The Olive Garden
Italian Restaurant

Multiple Locations throughout the valley

 

Okay this one is a fun one for me. I know what so many people say about The Olive Garden, but this I can say this about those people. They are the very one's you will find eating there over and over again. It is just plain and simply a great place to eat. Family's abound at The O  Garden. And That's a really nice thing to see. I like going to places were people come together to not just enjoy a meal, but to enjoy each others company. And The O Garden is that kind of place. Tough the Dinning area is large and allows for decent navigation of Power Chairs and wheel chair of all types, The Restrooms are spacious and easy to get to but there's only two stall's and the dinning hall hold's quite a few patrons. But back to the dinning area. They really don't mind sliding three or four tables together to accommodate large family and friend dinning. The staff at the 75th ave and just south of Thomas rd are always happy to see you and smiles all around. From Victoria the hostess to Roberto the waiter and even the bus people are friendly and on point. I recently had the Smoked Mozzarella Chicken and it was absolutely great. Portions of smoked seasoned chicken breast on a bed of Rotini pasta in a light and tasty, smokey garlic sauce, with smoked strips of sweet red peppers, with a hint of cheesiness. Topped with parmesan cheese and breadsticks on the side. Mmmmmm, mmmm, mmm. Delicious. My Friends Cindy and Kathy had a awesome time and even met some new friend that were sitting next to us. But here's the really awesome part of this latest visit to The O Garden and I hope your sitting down. They have a deal right now that if you buy an entrée, you get a free one to take home. YEAH! YES! I also had the Mezzoluna Ravioli and it was delicious to. Bene Molto Bene. That's all the Italian I know but it's enough to let them know you really enjoyed your visit. So just make sure you take you're appetite with you. The food is plentiful.

 

Hurry in before the 2/4/1 deal is over,

and tellem 

The Disabled Diner

Markus Sent you.

Keep Smilin it doesn't hurt.

TDD 

AYS  :-)

 

 

 

  

 

 

The Rain Forest Café

Arizona Mills Mall

Tempe Arizona

 

 

Dawned my Pith Helmet, Grabbed my off botanical anti-mosquito spay, my machete and gathered the rest of my fellow explorers and headed out to our destination. Hahaha, Actually we just got in the car and drove over to Tempe and straight to the Az. Mills Mall and went crazy. I spent the day fact finding for TDD and what a mission it was. So starting with the Mall itself, The South theater entrance is my personal preference. 1. There is a somewhat shorter walk from your car to the door's on that side. 2. It's on the food court side, so almost a direct shot to the food. For all you fellow foodies.  Lol. There were pit stops along the day which I will cover in there own post. So with the morning behind us we made our way through the crowds until we could hear the sound of water falls and hear the thunder and the roar of animals. Sound crazy yet? Hahaha. The entrance is a really fun adventure in it's self. First you need to navigate through the mist and the lagoon. Be aware that the lagoon is off limit's. Even sitting on the rocks is just not wise as there's a rather large Crocodile in the water. But stay alert because the tree holds a very large Python. But as you make your way past it and into the retail side of the enormous place look down and follow the really gigantic frog foot prints to the restaurant side just beneath the two huge tower fish tanks and the fish tank bridge that connects them. Take the time to glance around because you just may miss the Leopard high up in the tree's. I was in a manual wheelchair and had lots of room to maneuver around.

 

Our jungle guide found us and started the expedition through the jungle after grabbing supplies. Actually Karen our waitress grabbed us up, stopped at the hostess station snagged three menus and guided us to our campground I mean our table and kept us safe the entire trek. We settled into the jungle but kept a sharp eye for many predators and mischievous monkeys that abound deep in the forest. Karen brought out the refreshments and actually allowed us to choose whatever we wanted to eat from the supply room. Soon we were enjoying a massive platter of Chicken Strips, Deep fried Mozzarella sticks, Southwest Egg rolls and this crazy addictive Southwest cheesy spinach artichoke hot dip with a pile of multi colored corn chips. I would actually prefer some cheesy garlic toasted slices. But hey it's still an addictive Creamy, Cheesy, Zesty dip that you will want more and more of. So chips be or not to be, I could just eat it with a spoon. :-) Unusual that on this visit the chicken strips were a little tough. But we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the environment. They do a great job at keeping away the leaf cutter ants. Just kidding. The Rain Forest is a great place to bring the kids. And the staff doesn't mind when the kids ask where a particular animal may be hiding deep in the over growth. The bathrooms are very spacious and easy to navigate to through the dinning area. It's just plain fun for the entire expedition party and the prices are very apropos. So don't forget your Mosquito spray and Machete. Stick close to your guide some of the natives may invite you to there table to eat.

 

I'm Heading out to the next adventure.

Tell them Markus

The Disabled Diner sent you.

