Tag: restaurant

Rips Country Inn Review

Rips Country Inn

Most review the food, but since there are a lot of food reviews, I am reviewing the place itself, but from an accessibility stand point.

I am in a wheel chair, have been for some years now, and while many places are, or are supposed to be, accessible, they meet the minimum standards for accessibility, which are not always comfortable from a realistic view.

I’ll start with the parking lot. Though there are the required handicapped spaces in front, if I arrived at a time the spaces were taken it was ok, while there is ample parking, the spaces on the corners of parking rows are actually Hash lined to prevent parking, the effect makes the spaces next to them handicap van accessible, so a ramp can be deployed.

The walk way into the building is set flush with the parking lot, so you needn’t find a ramp, but Just a space between two cars. The walkway itself is paved with tiny stones, so it is not difficult to roll even a manual wheelchair up it.

The outer door is not heavy so it is easy for a person in a wheelchair to open the door and slide into the front lobby, the inner door is just as light, but usually there is someone there to open the door for you.

While much of the restaurant has tables with booths, there is a section of the dining room that is all freestanding tables, this is usually where groups go and what is easiest for persons in wheelchairs. The hosts do ask if your party wants a chair removed so it is easy for you, in the wheelchair, to get up to the table. (They didn’t mention the wheelchair I just threw that in).

This dining room is not crowded so it is easy to wheel around there and get to your table. The table itself is tall enough to get fully under the table while your feet are still on the wheelchair pads, and without hitting or scraping your knees.

The bathroom here, is decently spacious inside, and ADA compliant. The sink has enough space underneath of it so that a person in a wheelchair can roll up to the sink, and use the faucet.

In all, I give it 5 placards out of 5 for comfort and ease of getting around.

First Watch Review

Edit: It was suggested that I develop a rating system for my reviews. If you’ve already read this review before, scroll down to the bottom for my rating.

Most review the food, but since there are a lot of food reviews, I am reviewing the place itself, but from an accessibility stand point.

I am in a wheel chair, have been for some many years now, and while many places are, or are supposed to be, accessible, they meet the minimum standards for accessibility, which are not always comfortable from a realistic view.

This is my review of First Watch cafe in Bowie.

To begin, though the entrance double doors have an odd 90 degree landing from outside door to inside door, the host stand is close enough that someone is always happily there opening the inside door and greeting, That I’ve never had to try to navigate that opening.

Once inside, the tables and chairs are not crowded so it is not a hassle getting around.

Other restaurants, when the host is taking you to your table, they walk normally (Quickly), and navigate or weave around, sometimes walking through our past areas you cannot, or are difficult to, follow. The employees here are more situationally aware. Hosts have led me to my table, walking at a place that was comfortable for me to follow, not too slow not too fast. A few times, when they were about to walk past a tighter area, they stopped, looked at my chair, mentally evaluated the room, then choose a more comfortable route. This small consideration, while probably having a small, if any, meaning to the more able, made a huge impact on my experience.

The bathroom situation was also a huge addition. Along with the standard handicap accessible men’s and women’s rooms, they also have two handicap accessible family bathrooms. Though each has only one toilet, they are huge with the necessary ADA compliant bars and everything. They are family rooms, so if you need assistance in the bathroom, it is comfortable for both you and your care giver.

In all, because I had no accessibility issues, I was free to have full enjoyment of the delicious foods.

In all, I give First Watch Cafe ♿️♿️♿️♿️♿️ handicapped placards out of 5 for comfort and accessibility.

Nando’s Peri Peri Review

Edit: It was suggested that I develop a rating system for my reviews. If you’ve already read this review before, scroll down to the bottom for my rating.

This is my accessibility review of Nando’s Peri Peri which is a Peruvian/South African restaurant.

Most review the food, but since there are a lot of food reviews, I am reviewing the place itself, but from an accessibility stand point.

I am in a wheel chair, have been for some years now, and while many places are, or are supposed to be, accessible, they meet the minimum standards for accessibility, which are not always comfortable from a realistic view.

While the entrance has two doors, they are not heavy as to give a lone wheelchair user a struggle, and the inside door is far enough from the outside door that it gives a sort of “landing” between the doors that they aren’t in your way. But even so, there is always a greeter who is happy to open the door for the disabled and abled alike.

Once inside, the run up to the counter to order, which is at the, relative, back of the restaurant is comparatively short, and wide enough that you (in the chair) can approach the counter with, and next to, a companion.

From the order counter it is an easy wheel around to the dining room. You don’t have to worry about taking your food with you as they begin making it to order and will bring it out to you.

The dining room is not congested, so wheeling around takes little effort, and once at the table it is easy to move a chair out of the way to wheel under and sit comfortably.

The bathroom is standard and has an easily accessible, and private handicapped stall. The only issue is that it’s the only toilet in the bathroom. In the men’s room there is a urinal. My wife did not go in the lady’s room.

In all, the only thing I needed to concern myself with was the level of capsaicin in the food I wanted to deal with.

I give Nando’s Peri Peri ♿️♿️♿️ Handicapped Placards out of 5.