Zagat-Rated Restaurants Target Of ADA Review

Zagat-Rated Restaurants Target Of ADA Review
By SHAUN HEASLEY
September 20, 2011 Text Size A A
In a bid to ensure that New York’s most popular restaurants are accessible to people with disabilities, federal prosecutors are turning to the Zagat guide.
Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, said Monday that his office will be conducting reviews of more than 50 restaurants named “most popular” in this year’s Zagat guide to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Owners and operators of selected establishments will be asked to complete surveys and may be subject to on-site inspections. They could face civil lawsuits if they are found to be in violation of the law and do not agree to make appropriate changes voluntarily, Bharara said.
“In New York City, arguably the restaurant capital of the world, no one should be unfairly deprived of the opportunity to enjoy the city’s world-class dining offerings, and we will take all reasonable legal steps to make sure they are not,” Bharara said in a statement announcing the restaurant initiative.
Officials said the review is not in response to any specific complaint, but rather is part of ongoing efforts to ensure ADA compliance.
Recently, a similar initiative focused on hotels resulted in voluntary improvements at 33 properties and court orders mandating that five more be made accessible, Bharara said.