Category: Daily Living
I find it incredibly annoying when you go somewhere and they haven't got a menu in braille. However, today when I went to the food chain Frankie and Benny's for lunch, they had a braille menu but it wasn't clearly divided like the ordinary menu to suggest which dishes were for brunch, lunch or evening meal. Also, I found that there were no deserts included on the menu.
Ya, it's nice to have them. One thing I've noticed is a lot of the big chains have there menu's online and even some of the small places. It never hurts to get on google and type the place in and see!
.
This is a concern of mine, too. I know some companies don't always update their menus. Drives me crazy. When I used to be a rehab teacher, I'd go with a client to an eating establishment where they had a braille menu. They might not be the most fluent braille reader, so I'd read them the menu for a change. I love reading out loud, and it let them see that there is still stuff available in braille for use.
Lou
in high school I did a project where I wrote out 4 braille minues for four small mom and pop restaurants in that small town. Last weekend I went to visit my mom and thought just for kicks to go to eat at one and see if the same minue was there. It was and I was so upset. Its like you do a nice favor for a place and they do not appreciate it.
I never bother with braille menus. I generally know pretty much what I'm hunry for anyway--or the type of food I want--and, If I have to quietly ask someone to read a couple of things, I keep it quiet, simple, and as quick as possible soas not to make a fuss. In short, I'll eat whatever If I don't already know what I want, and If an online menu has them [most places have them online] by all means use it it you can.
The few times I've used a Braille menu, I find I'm still reading it when my friends are ready to order. I'd rather just tell a friend the type of food I'm in the mood for, i.e. sandwiches, etc. and find out more quickly that way. Sometimes it can be very slow and tedious to get through a large Braille menu.
i've been to places with out braille menus, but we usually get the number for the head office, and call them. next time we go in, they usually have one
Braille menus are great to have, but I am just as satisfied if someone has to read the menu to me. I think that sometimes sighted people think a braille menu helps everyone is blind or visually impaired. However, that isn't the case. I know blind people who do not know braille. Therefore, a braille menu is of no use to them. At any rate, if a braille menu is available, I'll use it. If not, I'm adaptable and will listen to someone tell me what the choices are.
Thanks for responding to this post people
i think you're rite, as long as you know what there is, you can choose from that. i still think it's pretty cool though to actually read it yourself, take your time to study each item, and maybe come up with a few diffrent ideas
hmmm, i'm all for both there are some places i eat at where braille menus are scarce and i have been to places with them before, but, it takes me ages to read them so i generally ask someone sighted to tell me the options, but i'm very grateful and appreciative to those resturants that do do braille menus.
I agree with Iternity in that, having the braille menu has often encouraged me to consider options I'd have never thought about before.
I'm amazed at how much the staff doesn't understand braille. I've been to places where they thought I was asking for Brown Menus, or Bridal Menus.
I think the oddest rsponse I ever got to the braille menu question was one lady who told me they didn't have them, but it was on the restroom doors.
Lou
As most of you have alreddy said, a brail menue is great and wunderfull, but it takes me for ever to read one and just looking at that huge book has me alittle overwelmed. I love the fact you can now get them online, sooo much esyer. Also most of my friends have no problems reading something to me if I need to find something, they go out with me they no I might need some help. So use all the options that are avalable these days.
Tracey
i agree with how staff can sometimes not understand you and i once got a rather abrupt no when someone thought i was asking for the brittle menu. rather strange. i always go for the same option when out at a cafe or something as i'm scared of trying something, spilling it down my front and looking like a right, idiot.
Jen.
Oops! Not sure what happened to that last post. What I meant to say about Braille menus though, was that I've only encountered them in two restaurants, fairly close to home. The first encounter with a Braille menu was a few years back when me and a friend went to The Foest Inn (Millers Kitchen) restaurant not far from here, where mum actually borrowed a couple of Braille menues for us to browse through before we went to the restaurant and had the meal the following evening, and earlier this year, when my Aunt and her two girls took me shopping with them, we did our shop then went in to Pizza Express, where they actually gave me a Braille menu so my Aunt didn't have to read everything out to me. It was a bit overwhelming for me though, this fairly thick book with hundreds and hundreds of different pizzas, toppings, sides, salads, desserts, drinks Etc Etc.