AYS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Corral

Family Steak house

With Multiple Locations

Head-em up, movem out, head-em up rawhide. Hahaha. Ok We ain't talkin bout cattle. I'm talking about rounding up the family herd and moseying over to the nearest Golden Corral family steak house for some really great tasting vittles partners. Well Golden Corral is a good place to take the family and not spend a Shank and a hindquarter to do it. There is plenty of chosen's and it's made fresh, as they keep it coming from the kitchen as fast as the hot pan's empty. Home style fried chicken, real not powdered but real mashed potato's and gravy. You can dang near find it all. Pizza to Pie's. Taco's to Tortellini, Salad's to Salsa. They have a great variety of just plain good food. The desert selection is plentiful too. With one real exception: I think that they need to remove the Chocolate Fountain dip. As I have seen to many people, children and adult alike stick their fingers in it. Can you say YUCK! I never have anything to do with that thing after the first time I saw this horrible infraction take place. So as to the standards at the Corral. The entrance door's are to disability code in width though they seem to be on the heavy side. The isles are wide and easy to navigate. Tables are adequate for power or wheel chair use. The bathroom's are to Code with at least one disabled stall. The staff is friendly and helpful but the three sites I have been to seem to have a bit of a problem with keeping them clean. Which says a lot about the insensitivity of the public at large. I have on a number of occasions had to ask staff to clean the stall before I could use it. They were more than happy to help. So Golden Corral gets a high TDD Rate for good down home food, at the right price. Cleanness, and helpful, hard working staff all rate high with TDD. But the Chocolate fountain has to go. It's a good idea but it's a health hazard.

So long for now partners I'm back on the trail to find more food.

Smile it doesn't hurt :-)

Markus

The Disabled Diner

AYS

 Cracker Barrel

Country Store and Restaurant

 Multiple locations

Valley wide

There can be only one. To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite movies, hahahaha. Yes here it is fellow foodie's. The long awaited but not forgotten Cracker Barrel TDD Down low. It is with great patience and time consuming hours of pain staking research that I have had to perform over and over again with many plates of food from this absolutely Aroma Therapeutic Establishment that has finally brought me to this point of being abled to bring the following informative post to all my FFC's ( Fellow Food Connoisseurs). This place is a step above the rest. Firstly I must add that I love the fact that I live a mere two miles from a Cracker Barrel so I do maintain an on going relationship with this particular branch. So let's begin. Over the year the chain has become a fixed point in the food scene across America. It is as American as they come. It Store front not only represent the The way it was when I grew up, but in my opinion, the way it should be.

Rocking chairs on the front porch where my Grandfather Brown use to sit and smoke his pipe on Sunday evenings and My Mother cooking in the kitchen. With the smells of Cornbread and greens wafting from the back door and fried chicken and brown gravy bubbling hot ready to be poured over the hand whipped mashed potato's and,,,, Oops wait a moment it may seem like I got off track there but actually this is what happens when you visit a Cracker Barrel. From the moment you walk up and sit in a rocker to the second you enter and smell the magic from the kitchen it's will olfactory ( Nose) transport you to some place in your life when you enjoyed a good meal. The front is adorned with old-fashioned décor and gifts of all sorts that commemorate the season we're in. And food's and candies from the day's of youth and time for a moment, stands still. And then we are called back by the sweetest friendly staff, that have somehow managed to smile every single time I go in for a visit. That's when the real magic takes hold and you feel that sense of home. From Grit's to Green's, Chop's to Chicken, Fish to Fries, Casseroles to Cakes, they have it all.

 Well enough to handle the choosiest of the choosy. I have sat and enjoyed the food many times, but I also enjoy watching families come in to eat and they actually sit and talk and soak in each others company. So Cracker Barrel receives The Triple TDD rating for Service, Food, and family fun. The tables are set up in rows with enough space to navigate through and the ample dinning rooms have plenty of seating space for pulling out a chair to accommodate your Power or Wheel Chair. Back up front. The Country Store side is not a place for the novice power or Wheel Chair user. The space between the displays is only just enough to edge through for the most part. Though it's lots of fun to porous the isles. The Restrooms can be a bit tricky as well. The are usually in an alcove towards the back of the Country Store side. And the doors are not the easiest to get through unless your on Crutches or Cane. But I still give a good Rating for the helpful and friendly staff that assist you with even the largest mishaps of knocking something over. It's my Personal Thanksgiving and Christmas hangout.

Meet me for a game of giant checkers on the front porch next time your coming over. I'll have the sweet tea chilled.

Until then,

Markus The Disabled Diner, is going to take a nap now.

