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Friendliest Meals for Wheels?
updated: Feb 23, 2012, 8:39 PM

I would like to hear from Edhat readers your recommendations as to the most wheelchair-friendly restaurants in the area. Thanks!

Places People Are Talking About:

	Crocodile Restaurant	Even Cold Spring Tavern
Fresco	Holdren's	Woodys

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 259206	2012-02-24 06:59 AM
Crocodile restaurant.
COMMENT 259212	2012-02-24 07:17 AM
fresco five points has indoor and outdoor dining which would be quite wheel chair accessable. handicapp parking spot right next door.
COMMENT 259232	2012-02-24 07:53 AM
They are almost all wheelchair friendly . . . an overwhelming majority. However, there are a few frustrating exceptions. Elements Restaurant and Bar on Anapamu is not accessible - neither the patio, nor the bar/restaurant. Pane e Vino in Montecito is only accessible through a constantly closed and blocked back door to the patio and the nearest/only restroom is upstairs. Seagrass on Anacapa places a table in front of their only accessible entrance, call ahead so you can be embarrassed as everyone is forced to stand and the table moved away for your arrival and departure. I'm sure there are a couple more that just aren't coming to me now. With that said, given the number of historic old buildings, Santa Barbara is among the most accessible cities I've lived in.
COMMENT 259238	2012-02-24 07:59 AM
Most SB and Goleta restaurants are accessible, just call your favorites and ask. The Nugget, Cody's, and Hollister Brewing Company, all in Goleta, are great. Your limiting factor will be the restrooms, so just be sure they are large modern restrooms with a handicapped stall, not a converted closet.
COMMENT 259240	2012-02-24 08:05 AM
Be careful with answering this question. There is a person who, I've heard, makes a living suing establishments that cannot accommodate wheelchairs. While I feel for them remodeling is awfully expensive. Furthermore, I can't go some places either as the patio smoke is stifling and I can't breath.
COMMENT 259244	2012-02-24 08:20 AM
Holdren's and the Outback in Goleta make special efforts to accommodate wheelchair diners, as does Arch Rock, the Waterfront Grill and the Fish House.
COMMENT 259275	2012-02-24 09:38 AM
@259240 It isn't possible to make a living at that because there's no law requiring private establishments to accommodate wheelchairs. Rather, there are tax incentives: Architectural/Transportation Tax Deduction (Internal Revenue Code Section 190: Barrier Removal): This annual deduction of up to $15,000 is available to businesses of any size for the costs of removing barriers for people with disabilities, including the following: providing accessible parking spaces, ramps, and curb cuts; providing wheelchair-accessible telephones, water fountains, and restrooms; making walkways at least 48 inches wide; and making entrances accessible.
COMMENT 259298	2012-02-24 10:11 AM
ALL restaurants, by LAW are wheelchair accessible, except in the rare cases of those grandfathered in... like maybe Cold Springs Tavern.
COMMENT 259300	2012-02-24 10:14 AM
Isn't it illegal to smoke at restaurants point inside or out?
COMMENT 259306	2012-02-24 10:30 AM
Woodys is wheelchair-friendly! They even have a handicapable man working in there bussing tables from time to time. Wheelchair friendly AND an equal opportunity employer!
COMMENT 259324	2012-02-24 11:31 AM
Even Cold Spring Tavern has an accessible entrance. It is rather narrow though. Would probably not fit an electric wheelchair.
COMMENT 259410	2012-02-24 03:02 PM
@259275- You are incorrect ADA litigation for violations is big business for some attorneys. In addition to the injunctive relief allowed by the ADA, California also has statutes awarding monetary damages to the plaintiff. Even where monetary damages are unavailable, the attorney's fees provision of the ADA incentivizes litigation. Whether this is a good or bad thing is another question....some would argue that having "private attorney general" actions bring out positive change without the burden of enforcement being placed on the government...others argue that this places an unfair burden on small businesses and encourages frivilous lawsuits.