Jen.
I have just started at RNC in Hereford and outside the refectory, we have a print menu, a braille one and also a button which talks when someone presses it. I don't know what size the print is and apparently the talking box thing doesn't work at the minute. Sometimes the food on the menu might be changed from what it says, but the people in there are happy to tell you what there is when you get inside.
I'm glad braille menus are available when I see them around however, I do understand where it could be a bit tedious trying to read a big book to decide what you want when I pretty much know what I want anyway.
Kerby
I love Braille menus, and I'm gratified to see they are more ubiquitous now then they've ever been. What I find even better is when restaurants actually have their menus posted online. That way, I can decide what I want before I even go, saves a lot of time.
Yes, I mainly know what I want if I go to that same restaurant over and over so I don't bother with the braille. When the waiter asks me if I want one I usually decline unless I'm new to that place.
Troy
Hmm, I will usually accept the Braille menu if offered. I was at a restaurant once where they told me that they had a Braille menu but nobody ever asked for it, so I figure it's a good idea to make sure they know there is interest.
If I know what I want, I won't ask for a menu. If I do, however, I will ask for a braille menu. I can understant not having a menu, but I want one just the same. Another thing. I get pissed off when the menus don't have prices.
I can understand why you want to see what the restaurant has by looking online before you go there, but what if yyou don't have the internet or you haven't been to that restaurant before?
Well, then you ask someone to help you.
I love it when there is a braille menu available and I always try to educate the restaurant about why they should have one if they do not. However, some of them seem to be quite dirty, so I make it my habit to wash my hands after I have used one before I eat.
Handwashing ... please don't get me started on that. lol
Just bring some of that hand sanitiser with you. Some Braille menus I've seen are quite dusty.
I think it is silly to expect that in every restaurant, or every place you can eat food, there will be a braille menu. When there is a braille menu, you should be very thankful. The likelyhood of their being a braille menu is probably determined by the likelyhood of it being used, so restaurants which regularly have visually impaired customers may be more keen to provide braille menus. I wouldn't complain if there wasn't a braille menu, somebody would be able to read the print menu to me and I could then decide what I want. I'm also not so obsessed with my disability, that I expect every place which serves food to have a menu, even places which have never had visually impaired customers. If I was to be so bothered about reading a braille menu, I would ask the place at which I wish to eat if a braille menu is available. If it isn't and I'm so desperate for a braille menu, I can choose not to attend that place. I think it's wrong that the disability right's lobby which have little to nothing to do with, believes that places which don't provide braille menus should be punished. It's hardly murder!
I also think it is a bit strange that some things like travel and tv licences they provide for part of the price or less than everyone else. I think that for things like transport, even blind people should pay the same price s everyone else, because I don't count myself as being "disabled" just because I cn't see.
Going back to the braille menus thing, not many places I have been to if only one or to have got braille menus. It's good that some laces do provide braille menus, but you can't expect every single place to do this and wha about people who don't read braile, but do read largr print? If they provided braille menus they'd have to give large print ones, too.
It isn't a big deal to me if I have them or not, but I'm always grateful if they are there.
Lou
I like having to pay less for things. It means I have more money. As for things like transport, if you have a sighted person who you say is assisting you, and they can get a reduction for their tickets too, it's good for them to travel with you.
yeah i went to red lobster the other day and they had a braille menu i already knew what i wanted, but i love reading them just for fun.
Having not seen how things are written, I find it fascinating. For example, From the way people say it, I thought thousand island dressing was written as I just did it in words and not 1,000 island dressing in digits.
Lou
I went to an IHOP, International House of Pancakes, and asked for a braille menu. The waitress asked, "Is that the new low carb menu?"
