Tag: #accessibilityforall

The Original Plaza Cafe Downtown

54 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe, NM http://www.plazacafesantafe.com

No Reservations

5 Spoon Scale

Accessibility & Seating🥄🥄🥄Very busy & crowded. Tight tables.
Noise Level🥄🥄🥄🥄Loud, but could hear everyone at my table.
Food🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄Really good, but REALLY loved desserts!!!

I went to the Plaza Cafe on Friday, April 22. It is on the plaza in Santa Fe, NM. I have been there a couple of times before when I was in Santa Fe with my Uncle Miles. It was hard to be there without him this time, but I did it–I was so brave.

It was after 1:00 and it was still really busy at this restaurant. There always is a crowd here, but it is worth it. We waited about 20 minutes to get one of the tables at the front of the restaurant that would work for my wheelchair. The tables are close together and there are only a few tables that work for me. There is not a lot of space to get through the restaurant, so waiters and people going to the bathroom would be bumping me if I weren’t at the front of the restaurant. I would say it is worth the wait to get a table!

It looks like an old school diner inside and so there is some background noise. If there was music, it was not obnoxious and I didn’t really notice it. I could hear everyone at the table. There is a lot going on in the restaurant, so if you have sensory issues, it could be overwhelming. The restaurant has been around since 1905 (a really long time). My mom says she used to see it when her family went to Santa Fe in the 70’s and 80’s and it was busy then too.

My dad and I split the chicken fried steak. It came with beans, hash brown, eggs and tortillas with green Chile sauce. It was really good. The steak was really tender with a crispy outside. The sauce wasn’t too spicy and was delicious. All the sides were good too. Moira had pancakes and bacon and liked it. Aunt Emily had the blue corn enchiladas. My mom had the spicy fish and chips. Everybody’s food looked great and they all enjoyed it.

The best came when it was time for dessert. We ordered one of everything and split it. There was caramel apple pie, key lime pie, coconut cake, biscochitos (cookies) and quatro leches cupcake. We had to order a second cupcake because they were so good. They have a pastry chef that makes the desserts there. The caramel apple pie was really decadent. I want another one (I tried to buy a whole pie, but mom wouldn’t let me). The cupcakes had just come out of the oven and the milk filling just oozed out. They are all worth it!!!!

Emily and my parents ordered the 75th anniversary margarita. It was too strong for Emily, but my parents loved it. There is a picture of what’s in it below.

I always enjoy a meal at the Plaza Cafe and you should try it if you are ever in Santa Fe. I think it should be on the show Diners Drive-Ins and Dives!

  • Spicy fish & chips
  • Drinks
  • Chicken fried steak plate
  • Blue corn enchiladas
  • margarita

El Pinto in Albuquerque

10500 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114 http://www.elpinto.com

Reservation suggested

5 Spoon Scale

Accessibility & Seating  3It is large old home converted to a restaurant. It was easy to get in, but the dining are old rooms and tables are close together. Parking lot is dirt, so a little difficult but not too bad. Not very much handicap parking. 
Noise Level  5It was easy to have conversations with people at the table. Not a lot of background noise. 
Food  4Good selection of New Mexico favorites.
Katie, Moira, Mom, Me, Dad, Aunt Emily at El Pinto
Fried Green Chile Strips

We had a great time at El Pinto catching up with my Aunt Emily and my cousin Katie. We went there on our first night in Albuquerque (Thursday, April 21). We hadn’t seen them since last July, when they came to Colorado.

El Pinto looks like an old house that was converted to a restaurant. It reminds me of Armando’s in Colorado. The parking lot was dirt and there weren’t very many handicap spots compared to the size of the parking lot. We had to park out aways and since there were a few of us, we unloaded the van and then my dad parked in a regular spot. It was easy to get in the main entry, but then you went down hallways. It wasn’t bad, but a little tight. We did not go out to a patio, so I am not sure about how accessible those are. The tables were kind of close together, but I had room at the head of the table. The gift shop was really tight and I didn’t really get to see everything in it. My mom brought stuff over for me to see. I bought a T-shirt.

We started with appetizers of fried green chile strips and guacamole. The green chile strips came with a red chile ranch; it was really delicious! I want to make it at home. In all the years we have been to Mexican restaurants, we have never had this and it was amazing. Their guacamole was great too. It had big chunks of avocado and was really fresh and served with good chips.

For dinner I had their famous red chile ribs. They fell off the bone and they were so tender. It wasn’t that spicy. They were named #3 ribs in America by the Food Network. My aunt had them before and she didn’t really like them because she was expecting a saucy rib, but they are more like a dry rub. My Uncle Miles really liked them and I really liked them too.

My dad had a combination plate; he liked their red chile the best, but enjoyed the whole thing. My mom had the queso burger and said it was just all right–not too much flavor. Moira had tacos and she liked them. Katie had a burrito that she really liked and I think Aunt Emily had tacos.

The older folks had margaritas and tequila and said it was all really good. They have their own tequilas and everyone seemed excited about that. I don’t drink because of my acid reflux, so I won’t really comment on alcoholic drinks, except to tell you if my parents were excited about it and they really were here.

It was easy to have conversations here. There wasn’t very much background noise and I could hear everyone at the table. It was a really nice atmosphere in the whole restaurant. It made me feel like I was on vacation.

I highly recommend going to El Pinto.

Engineering Class

I went to see these engineering students last Wednesday (April 20th) with my speech therapist, Caren Powell and we both did a great job. These students are 1st years Masters Degree students. They work with the Center for Inclusive Design through the University of Colorado. We went to the BioScience buildings at the Anshutz Campus.

We went to talk about my power chair and my communication device. I love my speech therapist’s expertise. Wow, I wish I could have that expertise.

