You decide

We went to Houlihans on Rt 110 today for a late lunch. We had the bruchetta which was great but way too garlicky and I had the salad with the steak.

Bruchetta was good. Steak and salad was not. I ate most of it anyway. Soon after, I felt very sick. It continued through the evening and I couldn't eat dinner. Sick to my stomach and the runs. Took Pepts, Maalox and Pepcid and felt better. Then the nausea started again.

Food poisoning or viral?

Re: You decide

I always thought food poisoning took 24 hours, but that might be a myth. I hope you feel better!

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Please FM if you really want me to tell you specifically (I will ask some graphic questions, but the same ones our office would ask you if you called it in)
That being said I am a restuarant inspector, and we take such complaints frequently. You would not taste anything if it was a food-borne illness. If you had the runs, it generally takes a MINIMUM of 6 hours after consumption and usually 12-24 hours. That is why it is not always the last meal you consumed (Hepatitis A takes 45 DAYS!!!).

ETA: I hope you're feeling better soon.

Message edited 2/3/2008 1:06:48 AM.

Re: You decide

thank you. If the ingredients were not fresh or expired (mayo or dairy) it would taste a bit funky and it did. The dressing on the salad and the salad itself were funky tasting. I thought it was just mediocre food.

I had the runs 2 hours after, wicked indigestion and nausea. I've had food poisoning and I'm leaning in that direction but since there are so many "bugs" going around I'm not ruling it out. We ate at 3 and I felt the worst around 6-7.

DH also felt bad and his stomach hurt. There was also a family leaving the restaurant complaining about something and taking the name of the manager. It gave me some things to consider.

I have had no vomiting (thankfully)-lots of burping. LOTS!

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Message edited 2/3/2008 1:24:08 AM.

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Interesting...if something had an off taste or smell, it would probably be spoilage bacteria...which doesn't cause us to be ill. (For example, you could put a raw piece of meat in the trunk of your car and drive from North Carolina to New York, and cook it when you got home....it wouldn't taste good, but it wouldn't make you sick). Vomiting can occur instantaneously, or shortly there after. It's a tough call, call 852-5999 and file a compalint. If you had more than 3 bouts of the runs it will go in as a food-borne illness complaint, otherwise they will take it as a general complaint. I'm on maternity leave, otherwise I could just put it in for you if you wanted.

I do hope your feeling better soon!!!!!!!

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I find this interesting because I ate there about two months ago and got sick also. Pretty much the same symptoms as you. I hope you feel better soon!

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My mom and my son ate there a couple of weeks ago and also felt sick afterwards (it was the Lake Grove location, though)

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Posted by glinda-goodwitch

I always thought food poisoning took 24 hours, but that might be a myth. I hope you feel better!

Re: You decide

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I've felt like that after eating there, and many restaurants that are similar in theme.

Honestly, IMO, restaurants like these are only 1 step above McDonald's in terms of food quality, so it's no wonder many of us feel like this after eating in them.