The Manager was too busy in the kitchen to come out and talk to us. We called the home office a few days later and nobody called us back.
I think I had pancakes, lol.
I am one of those who don't bother with them much. It's just going to waste my time anyways. I don't read them much even if there was one. It's called asking the waiters what there is for lunch on the menu and using them to their fullest. It's called that's there job to tell you. Oh, good idea? I think it's an excellent idea. It's quite an intellectual matter isn't it? Really I thought it wasn't but... apparently presently asking questions is now. Oh, and now it's difficult, and only the intellectuals of this age does it. Oh, well... didn't know that... there is news for me... great fun... Now, you all can just go buy some brain cells at that store over there, yeah, and I'll tell you the rest of the story.
I always ask for a Braille menu. I don't expect every restaurant to have one, but it's nice when they do. I'm a fast Braille reader, so for the most part, I can keep up with my sighted friends who are reading regular menues.
It amazes me how many people have no clue what Braille is! I've completely baffled several people, just by asking for a Braille menu.
It will amaze you more then, to know that most in the blind community is ignorant.
I'm the same as Brook. If they've got one, awesome if not, o well, that's y ya have friends.
Rachel, why so blunt about this? everyone has their own ways of doing things.
Not to sound bitchy, but it would seen like you're forgetting to own up to the "friendly" part of your username.
You're sixteen; deflate your head a little bit, please. Just because you may ask the waiter or waitress what's on the menu, that's no excuse to act like you're better than anyone else posting here. That's the impression i'm getting from many of your board posts.
Sorry if i'm short with you today, but when you make a point, you're going about it in a rude way. Now, to get back on the subject at hand ...
and the post about most of the blind community being ignorant? You're not being helpful by saying things like that. You actually come across as being snobbish. Okay, i'm done ranting for now.
I tend to agree with Joann on this one. I think that by being absolute in our methods, we don't acknowledge what might be alternative methods of doing things. The more tools we have in our repretore of techniques of compensating for our vision loss, the better off we are. Its almost the same as using a cane versus a dog guide. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Sorry to persist in being off topic.
Lou of doing things.
Well I always appreciate a Braille menu if there is one.
If you do have problems navigating them try considering it more like a periodical or magazine; use the Table of Contents in the front, and you'll get there faster. Plus, the ones I've seen anyway, they put extra space between sections so you can scan faster.
I like what Lou said about the 1000 Island dressing ... ya never know till you actually read it.
I don't make a big deal if they don't have one, but on the contrary will say something if they do; it's really a benefit to me, anyway, although I realize what some of you have said; not all blind folks read Braille. But for those of us who do, it sure is nice to get anything in that format.
And when you look at it as paper rather than on your display, you can be looking at more than one page at a time, and other things like that which you really can't do as effectively with a one-line display. Never heard of a pizza place with a Braille menu; that's really quite unusual.
Its always nice when a place has a braille menu. I know that blind need to deal with differences, but it seems kind of strange people saying they check online and decide before they go, I know a lot of sighted friends that will look at online menus and decide to go somewhere, but would still like the spontaneity of deciding their order at the restaurant.
Anyways, its not a big deal if a place doesn't have one, I'll just have a friend help, but it does make it hard if its 2 blind people and you require the waitstaff's help.
I went with my family to a pizza place down by the Chesapeake this summer, and they had a Braille menu. I was totally surprised! That was the first time I'd been to a pizza place that had one.
About three weeks ago, I went to a restaurant and asked for a braille menu. The waiter said no, and then someone else came out and told him he didn't know what the hell he was talking about, and handed me one. It was quite odd. I find that when I use a braille menu, the waiter or waitress is more likely to address me for my order rather than my sighted companion, if I have one, which brings me to my next point: What happens if you're out with only another blind person, and you go to a restaurant with a rather large menu? I guess you should just have an idea what type of food you're looking for in that case so you can save some time...
