Steve's ALS Restaurant Review #12


I have struggled with this review.  Generally, I am able to reach a conclusion quickly, put it to paper, and get on with living with no second thoughts.
Not this time.  I want very much to tell you that Tea’s Me Café is a delight, because it is.  But only if you are able bodied. I am not, and these reviews are written for those like me.  Let me tell you why the Café is a treat; and then I will explain why I cannot recommend it.
TEA’S ME CAFÉ
IT’S A TREAT!!  Tea’s Me is a small, independent tea shop at 22nd and Talbot  near Indianapolis’s downtown.  It’s open for breakfast and lunch,  closing daily at 3:00 PM.  It offers a wide selection of teas I have never heard of (no Lipton’s that I could see).  All of them sounded delicious and the  two I tried (Wild Pear and Almond Orange) bore out that first impression.  They are served in a glass pot placed on a trivit with a candle underneath to keep your beverage hot.  A small clear glass cup adds to the elegance.  We were there at lunch and  both enjoyed the Tomato Treat sandwich (and the very reasonable bill that came with it).
We placed our orders at the counter with a friendly and very knowledgeable server who guided us through the selections.  She took her time to make certain that our tea and sandwich selections would not disappoint.  We then found a place in the dining area and our orders arrived quickly.
The décor is soothing.  The patrons were an eclectic group, students, neighborhood regulars, business people looking for a place to meet that wasn’t Starbucks.  Many were working their laptops while sipping one of the wide selections.
This is a great place to sit, chat, work if you wish, or just ponder the state of the world.
BUT—
HERE’S THE TRICK!!  Access is very difficult.  I’ll start with--
Parking.  There is ONE handicap spot in the parking lot behind the building.  The Cafe shares the building with other businesses, and the  spot was taken.  We stopped in the middle of the lot, clicked on flashers, and got my scooter off the back of the car.  Then my wife parked in a regular spot.  One handicap space is not nearly enough.
Getting in.  There are two doors, neither with an opener.  The first is on the side of the Cafe and accessible from the parking lot.  It is very difficult to use because there is a sharp left turn immediately after coming through the door.  Lots of backing, filling, and bumping into things with my scooter.  The better option is to scooter around to 22nd Street and enter through the front door.  It is very narrow, but doable—with help.
Aisles.  Be very careful.
Seating.  If you are in a wheel chair or scooter, don’t get out.  The Café’s chairs are delicate as are the tables.  Bracing yourself on the table in order to transfer to a chair will guarantee a painful fall.  The couches looked comfortable, but if I had tried one out I would still be there.
Restrooms.  This is a place to drink tea and accessible restrooms are a must.  Or so you would think.
As I made my way to the men’s room, the gracious server stopped me.  She directed me to the women’s restroom— it was the only one with grab bars.
Need I say more?
CONCLUSION:  Tea’s Me is a terrific place, just not for to you and me.  Darn it.
1 scooter.

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