[nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants

[Ashley Bramlett]

Beth,
I agree;  stirofoam trays are wobbly and plastic ones are more sturdy. I 
will get someone to carry the tray if possible and if I have to carry the 
drink on the tray, I use a lid. I'll wrap two fingers around the cup to 
stabilize it and the lid prevents it from spilling usually.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Beth
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2012 8:52 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] food courts and counter restaurants

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
_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
for nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/thebluesisloo
se%40gmail.com








_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net