I love having a braille menue I'm a pretty fast reader so I can keep up with my bf if we are out cuz he can see. However if they don't have one I no what I like and I will useually say something like I'm in the mood for a salad and he will read me all the salads or something like that. I have to say the whole going online too look at the menues is a great point and 1 that I haven't thought of before silly me.. This is funny talking about no noing how things are spelled on a menue I never took spanish before and I had no idea what a jalapeno was who new the j had an h sound and the same goes for quesodillias too lol I need to take spanish lol so the mexicans love it when I go out for mexican food
When I was 16 I started a business of brailling menus for restaurants. Obviously, I find all your comments very interesting. I am a very proficient braille reader and enjoy being able to look at the menu and finding item that I might not have ordered originally. I find that even though my friends are helpful and will read the menu to me, they often skip over things or I feel so rushed I don't feel as if I have time to consider what I truly want. Most of the time I just order chicken strips to make it simple which does get kinda boring. My mother is a waitress and I am very sensitive to the fact that many waiters are very busy serving other tables, and although the waiter reading the menu is a reasonable accomidation, I feel guiltly taking them away from their tables to read a menu to me. Therefore, I decided I would do my best to solve that problem. I realize that not all blind individuals read braille or feel proficient enough at it to make a braille menu worthwhile but for us that enjoy reading braille, I like to make it available. Though many restaurants refuse my services, I would love it if there are any restaurants that you absolutely adore if you would give me their names so that I could see if they are interested in my services. Anyway, just thought I should add my two cents in this discussion.
That's a neat business you have. We had a small local establishment in aryland offer me a braille menu which I was delighted to see. After inquiring, I knew the guy who brailled it. Small and ever shrinking world.
Lou
as long as I know what there is to eat, I don't really care how I obtain the information. Usually I love to look at the menus on line as I can make my mind up ahead of time. Then I have all day to dream about what I will eat. Additionally, lots of places with on line menus have more information. For example, at panera bread if you click on the item you are interested in, you can get the serving size, the calories, sugar, carbs, etc.
braille menus are great too. i am an excellent reader of this medium, and am glad if an establishment is thoughtful enough to have them on hand. Interestingly, for some chain restaurants, one branch may have them while another does not. This is true for tgi friday's. I've found that the place without the braille menu has poorer service in general. just a thought.
That's an interesting observation. I've never seen online menus before. I'll have to look it up some time.
Summer Girl, that's an awesome business to be in. I brailled several menus years ago, when I was trying to earn some money right out of high school, and I was surprised at how many restaurants were interested.
well, after reading all the posts here, I too absolutely love reading Braille, so when there is a Braille menu available I love it as someone else said, I love reading it just for fun. I also ask if there is a Braille menu available and am ok if there isn't.
I also find the waiters and or waitresses very friendly if for example, there is a menu which is either outdated or doesn't have the prices. We just started looking online for menus and some are accessible and some are not. I just like knowing what I want so the online menus are awesome.
Lelia
I usually ask if a place has a Braille menu; I know of some places that do, and with others they don't seem to even know what Braille is. While I don't mind people reading menus to me, I'm especially happy when I can use a Braille menu, because I feel like I have more freedom to skim thru everything and take my time on deciding what I want. With a sighted person reading it, I feel like I already have to have an idea of what I would want, and there are times where I just don't know or just want to try something I've never had before or that sounds interesting.
i just have to relate this story. a few weeks ago, I went to an absolutely awesom italian restaurant in laurrel md called pasta plus. it is a small family owned place. i sat down and the hostess tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a braille menu. It was up to date, had the current fall specials and everything. I was so excited I got all teary eyed.
Wow, that is really cool that a family-owned place would have Braille menus. *smile* They probably already knew someone who reads it, but still. Yeah, I know of a Cracker Barrel here that has a Braille menu, and a friend says that there is also an I-HOP with one also. But that is cool to know that a smaller place somewhere would have one.
