The Traveling Wheelchair

– Accessibility
– Food & Service
170 Water Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508-747-6776
http://www.blue-eyedcrab.com/

Recently, my mom, dad, brother, friends and I went to Blue-Eyed Crab for dinner. Our friend Kim of Jamie & Crew told us it has the ‘Best & Freshest Seafood in Plymouth’. Kim couldn’t join us but she sure was right! I’ve been to many restaurants in Plymouth but this one does have the best seafood in town! As for wheelchair accessibility it has a few obstacles.

Blue-Eyed Crab, located on the Plymouth waterfront is right across from  East Bay Grille. We parked our van in the public parking lot in a handicap parking space for free. We crossed a pedestrian crosswalk with safe and easy access from the parking lot to the sidewalk in front of Blue-Eyed Crab. The waterfront entrance on Water Street leads to outdoor dining. This entrance is NOT wheelchair accessible for there are only stairs.

The front entrance of Blue-Eyed Crab, located in the  Village Landing Marketplace in Plymouthis wheelchair accessible. The double entry doors are not automatic so you will need help with opening the entry doors.

Once inside you’ll think you’re in the Caribbean! The walls and ceilings are painted in a deep ocean blue with colorful ceramic fish hanging from the ceiling. The lighting fixtures are also a deep blue.

Inside is small but cozy. All the tables are of a perfect wheelchair accessible height. The tables are difficult to wheel your chair between for they are set so close together due to the small size of the room. Yet, you can fit your chair easily at one of the tables located near the entry door.

The countertop of the indoor and outdoor bar is not wheelchair accessible for it is too high. Tall stools are set in front of both bars. I would have been able to access the bars if I was in my Permobil C350 Power Chair  but I was in my manual chair. A large flat screen TV hangs on the wall behind the indoor bar that is easy for all customers to see.

An outdoor dining area located on the waterfront has more room to maneuver your chair between the tables. Yet you cannot access this outdoor dining area from inside the restaurant for there is a 2 inch threshold at the door. You’ll need to go back out the front entry door and access this outdoor dining area on the side by the outdoor bar.

All outdoor tables are of a good wheelchair accessible height. The tables have umbrella’s to shade you and protect you from the hot rays of the sun; not that the sun has been out that much lately :>)

There is a really cool outdoor lounge; it is fully wheelchair accessible; colorful benches are set up around a fire pit that is lit on cool summer evenings. You can enjoy this area when you are waiting for a table or just to enjoy one of their specialty drinks.

Blue-Eyed Crab is NOT PET FRIENDLY! There are signs posted at the outdoor dining area and outdoor lounge stating: ‘NO DOGS ALLOWED’.

The main obstacle is there is NO wheelchair accessible restroom. The hall leading to the restroom, called the ‘Outhouse’ is wide enough for a wheelchair; yet a floor heater blocks wheelchair access :<( Even if you could access the restroom, it is not wheelchair accessible or ADA compliant. It’s very narrow; there are NO safety grab bars; there is NOT an accessible sink. There is a wheelchair accessible public restroom located in the Village Landing Marketplace yet it is really inconvenient to have to leave the restaurant to wheel to this restroom.

I had to use the restroom and it took me quite awhile to access the public restroom in the Village Landing Marketplace. I’d recommend using a restroom before entering the restarant.

I give Blue-Eyed Crab TWO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Three Stars they would need to install an automatic entry door so a person in a wheelchair can enter independently; lower a section of the outdoor and indoor bar to a wheelchair accessible height; place a wheelchair accessible threshold at the door leading from the restaurant to the outdoor dining area; relocate the floor heater in the hallway that is blocking access to the restroom; and remodel the ‘Outhouse’ so it is wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant.

I give Blue-Eye Crab FIVE STARS for the wonderful service and outstanding seafood dishes. Even though there are some obstacles to face, I would still recommend Blue-Eyed Crab to ALL!