Viewmount Restaurant, Co. Longford

Viewmount Restaurant
Viewmount House, Dublin Road, Co. Longford
viewmounthouse.com


Before visiting Viewmount House, I knew three things about Longford. 1) My cousins live there, 2) my good friend Alan is from there and 3) Luigi's on Main Street Longford serve some damn fine curry chips. I now know that if you want the most mouth-watering beef, go here. It is slow cooked over the course of 48 hours and, to steal a line from my cousin Rob, you could cut it with a butter knife. Flippin' elicious.


What has it got?

Seating: The tables and chairs are all moveable here. 

Doors: The majority of the doors inside are wide and easy to push open. I used the side entrance to get in and they had double doors there and they both opened easily. 

Ground: Inside, the floor is wooden. Outside, there is cobblestones and tar. The cobbles aren't too difficult to cross as the grooves aren't too deep. 

Stairs: There are a few steps inside the restaurant but if you ring ahead and inform them of what you need, they will bring you in the side entrance which is flat. 

Bathrooms: They have a big wheelchair bathroom here. Unfortunately, there is no lock on the door so pee with your eye sharply on the door. 

Spaciousness: There was plenty of room for me but when you are making a booking, again, inform them of what you need so they can accommodate you properly. 

Helpfulness of Staff: They were incredibly helpful here. They covered every aspect and they're very prepared when guests that use wheelchairs arrive. 

Parking: They allowed us to park right beside the door so I had less ground to cover, which was very handy.

Rating: 9/10

Why did it lose points? It lost one point simply because I had to use a different entrance to combat the steps inside. Other than that, it was a great experience. Longford is very lucky to have a restaurant like this. Luigi's finally has some serious competition. 

Wuff

Wuff
23 Benburb Street, Dublin 7
wuff.ie


Located on the skirting board of Stoneybatter and Smithfield, you will find Wuff, a cool little café/restaurant that offers a hefty and tasty lunch at a decent enough price. It's a good corner to munch away the lunchtime hunger pains (the chips are fab) and watch half of Dublin's population stroll by.


What has it got?

Seating: All of the tables have moveable chairs so you can slip your chair in nicely.

Doors: The front doors have a double door and you will need someone to open up both of these to fit through.

Ground: The floor is tiled. 

Stairs: There are no steps to be found in Wuff which is luffly just a big slope up to the bathrooms. 

Bathrooms: They have a wheelchair bathroom and there is plenty of room in here. 

Spaciousness: Wuff wasn't too packed when I was there so I had no problems with getting around. However, when it fills up, you might have to ask people to pull in their chairs. 

Helpfulness of Staff: The staff were very helpful and taught us the knack of unlocking the double doors. 

Parking: There is plenty of on street parking close by. There are specific wheelchair spots in the area. I will update this with precise locations shortly. 

Rating: 10/10

Why did it lose points? I had no problems here with my wheelchair at all and the lunch menu was delicious so all in all, a top notch job from Wuff. 

Da Mario, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

Da Mario
Maynooth Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
damario.ie


Whenever I go back to the homestead, Marios is the restaurant that my family go to celebrate anything. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations or just a Friday night. It's a family-run Italian restaurant and they know their food and wine, particularly of the Sicilian variety, like the back of their hands. All of their pasta and pizza comes as a gluten-free option and they have an adjoining takeaway.


What has it got?

Seating: All of the tables have moveable chairs and if you mention when you are booking that there is a wheelchair user in your party, they'll make sure your table is easy to get to. 

Doors: The front doors are a little tight to navigate but a wheelchair fits through them. The doors out to the bathroom are wide and easy to open. 

Ground: The floors are tiled. 

Stairs: There is one large step at the front door but it is completely flat outside. 

Bathrooms: They have a wheelchair bathroom with all of the correct bars and handrails. 

Spaciousness: As the place fills up, tables and chairs and bodies can block your path but if you have a table on the edge of the eating area, you will be fine. 

Helpfulness of Staff: The staff are very helpful here as they always help me in and out at the front step and hold all the doors open for me. 

Parking: There is a car park at the back of Marios which has wheelchair parking available. 

Rating: 8/10

Why did it lose points? The entrance is a bit tricky as the there is a step in and, after that, you immediately meet a set of doors. This means that you definitely need helping getting in and out if you are in a wheelchair. Other than that, the inside is completely flat and the wheelchair bathroom is practically perfect. 

Voodoo Lounge

Voodoo Lounge

39-40 Arran Quay, Dublin 7

facebook.com/vldublin

The last time I was in Voodoo Lounge, I was 17 and masquerading as a rocker. While I have given up the charade of pretending to like Billy Talent, this place is still going and, lo and behold, it has improved over the years. I managed to see Bantum and Alright the Captain there on Saturday night as well as my friend Gary giving a 10/10 impression of Rihanna. It's a grand spot for some music and being ridiculous with your mates. 

What has it got?

Seating: There are a number of low tables with moveable chairs but it is mostly high stools and tables here as well as booths with fixed chairs. There are a couple of couches near the pool table. 

Doors: The doors were a little heavy but they are wide enough for a wheelchair. 

Ground: In the hallway, the floor is tiled and in the bar, they have wooden floors. 

Stairs: There is an upstairs seating area but everything you need is on the ground floor with no steps anywhere. 

Bathrooms: They have a wheelchair bathroom - huzzah! You don't need to ask at the bar for the key - huzzah!

Spaciousness: Plenty of room here. I had no problems with getting to and from the bar or the bathroom. 

Helpfulness of Staff: The bouncers helped me out with the doors making sure I was alright. 

Parking: There is wheelchair parking around the back of Voodoo in Smithfield Square as well as plenty of street parking. 

Rating: 10/10

Why did it lose points? Voodoo is very easy to get around which is a huge triumph for a bar with live music.