AllergyEats has released its 2016 list of the Top 10 Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains in the U.S.
AllergyEats’ restaurant ratings are based solely on how well restaurants have accommodated food-allergic diners—not on other factors such as ambiance, service or food quality.
“AllergyEats depends on ratings and feedback from the food allergy community to determine which restaurants are most allergy-friendly. According to AllergyEats users, the chains on this list have demonstrated a superior willingness and ability to accommodate guests with food allergies,” said Paul Antico, founder and CEO of AllergyEats. “These restaurant chains have proven themselves to have best-in-class food allergy procedures, protocols, training and knowledge, receiving high ratings and positive feedback from food-allergic diners.”
“The AllergyEats Top 10 Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains list—and the growing number of AllergyEats ratings of all restaurants—helps the food allergy community make more informed decisions about which restaurants to visit and which to avoid, based on how well or poorly they’ve accommodated other diners’ food allergies,” Antico added.
The Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains are grouped into two categories: large (50 or more restaurants) and small (under 50 restaurants). Results were based on diner feedback from the AllergyEats app and website through Dec. 31, 2015.
The most allergy-friendly large chains:
Maggiano’s Little Italy, 4.63 rating
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 4.38
Mellow Mushroom, 4.36
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, 4.31
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, 4.29
The most allergy-friendly small chains:
Rainforest Café, 4.87 rating
Burtons Grill, 4.74
Not Your Average Joe’s, 4.45
Joe’s American Bar & Grill, 4.41
Legal Sea Foods, 4.39
Antico has found when restaurants accommodate food-allergic guests, they experience increased customers, sales, loyalty and profits.
“In fact, restaurants that cater to the food allergy community can increase their profits significantly—by as much as 25 percent or more,” he said. “We encourage other restaurants to adopt strong food allergy protocols, as the trend toward greater allergy-friendliness in the restaurant industry continues to grow.”
AllergyEats lists more than 850,000 restaurants nationwide, which people can rate, and also offers user comments, web links, menus, directions and more. Restaurants are easily searchable by geographic location, so people can find allergy-friendly establishments around town and around the country.
