubiquitous here in Canada. And it's the only time we frequent them. Sorry if I misunderstood, I simply took it from the words of yours which I quoted in my post. The hypothetical that I was posing was that, if the existence of chains like McDonalds and Burger King was a prerequisite to your being able to travel, then if they did not exist you would have as much difficulty travelling domestically as internationally. What about the Pret a Manger chain of casual restaurants? There are tons of them in London, they have a website that lists all the ingredients and nutrition of their menu items, and I think they are way healthier than BK or McD's. I was just in London, stayed at the Hub by Premier Inn at Tower Hill (near Tower of London) and there were at least 3 Prets in close proximity. And they have a menu that's pretty familiar to Americans, basically similar to Panera's.And similar to the menus of US branches of Pret a Manger - although I am always jealous that the US branches have some much more interesting items than we get from Pret in the UK. One of the other oddities I sometimes find myself thinking about Pret is that so many of its staff had not yet even been born when I started being a Pret customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeeder Posted May 8, 2017 #31 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Sorry if I misunderstood, I simply took it from the words of yours which I quoted in my post. The hypothetical that I was posing was that, if the existence of chains like McDonalds and Burger King was a prerequisite to your being able to travel, then if they did not exist you would have as much difficulty travelling domestically as internationally. And similar to the menus of US branches of Pret a Manger - although I am always jealous that the US branches have some much more interesting items than we get from Pret in the UK. One of the other oddities I sometimes find myself thinking about Pret is that so many of its staff had not yet even been born when I started being a Pret customer. I wasn't aware that they had expanded to the US. Sadly, I haven't seen any in my travels in this country--I'd be thrilled if one opened nearby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WatchHill Posted May 8, 2017 #32 Share Posted May 8, 2017 I wasn't aware that they had expanded to the US. Sadly, I haven't seen any in my travels in this country--I'd be thrilled if one opened nearby! Quite a few in the New York area. Other US locations include Boston, Chicago and Washington DC. That's it, so far. Darcy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare debsjc Posted May 8, 2017 #33 Share Posted May 8, 2017 What about the Pret a Manger chain of casual restaurants? There are tons of them in London, they have a website that lists all the ingredients and nutrition of their menu items, and I think they are way healthier than BK or McD's. I was just in London, stayed at the Hub by Premier Inn at Tower Hill (near Tower of London) and there were at least 3 Prets in close proximity. And they have a menu that's pretty familiar to Americans, basically similar to Panera's. Can you tell I'm a fan? :) The problem with Pret is things are not made to order. For example I can't eat tomato, mustard, citrus or mayo (amongst other things)... which means most Pret sandwiches are out. I can order around it in a normal restaurant, so I don't need to stick to fast food. But Pret may be an issue for the OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeeder Posted May 8, 2017 #34 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Quite a few in the New York area. Other US locations include Boston, Chicago and Washington DC. That's it, so far. Darcy I will have to check the website and find where they are in Chicago as I'm in downtown Chicago a few times a year. Unfortunately my travels rarely take me to NYC, DC or Boston. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nordski Posted May 9, 2017 #35 Share Posted May 9, 2017 The problem with Pret is things are not made to order. For example I can't eat tomato, mustard, citrus or mayo (amongst other things)... which means most Pret sandwiches are out. I can order around it in a normal restaurant, so I don't need to stick to fast food. But Pret may be an issue for the OP. Not the OP, but thanks for posting this. While intrigued by the menu, I wondered if there was any possible customization of their offerings. We'll examine the sandwiches carefully in terms of ingredients. Very helpful! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted May 10, 2017 #36 Share Posted May 10, 2017 We don't have any allergies to worry about. Eating in American fast food restaurants is not something we do when traveling. I think Britain gets a bad rap on its food. We find the food generally to be quite good. Love the fish and chips. Also, I love Indian food and there is always that choice as well as Italian and more. One thing about British breakfasts that I don't care for as much is the sausages. They taste more like our hot dogs. Still, there is usually plenty of choice other than the sausages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonTowner Posted May 10, 2017 #37 Share Posted May 10, 2017 We don't have any allergies to worry about. Eating in American fast food restaurants is not something we do when traveling. I think Britain gets a bad rap on its food. We find the food generally to be quite good. Love the fish and chips. Also, I love Indian food and there is always that choice as well as Italian and more. One thing about British breakfasts that I don't care for as much is the sausages. They taste more like our hot dogs. Still, there is usually plenty of choice other than the sausages. There are some excellent restaurants in the UK these days with cuisine from every corners of the world. With regards to the sausages, I don't think British sausages taste like hot dogs of which I enjoy occasionally. Sausages come in different varieties and