Steve's ALS Restaurant Review # 9

For those of you who remember my review of Sullivan’s, it may seem to you as if I have a bias against steak houses.
Not true—only those with poor access.  Recently we visited Hyde Park Restaurant and had a totally different, and very pleasant, experience.  Let me tell you about it.
HYDE PARK
It is probably best to get this out of the way early.  Hyde Park is an upscale steak house and is expensive—and that is putting it gently.  But, for a very special occasion (Happy Anniversary, my love?) it bears serious consideration.  QUICK HINT:  we went there during Devour Indianapolis.  There is a small, but really tempting Devour menu at  much less eye popping prices. 
The restaurant is located on the first floor of the Illinois Building, at the corner of Illinois and Market streets in downtown Indianapolis.  We were going somewhere after dinner so parked in the parking garage immediately south of Market and Pennsylvania in this terrific first level handicap parking spot that my wife found.  Very easy to get into and out of without ending up in a line of cars.
Although once again there was no automatic door opener, the restaurant’s manager was watching.  As soon as he saw my scooter and me he ran to open the front door.  That gesture set the tone for the remainder of our Hyde Park experience.  We were with another couple and everyone in our party agreed that the staff made us feel welcome and very glad that we had chosen Hyde Park.
The aisles to our table were wide and provided smooth access to my scooter.  I saw no booths (;although later my wife said that she did).  Nevertheless, I was able to transfer fairly easily to a large chair at a well-appointed table next to a large window looking out onto Market street.  Before the manager and hostess left us, they made sure that I was comfortable.
The menu was, as expected, heavy on beef.  There was a sprinkling of fish and chicken, but don’t go there looking for seafood.  My wife and the other couple had steak.  They were very pleased.  I opted for sea bass.  I liked it a lot, although not as much as I do the sea bass at Seasons 52.  I figured that fish would be easier to manage than a steak.  Not quite ready to ask for help in cutting up my food—maybe next time.
There is a flour-less chocolate cake that is worth risking your expanding waistline.  Really.
The service could not have been any better.  Friendly, able to anticipate when we needed something, never obtrusive.    Our server even retrieved my scooter and brought it to the table—a first!
Finally, off to the men’s room.  There was plenty of room for my scooter and me to travel from our table to the men’s room door.  No automatic opener, but the door itself was light and quickly opened with a combination of my hand and my scooter.  The handicap stall was spacious with well-placed grab bars.  Easy to use.  I exited from the stall in reverse but there was more than enough room in the main area of the bathroom for me to turn the scooter around.  Getting out of the restroom and back to our table was pleasant.
It was time to go and I headed toward the front door while the rest of our party gathered coats and hats.  Awaiting me at the front door was the restaurant’s manager.  He had assigned himself the role of making certain that my exit was going to be trouble free.  Before my wife and friends joined us, he and I discussed access and its importance to restaurants.  He is committed to access, and Hyde Park is an example of that commitment.
CONCLUSION:  Hyde Park is a very fine restaurant that takes your and my access needs seriously.  It may not be my favorite restaurant for menu, and there was no automatic door opener at the entrance.  However, the dedication of the staff, and particularly the manager to making certain that my access needs were met allows me for the first time to award

4 scooters 

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