After using the Auto Ambulator at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, my mom treated my friends and I to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory at South Shore Plaza. I found this Cheese Cake Factory partially wheelchair accessible with a few obstacles which could easily be corrected.
There is plenty of handicap parking located in the South Shore Plaza parking lot close to the entrance of Cheesecake Factory. Once inside I noticed the hostess counter where you request a seat is way too high for me to reach; and too high for the hostess to even see me seated on the other side. My mom kindly asked the hostess for a table for four.
Most of the tables are booth seats or partial booth seats in which one side is wheelchair accessible; there are some regular tables throughout the restaurant that are accessible as well; all the tables are of a good height. Our waitress was very friendly, kind and respectful and took the time to listen to me place my order. I ordered the catfish special and it was freshly cooked and delicious.
The bar in the lounge area is not wheelchair accessible for it is too high; there are some wheelchair accessible tables located in the lounge close to the bar so you can see the large screen TV hung above the bar. An outdoor seating area that is open during warmer months is accessible and all the tables are of a good wheelchair accessible height.
A bakery located close to the entrance sells all flavors of their delicious cheesecakes; the cashier counter is of a good wheelchair accessible height.
The restroom is spacious, wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant except the sink is NOT wheelchair accessible; I could NOT fit my chair underneath due to the poor design of the sink; I was NOT able to reach the faucet to wash my hands so I used a wet-ones wipe that I always carry around with me for situations like this.
I give the Cheesecake Factory TWO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Three Stars they would need to install automatic entry doors so a person in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently; lower the hostess counter to a wheelchair accessible height; redesign the sink in the restroom to an accessible sink so a customer in a wheelchair can wash their hands; and lower a section of the bar to an accessible height so a customer in a wheelchair can sit at the bar and enjoy a drink or meal.