We told them about my equipment and what works well and what my challenges are. They asked great questions and I told them about how I use these things everyday. I hope I can see them again. Hopefully this will help them design equipment for people with all kinds of needs.

Thank you for letting me exchange ideas with you!

The Junction

I25 & Colorado Blvd near Dave & Busters, Denver CO

No Reservations Required, Upscale Food Hall

5 Spoon Scale

Accessibility & Seating  5Very accessible. It is a wide open food hall and it was very easy to get around. There is also a lot of seating. 
Noise Level  4It was easy to have conversations with people at the table. There was music, but it was not too loud. It is wide open, so there is a lot of background noise. 
Food  5It was very good. It is a food hall so everyone can pick what they want. Lots of good choice.

I went to The Junction on April 18th with my friends Tara, Brenna, Mary Kate and my mom. It is an upscale food hall with around 10 different restaurants. For those interested, there is a full bar. There is also a coffee shop (whew)!

I chose Cleaver & Co for a bacon cheeseburger, fried pickles and creme brûlée shake. My food was really good and the shake was wonderful. The burger is called Bacon be Back and has American cheese, bacon-habanero jam, pickles, lettuce and mustard. Don’t worry about the habanero jam; it wasn’t too spicy, just really tasty. For the fried pickles, they use an entire pickle wedge and fry that. The coating is really thick and yummy. The shake tasted like caramel and was really creamy. It was a good consistency. It was not hard for me to drink.

Later, I got an iced mocha latte at Sonder Coffee & Tea. It was really strong, so I had to put more chocolate in it when I got home. The espresso is really good though. My mom got an Americano and really liked it.

Mary Kate also went to Cleaver & Co. She got the chicken tenders and the mild was kind of spicy for her (she has a low tolerance for spice). My mom got the prosciutto sandwich at Mr. Miner’s. Tara got a sandwich there as well and Brenna had what looked like a falafel taco.

Getting around the food hall was easy. The tables are spaced out well. There are some community tables, but a lot of tables for 2-4. I could go around and look at the different restaurants and not feel like I was blocking anyone. There is outdoor seating, but it was a little cool when we got there. The noise was not too bad. I could hear everyone at our table and was easy to have conversation. There was some background noise because it is so wide open, but it was not too bad. I would highly recommend you go check it out. Everyone can get what they want and have a good time.

I LOVE SPICE TRADE!

Orchard and I25 in Greenwood Village

Reservations suggested

Accessibility & Seating  🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄I was able to maneuver to the back of the restaurant to a table. There was plenty of space for the staff and other patrons to pass without bumping into me.
Noise Level  🥄🥄🥄The music was really loud. Hard to hear the conversation at the table. There were 6 of us at a rectangular table. 
Food  🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄The food was wonderful. Highly recommend!
5 Spoon Rating

We went to Spice Trade for dinner last night (Saturday, April 17th). My Uncle John flew in and then we went for a late dinner at Spice Trade. My parents, Mary Kate and Moira were there too.

I usually sit outside on the patio, but it was not available last night. I like the patio a lot better because it is too loud for me inside. They play their music too loud. I could hear some of the table conversation, but not all of it.

The layout of the restaurant is really nice. The tables are spread out well and a wheelchair can fit at the table. The patio is also easy to get to and I am looking forward to sitting out there soon.

I ordered the Shrimp Bravas. It had shrimp, chorizo, smashed potatoes, garlic crema, green onions and fried garlic. I really liked it. The potatoes were yummy and it was creamy. It was a little bit spicy, but not too much. We all shared churro bread pudding for dessert. It was good, but need something creamy–maybe ice cream or a bit of sauce on top.

My dad had their chicken and “dumplings”; they use gnocchi as the dumpling. My mom had the Spicy Korean sandwich, Moira had the posole, Mary Kate had the burger (they use short ribs for the burger), and Uncle John had the pork shoulder tacos. Everyone loved their dinners.

I don’t like to drink alcohol, so I just had a coke. Some of the other people had the beers or cocktails. Everyone seemed to like the drinks. They have some interesting sounding beer: some examples are Chai Milk Stout, Jalapeño Pilsner, Chocolate Raspberry Stout. Maybe someday I will like it (I still like my coffees the best).

I really like to go to Spice Trade. I go with friends and family and it is a great place to get together. It was fun to have my uncle in town and go. Spice Trade is the place he asks to go to when he comes, so it was our first stop with him. I hope you go and try it. Let me know what you think.

Kneader Kneader Kneader

Arapahoe & Jordan (Centennial, CO)

No reservations/walk-in only

5 Spoon Scale

Accessibility & Seating  2Really tight-tables too close
Noise Level  5Went at off peak time
Food  4 Very satisfying

I went to Kneaders with Baba and my mom March 25th. I love it. I ordered the Cinnamon Crunch French Toast. It was really sweet, which I like. They gave me syrup that tasted like it had the butter in it. The bread they make it with is really thick. There were strawberries on the side. My mom and I split an order of bacon. The bacon was ok. My mom ordered the pancakes and Baba had an American omelette. They seemed to like theirs.

My iced mocha was really really really good.

You order at the counter and that was easy for me to get to. The rest of the restaurant is hard to maneuver in my wheelchair. The tables are really close together, so it is hard to get my chair through the aisles between tables. Luckily, we went at an off peak time so it wasn’t an issue. I sat at the end of a really long table with permanent seats by the front so that people could walk around me. It isn’t too loud inside, but it was really cold in there. I am not sure if the heater was broken; it was a cold morning outside.

I think everybody should try Kneaders.

#accessibilitymatters #accessibilityforall #restaurantaccessibility #holdonwithdom