Who has good Handicapped access?

No rush here but this was a recent dinner:

Went to Harry Caray's - had informed them ahead of time we had someone with a walker, could they please seat us where there'd be plenty of space to get it through and park it?

To get to our table, a woman from another table had to get up from her seat, and their table had be to be moved slightly for his walker to get through.

We picked Harry Caray's because it seems to have the right mix of food for our group of 8 - one who ordered the cheese bread and the fried cheese ravioli for her entree, as well as others who are only wiilling to have a basic piece of meat, and others who would prefer even finer dining but they do a good enough job on their meats to get by, and their antipasto is really good.
We have plenty of time. We will probably do a dinner like this next fall. They're twice a year birthday celebrations, my parents, brother and sister in law, their teenage boys and us.

It can be a bit pricey. But we tend to target places a little closer to two stars than three - nothing approaching 4 star in fancy dishes as 2-3 diners get too intimidated by that.

In the future we anticipate a wheelchair, so walker parking might become less a problem.

Downtown or so is best for location, we're meeting from disparate suburban spots (NW and SW burbs).

Nancy

This is not downtown, but easily accessible from I-294

Bohemian Crystal on Ogden in Westmont.

They have of nice variety of home cooking, Eastern European style (liver dumpling soup, homemade potato dumplings, roast duck, chicken, pork, svikova, etc) It's a family favorite, we make the trek out from the NW side of the city a few times a year. My grandparents go once a month.

The dining rooms are large. They have many handicapped spaces and often have clientele with walkers or wheelchairs when I have been there.

Bohemian Crystal
639 N.Blackhawk Drive
WESTMONT, Illinois
Phone: (630) 789-1981
http://www.bohemiancrystal.net/

I'd suggest two places on the north side in the Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood: John's Place and Joey's Brickhouse, easily accessible from 94.

They're both popular with families, and I frequently see a lot of strollers in there (which obviously have to navigate the similar obstacles as walkers and wheelchairs). I think one of the appeals of both places is that while there are things on the menu to satisfy picky eaters (kids or otherwise), there are some more gourmet options as well for those who want to feel as if they ate a meal they wouldn't have prepared at home. John's Place is comfort food that can have an Asian, Mexican and organic twist. Joey's Brickhouse is Italian.

John's Place may have one step up at the entrance and it situated in the ground floor of an old brownstone, so it has one narrow/tight turn to get to its back room. But they have tables in the front room, which I'm sure they could reserve for you if they knew you had someone who wasn't very mobile. Just in terms of accessibility, Joey's Brickhouse wins hands down...it has a very open floorplan.

John's Place
1200 W. Webster Ave.
773-525-6670

Joey's Brickhouse
1258 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago

I look forward to continued discussion of this. I have recently have had some problems and have been diagnosted with MS, I have and handicap hang tag and walk with a cane but that doesn't seem to deter hostess who insist on making me run an obstacle course of tight spaces to get to a table where I have to worry who I am going to clobber with my cane. I have a fold up job but it still has to go somewhere. I also freqently dine with a friend who has severe MS and confined to a wheelchair, it's amazing how many people are willing to trample over her or ignore her. Please give more ideas on accessible places, always willing to try something new!

It isn't fine dining, but for a family, I'd definitely recommend Wishbone on Lincoln. The tables are spaced far enough apart that you can get through with a wheelchair, and the staff is extremely helpful and accomodating.

Reviving this thread because I recently had foot surgery and I'm looking for a place to eat with friends tonight.

We're in Arlington Heights, they're near Clark & Devon. We're all willing to travel anywhere in between, and beyond them, probably as far as Lakeview. I really have a taste for Mexican, some place nicer than a taqueria but less than Frontera Grill prices.

Accessibility requirements:
Must have a parking lot or be on a not-too-busy street where my husband can pull up and take a minute to get me out of the car without blocking traffic.

No, or very few stairs/levels. A step up to get into the place is fine. Have to be able to get to the table and the bathroom without steps.

Not too cramped- I'll either have crutches or a leg scooter and don't want to be bumping into or tripping over people/things.

I was thinking Cafe El Tapatio on Ashland & Roscoe- was there once, remember it being good. Yelp pictures seem to show it being all one level and not too crowded. Not sure about where the bathrooms are, though.

Doesn't have to be Mexican, though. I was also thinking of Psistaria because I know they meet my other requirements.

There's actually a lot of places that say they are accessible, and then you get there and there are stairs or they only have high-top seating. Really annoying.

We used to take my mom (in a wheelchair) to both Sun Wah and Antiprima often. Sun Wah's floors are sometimes slippery, so be careful there.

Tapatio has expanded to the storefront next door, plus has a large patio if the weather is good. That being said, there's a Cubs game this afternoon which together with the regular Friday night crowd, might mean a wait, depending on when you were planning to go and they don't take reservations.

I'm not as huge a fan of Mexique or Sol De Mexico as others but both have availability on Opentable tonight and are on one level, though no idea about steps or anything like that--I don't recall them at either but couldn't say for sure.

One place I do really like, though it's a bit out of the area you mention is Dos Urban Cantina--really good food, nice atmosphere and showing availability.

Oo, thanks for the heads up about the Cubs game.

My sister recommended Mas Alla del Sol, which is on Broadway between Thorndale and Hollywood....looking for pictures of their interior. And Mixteco at Ashland and Montrose...also looking for photos.

And I'll look into those other places you mentioned!

abe_froeman wrote:Oo, thanks for the heads up about the Cubs game.

My sister recommended Mas Alla del Sol, which is on Broadway between Thorndale and Hollywood....looking for pictures of their interior. And Mixteco at Ashland and Montrose...also looking for photos.

And I'll look into those other places you mentioned!

lol--I meant Mixteco--it's an LTH fave and lots of people love it so take my opinion with a grain of (margarita) salt. Not sure Mexique is still open but it's far out of the neighborhoods you were looking for anyway.

A decision has been made! I was leaning towards Mas Alla del Sol, but my husband reminded me how much we spent on sushi last night, so we decided on Cuetzala on Clark St. instead, since it's about 1/3 less $$. Appears to all be on one level, hooray!

Thanks for the input everyone!

Abe, if you have another hankering for Mexican and you're not meeting your friends in the city, Salsa 17 in downtown AH is very good, and its accessibility is good too. (If you can't find a space right in front, you can pull up and drop a passenger off, then park in the huge garage around the corner with three hours free.) I've eaten there numerous times and have never been disappointed. Great moles!

Another Mexican option in town is Mago Grill. I haven't been to their AH location so I can't comment on accessibility there, but I recently ate at the South Barrington location and enjoyed my meal.