AYS       



The Place

Restaurant

American · Diners

 5171 W Bell Rd, Glendale, AZ 85308

(602) 896-9929 

Yea you know that place, Ahhh, I know The place you mean. The Place on Bell Rd., yea but what's the name of it? The Place. Ok, ok. The Name of the Restaurant is "The Place" And though the name is very distinctive and the mainstay of the menu is American standard cuisine, They do it right. Starting with the service which is on point from the host, to the waitresses and waiters. Management seems to have found a winning team. The food is delicious, which  by the way seems to come to your table in Flint Stone size proportions. From the platter size pancakes, to the monster omelets. So make sure you come in hungry and loosen your belt. The Brontosaurus Burgers will test the limits of your waistline. Just kidding. Lol. No such item on the menu, but the burgers that are will bust your belly and with the bucket load of fries that come with it you don't stand a chance. Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner you will have a tough time trying to decide what you want to eat but no matter, Whatever you order the food is absolutely yummy. The prices are also on point for what you receive they are very wallet accommodating. Seriously I think the Ham Steak must have been a 2 lb slice of meat. That was for one breakfast plate. There was still Country fried potato's, eggs and toast to handle. Ok Hoss Cartwright would have been right at home at The Place. (Showing my age a bit there I know.) hahahaha.   The Place earns a high TDD Rate for service, food and flavor. The home cookin, really hits the spot. Restrooms are standard but the door's could be tough for some. The Place gets a caution from TDD. The floor is way to slippery. I'm not sure just what the reason is but it is a real challenge to navigate. I even had some difficulty just walking across the floor with my Rollator walker. With the breaks on, would slide away from me and that could be a very dangerous thing if it slides out from under your reach.. Power chair Peel out, and wheel chairs please be careful. 

Please note in the following Photographs, Objects may appear to be smaller than they really are. :-)

Keep Smilin it doesn't hurt.

Find your food passion fellow foodie's.

The Disabled Diner

Markus

AYS

In the drive through

Info spot for TDD

 

 

Today's info combo is that TDD is a proud supporter of the Rachael Ray show and her personal mission to create 9 Million Meals for children. Today she did it. Rachael hit 11 + Million meals Yeah !  for hungry children right here in America. Rachael, Lets make it 20 million. So please, please please, go to

 9MillionMeals.com

or email showcomments@rachaelrayshow.com or

Mailing Address:

 Rachael Ray

 243 5th Avenue #146

 New York, NY 10016

 Call @ 917-332-3100

and donate to the cause. Together we can really change the world of hunger each of us one by one. So join in and contribute to a real cause. And tell-m The Disabled Diner sent you.

Be Blessed

Markus TDD

AYS

 



Garcia's Mexican Restaurant

Latin American Fare

With Multiple locations

Need I say more, If you've lived in Arizona for a time than I am sure you have probably eaten at one of the outlet's that are still around. Started by a local family, the menu hasn't changed much. But sometimes fellow foodies that can be a good thing. Put on your sombrero and poncho and get ready for some great times.You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Well the consistency in this case is a good thing. The dishes are prepared fresh and they are absolutely delicious. Every aspect of your meal preparation is right on target with some of the original recipes of the first family of Garcia's. Paper thin crispy corn tortillas start you off with the signature picante sauce and creamy refried beans.Try not to fill up on them even though you want to. The flour tortilla's are unlike any you could buy in the stores. How do they make them so thin and light. As in my favorite dish. The massive and delicious Green Chili Chimi and I get the custom model with tender chunks of grilled chicken, beans, cheese. Then they fry it to a light crisp fluffy cloud of seasoned flavors, then smother it in there authentic green chili verde. Pile on a mound of rice and beans on the side and i am transported to Puerto Vallarta taste bud memories that only my nose can take me to. 

They have no problems making subtle changes to your order as I don't get the typical filling. I really have to watch the sodium you know. My brother always gets the Sizzling Fajita's, and I do mean Sizzling. The entire section of patrons where we were sitting stared as the waitress hand delivered them with oven glove and towel. My Sis-in-law gets the Enchiladas and tostadas combo. But make sure you order your Margaritas by the gallon. hahah. Again fresh, fresh, fresh. Yes, Flavors of delightfully delicious delicacies do deliberate devastation to your decision making abilities.  Try saying that three times fast. Hahaha! The double door entrance is wide and the host are usually there to open it for you. The floor lay out is roomy enough for your power chair, wheel chair and  crutches should have no problems. The Peoria branch being one of the older buildings. The Restrooms are to small to manure in. The entrance to the restroom is far to snug for a Power or wheel chair. The stall is in a separated booth type space that you can not possibly bring a chair into. High TDD rating for the service and food, but the chain scores a very, very low rating for restroom accessibility. Even if you have a scoop of their delicious Fried Ice Cream with a sad face :-(  on top.

This is the scoop from

The Disabled Diner.

AYS