Steve's ALS Restaurant Review #14


EL TORO MEXICAN RESTAURANT
This past Sunday we ventured to Brownsburg to meet with a group of high school friends with whom we eat fairly regularly.  It’s fun to stay connected and we try to eat in a variety of places. 
This time we visited El Toro Mexican restaurant.  It is located on Highway 136 in a strip center that features, among other entities, a closed Marsh grocery and a thrift store.
The handicap parking spaces were located some distance from the restaurant, and we gained access to the sidewalk via the handicap ramp in front of the thrift store.  We walked, and chaired, down the covered sidewalk (did I mention it was raining really hard?) until we were forced back into the street because the restaurant had put outdoor dining on the sidewalk thus blocking our path.
So, back into the street we went.  The ramp in front of the restaurant was very narrow.  Take your time getting up.  It would not be difficult to run off the side.
Access to the restaurant was predictable.  No door opener—other than my lovely and loving wife.  Once inside, the aisles were wide and provided easy passage.  We removed a chair at our table and I remained in my power chair.
Our server was pleasant, but I think he was new, not at all well acquainted with the menu.  The menu features typical Tex-Mex food.  What made it attractive was that the kitchen did not automatically add hot peppers, hot sauces, and anything else that sends me running for Mylanta.
I ordered nachos, thinking that they would be a good finger food.  I could not have been more mistaken.  The nachos were good, at least those I was able to eat.  I finally gave up.  (Hint: try a burrito without sauce or the cheeseburger.  Both are doable without silverware.)  Everyone else seemed to really enjoy their food.
The restaurant is quiet enough that we were able to enjoy conversations with one another without straining to hear.  I thought the prices were very reasonable.
I was able to get in and out of the restroom without a great deal of trouble.  The handicap stall had only one grab bar.  It certainly could have used more.
CONCLUSION:  I have a favorite Mexican restaurant (remember Biscuits?) and nothing about El Toro is knocking Biscuits off the top spot.  El Toro is an average restaurant with average food and acceptable, but not good, accessibility.  I’ll go again if my high school friends really want to.
But I will not suggest it.
2 scooters
(This will be my last scooter rating.  I’ve graduated to a power chair so look for chair ratings in the future.)

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