☆☆☆☆☆
279 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-536-4200
http://www.joesamerican.com/

boston-american-joes-bar-grill-016.jpgAfter leaving  Hotel Chocolat on Newbury Street we began to look for a nearby restaurant to have some lunch before heading back home. Once on the corner of Dartmouth and Newbury Street my friends and I spotted Joe’s American Bar & Grill. We’ve been to other Joe’s American Bar & Grill restaurants and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere. As we approached the entry door we were really surprised to see a small step blocking wheelchair access for customers seated in a wheelchair.

step-at-entry-of-joes-american-bar-and-grill.jpgWe all thought there must be another entrance that is wheelchair accessible for this is a big chain restaurant. We looked around and didn’t see another entrance so my friend Kellie went inside to ask if there is a wheelchair accessible entrance. Sadly she was told there is NO wheelchair accessible entrance. Kellie told us that once she was inside the entrance she saw there are a few steps to access the dining room. Kellie spoke with the manager. She said he was very nice and even offered to have some employees help him carry me in my wheelchair up the step at the entrance and then up the stairs to the dining room. We said no for it is too dangerous for all of us.

boston-american-joes-bar-grill-014.jpgKellie, Kevin and I were shocked to find a chain restaurant as big and Joe’s American Bar & Grill inaccessible to customers in wheelchairs in the year 2009. This is not a small mom and pop restaurant. We would think the owners of this big chain restaurant Joe’s American Bar & Grill would place an accessible threshold at the entrance and wheelchair lift next to the steps leading to the dining room. I’ve seen wheelchair lifts next to steps of many businesses, restaurants and hotels but not here at Joe’s American Bar & Grill. This restaursnt would need a lift similar to the one at   The Grille at Hobbs Brook in Waltham.

I give this Joe’s American Bar & Grill ZERO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn any stars they would first need to place an accessible threshold at the entry door; and then place a wheelchair lift at the stairs so a customer in a wheelchair can access the restaurant.