"Review of Garfunkels Restaurant"

A review of Côte Brasserie by netsy written on Monday 21st of April 2003

Well! It would have been nice to give a review of Garfunkels but we didn't even make it to a table.

My son's girlfriend phoned a week in advance to ask if we needed to book for nine people and was told it wasn't necessary. She also asked if I could bring my guide dog and was told it was fine. We always ask out of courtesy despite my rights under the Disability Discrimination Act. You cannot refuse access or services/goods just because someone has a disability.

We arrived, my parents coming from Norwich, five us from Braintree and two from Cambridge looking forward to a very nice family get together. Arriving at Garfunkels which was almost empty at 12.30pm on Easter Sunday we were refused admission because as a blind person my preferred mobility choice is a guide dog.

My dog is better behaved than most of society today and is not a health or hygiene risk. I carry identity and proof of this. I felt absolutely humiliated to be turned away as I was with 8 family members and it was my fault for being blind with a guide dog.

At no time were we rude and just accepted their obvious ignorance by leaving quietly as we had come.

Next door was Cafe Rouge who welcomed my dog before me and quickly produced a bowl of water for her without being asked. We were truly welcomed and had a lovely time with the normal exemplary behaviour from my guide dog.

So we can't give a review for Garfunkels and they will never get the chance of one ever from this family. I will be contacting the Disability Rights Commission for their advice. My confidence has taken a knock from this incident..

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