The Traveling Wheelchair

327 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-351-2500
http://sonsieboston.com/flash/

Yesterday after a doctor’s appointment, my mom took Tony, Ric and me to lunch at Sonsie on Newbury Street. Sonsie has been open for 16 years. I was very pleased to find this restaurant on Newbury Street is very wheelchair friendly and accessible; especially since so many places of business on Newbury Street are not at all wheelchair accessible.

There are 3 handicap parking spaces located on Newbury Street directly across from Sonsie; street parking is available right in front of the restaurant as well yet it was full; wheelchair access from the 3 handicap parking spaces is conveniently located close to the pedestrian sidewalk; the pedestrian sidewalk has good wheelchair access on either side of the street, which is not always the case in Boston.

There are double entry doors leading into Sonsie; the doors are not automatic yet wide enough to fit my chair; once inside we waited to be seated in a sitting area which is accessible with plenty of room for my chair. A hostess warmly greeted us and took us to our table.

All the tables in the main dining room are of a perfect wheelchair accessible height; tables located in front of the restaurant are small yet of a good height as well. During warmer weather the entire front of the restaurant is open to Newbury Street providing a feeling of outdoor dining.

Our waitress was very warm, friendly and hospitable; she kindly took our order and looked directly at me when I spoke. Our meals were delicious! The service was extraordinary! The decor and atmosphere is exceptional! I really loved the modern artwork hanging on the walls.

Located off to the side is a bar and lounge area; separated only by a half wall. Flat screen TV’s hanging above the bar are easy to view from all tables inside the restaurant; the bar is a little too high for a standard wheelchair; and the tables here are tall bar/style tables.

I was in my Permobil C350 Power Chair so I was able to elevate my seat and sit at the bar and order a cup of coffee to go! The bar tender was very pretty, kind and courteous!

Located on the lower level is a Wine Room which not accessible due to a staircase; it is only open from 6 pm to 1 am; it has a bar and dining tables. Tony, my friend went downstairs to look at it; he told me it is very dark and he thinks I would prefer dining upstairs for the lighting is better for me to see. I will not deduct a star for lack of access to the Wine Room because Sonsie provides plenty of accessible dining upstairs.

An accessible restroom is located in front of the restaurant next to the sitting area. The restroom is spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant; the faucet, soap dispenser and hand drier are all within my reach.

All the employees deserve FIVE STARS for their kindness, sensitivity, hospitality and awesome food!

As for its wheelchair accessibility I give Sonsie THREE STARS. In order to earn the other Two Stars, they would need to install automatic entry doors so a customer in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently; and provide some accessible seating in the bar/lounge either by lowering a section of the bar to an accessible height or placing an accessible table in the lounge.