[nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants

[Beth]

If the menu is not available online, one tip I'd recommend is to 
have the customer service people read it for you.  IF it's not 
available to you in an accessible format, the customer service 
people, according to a besft frind of mine, should read it out.  
I'm becoming impressed with some Chinese food places because 
they're actually using American customer service people.  I've 
been to places where the guys don't speak a word of English, so 
when you go to a food court thingy, make sure the place has staff 
that speak English fluently so you can actually get an idea of 
what's on the menu.  Also, when I go by myself to counter-only 
places like Einstein Brothers' Bagels, sommeone is usually very 
happy to fill my drink since I can't read the fountain and can't 
make a selection as to what's on the fountain and can't read 
whuat's there.  Plus I'm a bit nerve wracked about carrying 
drinks because of spillage.  Trays?  There coulod be ways to arry 
one with a cane, but man, I hate doing that because the tray is 
extra large.  I see tras as large and unwieldy with a cane if 
it's a styrofoam thing, but plastic ones I see a a better 
selectoin.  That's all I can say for now.
Beth

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:51:19 -0400
Subject: [nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants

Hi all,

Food courts are crowded noisy places. They hand you the food on a 
tray. But often the customer has to get their own drink from a 
row of drink spickits. I am talking about the row of them where 
the cups are at the end and the drinks are gotten by pressing 
something to release the liquid.

So any tips on them?  How do you deal with these drink areas? 
Does someone help you? I suppose you could memorize it if you 
went there before. How do you find an empty table since your 
hands are full with the tray, unless you ask someone to carry it 
for you. Then, how do you find the trashcan? Do you explore where 
the trashcans are before you get your food? Do you ask someone to 
read the menu to you while in line, or do it beforehand? Some 
venues have their menu online which I use if possible; other 
times they don’t.

Next, how do you deal with restaurants requiring you to order at 
the counter and pick it up at the counter? A fast food place 
usually gives you the food right there at the counter. You do not  
sit and wait. So that isn’t an issue. If I have to say, wait 
for fries, I do so right at the counter, as anyone else would.

Restaurants where you do this include:
Johnny Rockets in some locations
deli places such as Philadelphia mikes
Fudruckers
Corner Bakery



How do you find the counter and locate your seat? For me, I’m 
not good at reversing routes, and all tables look the same! I’m 
asking since I may order at such a restaurant with a blind friend 
and could use some tips on this.

Thanks.
Ashley
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