quality. We often stay in country BBs where they are excellent but have been sourced locally from good butchers or farms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted May 10, 2017 #38 Share Posted May 10, 2017 We don't have any allergies to worry about. Eating in American fast food restaurants is not something we do when traveling. I think Britain gets a bad rap on its food. We find the food generally to be quite good. Love the fish and chips. Also, I love Indian food and there is always that choice as well as Italian and more. One thing about British breakfasts that I don't care for as much is the sausages. They taste more like our hot dogs. Still, there is usually plenty of choice other than the sausages. I don't eat American fast food restaurants at home so certainly not when traveling! I think British food deserved a bad rap 40 years ago. Ugh. We ended up eating in Indian and Italian restaurants then. Now I think there is a lot of good food in Britain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted May 11, 2017 #39 Share Posted May 11, 2017 I don't eat American fast food restaurants at home so certainly not when traveling! I think British food deserved a bad rap 40 years ago. Ugh. We ended up eating in Indian and Italian restaurants then. Now I think there is a lot of good food in Britain. London has May many wonderful restaurants now including roughly 65 Michelin Stared Restaurants. We rarely spend for those, with exception of the very reasonably priced lunches in many of them and still eat extremely well for the weeks of our visits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonTowner Posted May 11, 2017 #40 Share Posted May 11, 2017 London has May many wonderful restaurants now including roughly 65 Michelin Stared Restaurants. We rarely spend for those, with exception of the very reasonably priced lunches in many of them and still eat extremely well for the weeks of our visits. Orchestrapal If you are a frequent visitor to London and enjoy our restaurants take a look at a website - Catherine's Hot Dinners. It lists and reviews many new and just about to open, London restaurants. Some of the more expensive restaurants have 'soft launches' where they offer 50% discounts just before they fully open to the public. Basically, you are a guinea pig, but I have been to some excellent places that I possibly couldn't afford if I had to pay their normal prices. Great if you can go for lunch as it is easier to get a booking than for dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted May 11, 2017 #41 Share Posted May 11, 2017 I think Britain gets a bad rap on its food. We find the food generally to be quite good.There are some excellent restaurants in the UK these days with cuisine from every corners of the world. I think British food deserved a bad rap 40 years ago.London has many wonderful restaurants now including roughly 65 Michelin Stared Restaurants. The simple reality is that today, London is one of the food / eating capitals of the world. In part this is due to some of the same factors that have reportedly led Samer Halimeh to open his flagship jewellery shop in London even though his company is based in New York: because of its status as the "billionaire capital of the world" and its easy accessibility for customers from Europe, Russia, the Middle East and India. Money comes here, money is spent here, and money is spent here by the people on whom it has been spent here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailnBrad Posted September 10, 2017 #42 Share Posted September 10, 2017 In reading posts like this...it amazes me why people get so upset when someone wants to find a McDonalds or BK while traveling the world. Let the person eat whatever they want. It is their vacation...I also enjoy McDonalds and eat at one in every port we visit...so what... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted September 10, 2017 #43 Share Posted September 10, 2017 In reading posts like this...it amazes me why people get so upset when someone wants to find a McDonalds or BK while traveling the world. Let the person eat whatever they want. It is their vacation...I also enjoy McDonalds and eat at one in every port we visit...so what... I was just in one in London. To use the bathroom....Fake food and unhealthy food is not my thing. But to each their own. Yuck. The other person wanted to use them because they have food allergies. The problem is that making an assumption that the ingredients are the same in other countries as in your own could be a mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare broberts Posted September 10, 2017 #44 Share Posted September 10, 2017 oops, old thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted September 14, 2017 #45 Share Posted September 14, 2017 I know of course that it's no joking to have food alergies, but if I had to rely on BK or McDo I would rather kill myself. Of course I go to McDo as well, but maybe once on a trip and once or twice in a month at home if I have no other choice. But London has so much to offer and part of the fun of travelling is tasting different food on every day; I just stayed in London for 5 days and during my stay I've eaten just once in a McDo and the other meals I had from Japan, China, Vietnam, Jamaica, India, Italy and Britain itself (your regular Fish and Chips).... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotswold Eagle Posted September 14, 2017 #46 Share Posted September 14, 2017 I know of course that it's no joking to have food alergies, but if I had to rely on BK or McDo I would rather kill myself. That is a remarkably insensitive thing to say to someone with serious food allergies. Not to put too fine a point on it, the OP probably asked the question because they were worried about killing themselves. Fortunately they got some decent advice when they asked back in May... Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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