After having my wheelchair equipment properly fitted at Quality Van Sales and Service in Norton, Jowanna, Ric and I stopped for lunch close by at Old Colony Café. This family oriented restaurant located in the Chartley section of Norwood has a great water view of Chartley Pond. We found it is partially wheelchair accessible.
There are four handicap parking spaces located in the parking lot with easy access to the entrance. Located outside is an accessible customer service window where you can order your favorite ice cream. In front are picnic tables which are all wheelchair accessible because there is room for a wheelchair at each end for the table extends. Yet there is a major problem accessing these tables because the terrain consists of grass and stone walkways that have a wooden border that creates a step like barrier.
We proceeded to the main entrance. The cement sloped walkway leading to the entry door is easy to wheel along. There are two entry doors I needed help opening because neither set of doors is automatic. Once the first door was opened I was faced the obstacle of a racks blocking wheelchair access so Ric had to move the racks for me to wheel inside.
Once inside I found the dining room is spacious with plenty of room to maneuver my chair. The main dining room has some booths which are not accessible yet there are plenty of tables that are wheelchair accessible and of a perfect height to fit my chair. A rear sun room offers a great view of the pond and all the tables in this room are of a perfect height.
A bar/lounge set to the side is not wheelchair accessible because the bar is too high and all the tables in the lounge are tall bar/style tables that are too high as well. A customer in a wheelchair would not be able to enjoy a drink at the bar or in the lounge:-( A large flat screen TV set above the bar can be seen from some of the tables in the dining room.
Our waitress was very friendly and told us all meals are home cooked. The food took a long time coming to our table; yet once it was served it was delicious. I had grilled salmon on a salad and highly recommend it.
The restrooms are spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant except the pipe under the sink is not covered as is ADA required. The faucet, soap and automatic towel dispenser are easily in my reach.
I give The Old Colony Café TWO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Three Stars they would need to provide wheelchair access to the outdoor picnic tables; install automatic entry doors so a customer in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently; move the rack inside the first entry door that blocks wheelchair access; lower a section of the bar to a wheelchair accessible height; place some wheelchair accessible tables in the lounge; and cover the pipes under the accessible sink in the restroom as is ADA required.