What if the waiter does not know what is in the dish?

Ask for the action, not the opinion: Could you check the label or ask the chef, please? I'm happy to wait. If the answer is still vague, give the staff an alternative: If you can't confirm it, I'll order something else. Which dish is prepared without nuts? A restaurant that cannot answer a clear question about its own food is a restaurant to order a drink in and leave.

Two dishes, chosen before you sit down, turn a failed check into a swap instead of a decision made while everyone waits. Keep the second choice simple and cheap, and order it without apologising: an allergy is not a preference, and a restaurant that cannot answer a clear question about its own food has given you the answer already.

Ordering Food in English When You Have an Allergy or a Dietary Restriction →