A Restaurant Review: 99 and Houlihans.

I recently spent several days in Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia.
While there, my family suggested that we visit a restaurant called Ninety-Nine.
(Address: 500 Easton Road, Warrington, PA 18976  215-343-8099)
My family members stated that they had ate here several times in the past and that the food was good. My family  (this is my extended family) knows that I have a gluten intolerance and is used to dealing with my diet.
My cousin told me that they had a gluten free menu. I was skeptical, since at many other places the offerings are usually things that don't usually contain gluten (steak, salad, etc.) I was surprised to find that they offered a Gluten free Cheeseburger. After being seated, I made the waitress aware of my food needs and she presented me a gluten free diet menu. They have a small, but impressive, selection of foods.

I enjoyed (and devoured) the Gluten Free Bacon and Cheese Steakburger. This actually came out on a GF Bun. Something I have never seen in a commercial restaurant. The burger was delicious, the bun itself was a little crumbly, but still good. The best part about it, was that you couldn't really tell that I was eating something different and the texture was fine. For desert, we enjoyed a hot fudge sunday. Yum.

The dining experience was wonderful. The service was great and the waitress was understanding and took the time to talk with me regarding my needs. I give them an A+ all around.

On the flipside of this wonderful dining experience is Houlihans.
(Address: Houlihans Restaurant
27 W. Chocolate Ave
Hershey, PA )
On our way home from Pennsylvania, we stopped in Hershey so that my children could experience Chocolate World (I recommend it to anyone. I used to love going there as a child!). My mother in law saw the sign for Houlihans and said that she'd been to one before and the food was great.
I was game, as I looked them up on my phone and saw that they had a gluten free menu.
After being seated, I informed the waitress that I would need a gluten free menu and that I was a gluten free diner.
The atmosphere was nice and we had ample room at our table. That was the best part about our dining experience.
The disclaimer on the menu reads: "We are not a gluten-free environment but items indicated by a G, have gluten-free ingredients."

My husband (who is not a GF diner) and I ordered Chicken Skewers (with mint yogurt & cilantro-peanut pesto) and waited patiently while our food came. I was at a table with six other people (including two children). The other people at the table got there drinks and salads while I patiently waited for my food. TWENTY FIVE minutes later (while my family was eating there main course) I finally got my appetizer. Since I had never ate at this restaurant before, I had no clue what to expect my dish to look like. The waitress finally brought out a dish with chicken and some sort of noodle on it. After finally flagging her down, I asked her if the noodles were gluten free and she said "oh, do you need a gluten free meal?".
Why yes, yes I do. I did afterall tell you that when I ordered (although I didn't actually say this, I really wanted to.)
After telling her that I did need a gluten free appetizer, specifically the one that I ordered, she took away the noodle one and said she'd be right back.
She never came back with my appetizer.
Ever.
Finally she came back with my entree. (Or as the menu says, "Big Small Plates"). My entree was the Grilled 4oz Petite Filet Mignon with French Fries. (Which was cold). At this point, my family had finished the appetizer and the entree and was working on dessert. The filet mignon was good, but cold. I was afraid to ask her to warm it up, since she took the appetizer and never brought another one, so I just ate it that way. I'm sure that it would've been better if it was served when it should've been.

After finishing the filet, she presented me the check and I was floored to see that not only did she charge me for my appetizer (you know, the one I NEVER GOT!), but also for the one that she brought to the table. She then proceeded to argue with me about it. She stated that I never told her I was a gluten free diner (although my husband and mother both heard her) but that since the appetizer was brought to the table, I was charged for it because they couldn't recycle it. At this point, I probably had steam coming out of my head. I'm normally a very even keeled person, but at this point I was pissed, hungry and this was the culmination to a very emotional weekend (we'd traveled to bury my only remaining grandparent) I ripped into her.

I walked out of the restaurant with a free meal and the apologizes of the General Manager. My family said that the food that they received was well cooked and tasty. I'd like to say the same about mine, but can't. I'm not sure, if given the opportunity, I would step foot into another Houlihans. Nor will I recommend it to anyone that I know, gluten free diner or not. Because of my family, I won't give them an F, (they afterall enjoyed the food that they received) but for the gluten free diner, and paying customer, I'll give them a D-.

I'm hoping that 99 will come to the Richmond area soon. I'm not hoping the same for Houlihans.