The Traveling Wheelchair

83 Essex Street
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617-338-8158

Yesterday, Kellie, Kevin and I went to Chinatown to see how wheelchair accessible this section of Boston is. We stopped for some lunch at the Chau Chow City restaurant. Kellie, Tony and I had been here many years ago, when the restaurant was called Grand Chau Chow and remembered how good the food was so we decided to go back for a review. We found Chau Chow City wheelchair accessible with only a few minor obstacles which could easily be corrected.

We couldn’t find any handicap parking spaces close to the restaurant so we parked in a parking garage a short distance down the street. I encountered significant accessibility issues traveling from the parking garage to the restaurant; all the wheelchair access slopes to the sidewalks was blocked with snow and ice so I couldn’t access any sidewalk. Even if I had been able to gain access to a sidewalk, the shoveled paths would have been too narrow for my wheelchair. I was in my manual chair so Kevin had to push me in my chair along a very busy street.

As we got closer to the restaurant, we were pleased to see that the sidewalk in front of the restaurant was shoveled and I could gain access.

There are two sets of entry doors you will need help opening, for neither door is automatic. Kellie held the first door open for Kevin and me. The hostess was standing behind the second door; she seemed hesitant but held the second door open for us so we could enter.

We were seated at a table which was of a perfect height for my wheelchair. The dining room is very spacious and has plenty of wheelchair accessible tables. The service was average. There is another dining room, located on the second floor, which can be accessed via an elevator. This dining room is also spacious and has the same accessible tables.

Kevin went to use the restroom, where he had to go down the stairs. He thought that was the only Men’s room but we later discovered that there is another Men’s room located on the second floor off the upstairs dining room. Kevin and I took the elevator to the second floor so I could use this restroom. My chair fit comfortably on this elevator. When we got to the restroom, Kevin had to move a ladder that was blocking my access to the restroom.

This Men’s room is wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant except that it does not have the pipes under the accessible sink covered which is a new ADA requirement.  

I give Chau Chow City THREE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Two Stars, they would need to; install automatic entry doors; place protective covering around the exposed pipes under the accessible sink; and remove the ladder from the restroom. I would recommend persons in wheelchairs to dine in the second floor dining room because there is quicker access to the restroom. 

I give the City of Boston ZERO STARS for lack of wheelchair accessibility on the sidewalks. The City Of Boston should pay closer attention to keeping the wheelchair access to the sidewalks clear of snow and widen the shoveled paths on the sidewalks to a wheelchair accessible width.