I too like the independence of a braille menu, though I've only really seen them in the bigger cities. There's only one restaurant here where I live that has one, and it hasn't been updated since Spring of 2007.
To those of you struggling with out-dated braille menus, if you want to have some fun with the staff of the establishment, ask them if you can have it at the prices listed. Holly, that's a wonderful story. I went to a small family-owned place here in Baltimore, and they floored me with a braille menu. I asked the owner who brailled it, and turns out I know the guy. Small world.
Lou
leilani, all cracker barrels should have beraille menus. some have mislaid them because no one ever asks for them.
I haven't been to many places that have a braille menu except 1 or 2, but went to Pizza Hut during the week and we were offered one as soon as we walked through the door. It took quite a while to read through seeing as me and my boyfriend were trying to work out some of the spellings at the same time, which was interesting, but got there in the end and one of the staff read out some parts as well to save time.
A friend is nice especially one who doesn’t make extra comments about the choices, then it gets annoying, and it’s like, “I better ask the waiter then.”
chengb02 what’s wrong with getting their help, after all aren’t they there to assist you? I mean, no, they are there to decorate and crowd the restaurant. I love exploiting there services, I mean, it gives me this gloating satisfaction to make it more difficult for the under payed.
OceanDream, the waiters I have dealt with has manged well, for the most part, yes, even with a big menu. They ask you question which you have particular about. First they ask you the big categories, and it get progressively smaller, I think it works out great. I just order my stuff. If it’s a buffet, though, I love exploiting other customers, it’s amusing. Hehehe! Like today school’s fair, I must have exploited ten sited people, not to mention the people behind the counters!
Summer Girl, why are you ask the waiters to read the menus? Can’t you just ask them what is there for (your meal time?) Like this:
“Yes, may I know what there is for lunch today?
Waiter: what do you feel like?
Me: What is there, then?
Waiter: (names an assortment of things)
Me: okay, I want (whatever I want)
Waiter: There is many combinations to this menu, what would you like?
Me: First of all, what’s the choice for this particular option?
So on and so forth.
I never ask for a braille menu but I accept them if they're offered to me. Usually the braille menus are outdated but they can be fun to look at.
I love looking at menus online.
over the weekend i had an interesting experience. a local restaurant called clydes at tower oaks lodge has their menu on the website. it says that if you want to know the daily specials and so forth to call in the morning and it will either be faxed or emaild to you. i tried it and it worked. very cool.
braille menus are good, that is, if you can actually read them, most places i've gotten them, th e braille is so faded from under use, or, a better one, in a full menu, that you know has more then what is written, it only showed two desserts, when there were 10 or so on the print menu, they don't take the time to update them, and that urks me to no end...
and then u go to a place and, you ask for one and the people who work there have no clue what u are talking about.
i don't like to use them, because i'm a slow reader, and i tend to know what i want anyway, but i do practice with them...
whats up with the braille menus not being updated...I mean they never have the specials so I always end up having to get something read aloud to me anyway
I find that I'm slower with reading the braille menu. mostly is because I want to read everything on it. Lol. I don't get much in braille at school, so it's nice to have one when I go to a restaurant to make sure i still know how to read.
I think it would be cool to braille menues.
lets get together and start a brailling contracting company that reaches out to local restaurants to braille their menus
I would like to see more braille menus. When I was in Colorado every restraunt had braille menues. It was cool and a big help.
well once again me and my friend wen to red lobster yesterday...and they offered us the braille menu, but the two for $29.99 specials weren't on it so had I not known this we would have spent time looking for something that wasn't there to begin with
It's nice enough for them to offer the braille in the first place. I completely support it.
same here. I think it's cool that there are braille menus even if they are a bit out of date. If there are specials that only run for short periods of time, I can understand not updating.
I wish more places offered this.
I would like to braille menus, but I don't have an embosser. It would have to be the good ol perkins. Would they have to be scanned? How does it work?
Hmmm not sure.
They didn't have one here at the chili's, but after having me they ordered some.
Wow you probably helped the business alot.