My husband and I have never been big on chain restaurants, but our teenagers love visiting them, so we've tried quite a few in recent years. Luckily, plenty have pleasantly surprised us, from upscale steakhouses like Ruth's Chris to surprisingly affordable spots like Waffle House. Now, we sometimes even look forward to checking out different chains - especially on double dates with our son and his girlfriend. The four of us regularly go to see a movie and get dinner at a restaurant near the theater.
According to Applebee's website, the chain restaurants use "shared cooking and prep areas, including common fryer oil," so even though certain foods are tagged with the tiny, black and white "GS" label, there is no guarantee that it's entirely gluten-free. For people with serious gluten intolerances or celiac disease, even small traces of gluten can lead to serious health issues or medical emergencies.