Children in restaurants
Discussion
Been thinking about this the past couple of says as I want to book a specific restaurant when I am away in a week or so. They have availability etc but at the time of booking made a point to ensuring there were no children in our booking, no under 16's allowed in the restaurant.
It was at this point I made the booking provisional as its something that doesn't really sit very comfortably with me.
To be clear, there are no children in our group. The youngest is 52!! But one of the principles behind my own restaurant several years ago was that everyone was welcome. Granted, yes, it would have been a little odd to have a family dining on valentines but I would not have refused the booking, I would make sure they new what menu was on offer leave them to decide if it was appropriate.
Both my kids grew up eating in a wide variety of eateries from local cafes to Michelin-starred places, not as babies but by the age of 3 or 4 they just went everywhere we did without comment or barrier from any restaurant. So to have respected M* place have a no kids policy was a bit of a surprise. After all, you really don't book a restaurant at 200+ euro a head with kids not knowing what you are getting into.
So, am I the odd one out? I don't mean taking young kids to fine dining restaurants but being a bit put off by a restaurant essentially banning children?
It was at this point I made the booking provisional as its something that doesn't really sit very comfortably with me.
To be clear, there are no children in our group. The youngest is 52!! But one of the principles behind my own restaurant several years ago was that everyone was welcome. Granted, yes, it would have been a little odd to have a family dining on valentines but I would not have refused the booking, I would make sure they new what menu was on offer leave them to decide if it was appropriate.
Both my kids grew up eating in a wide variety of eateries from local cafes to Michelin-starred places, not as babies but by the age of 3 or 4 they just went everywhere we did without comment or barrier from any restaurant. So to have respected M* place have a no kids policy was a bit of a surprise. After all, you really don't book a restaurant at 200+ euro a head with kids not knowing what you are getting into.
So, am I the odd one out? I don't mean taking young kids to fine dining restaurants but being a bit put off by a restaurant essentially banning children?
The problem isn't the restaurant or you. It's the feckless who bring their feral kids into an eatery and let them run riot.
Consequently ruining the experience for everyone.
I think it's a good policy. However, like you I taught my son to behave at a young age. It's called responsible parenting.
Consequently ruining the experience for everyone.
I think it's a good policy. However, like you I taught my son to behave at a young age. It's called responsible parenting.
They have probably had bad experiences with kids in their restaurant, many kids are badly behaved with parents who don't seem to give a s
t, badly behaved kids in a restaurant can really ruin a meal and experience, if that has been the case in the past then I can totally see why kids are banned.
Case in point, when my grandma took myself and the wife out for lunch, if we had our grandson with us she would take us to the same restaurant as if he wasn't with us, the local independent Italian, as he could behave, converse with us and the staff, didn't sit there on a tablet, didn't make a mess.
If she took my sister and her kids out she would take them to the Harvester as her kids played up, made a mess, constantly interrupted, constantly were a pain.
t, badly behaved kids in a restaurant can really ruin a meal and experience, if that has been the case in the past then I can totally see why kids are banned.Case in point, when my grandma took myself and the wife out for lunch, if we had our grandson with us she would take us to the same restaurant as if he wasn't with us, the local independent Italian, as he could behave, converse with us and the staff, didn't sit there on a tablet, didn't make a mess.
If she took my sister and her kids out she would take them to the Harvester as her kids played up, made a mess, constantly interrupted, constantly were a pain.
The issue with having 'nice' restaurants not allowing children is then that the children grow up only having experience of eateries aimed at children. These are often either fast food places, major chains or even restaurants that have a soft play area in side
I have young children, and I don't want to go to eat in those places. I also don't want my childrens only experience of eating is cheap fast food.
We like to eat as a family and I think its good for children to learn how to sit without needing other stimulation to get through a meal.
I also want to introduce my children to many cuisines and see the difference in paying more for a higher quality meal/service.
I would never have taken children to a restaurant if they would be a nuisance to other people, either in volume or getting up/down from the table.
I have young children, and I don't want to go to eat in those places. I also don't want my childrens only experience of eating is cheap fast food.
We like to eat as a family and I think its good for children to learn how to sit without needing other stimulation to get through a meal.
I also want to introduce my children to many cuisines and see the difference in paying more for a higher quality meal/service.
I would never have taken children to a restaurant if they would be a nuisance to other people, either in volume or getting up/down from the table.
We booked Prezzo on a mid week day at 6.30pm, big mistake. We were expecting a fair few kids, but every table had 2 or 3 of them some standing on chairs and they seemed to be trying to shout over the next table of kids. A creche would have been quieter.
We told the waitress this was unacceptable and left, Ask was better but booked out and we ended up having a lovely quiet burger in Five Guys which you would have thought would have been noisy.
We told the waitress this was unacceptable and left, Ask was better but booked out and we ended up having a lovely quiet burger in Five Guys which you would have thought would have been noisy.
In an ideal world, the answer should be, yes children should be allowed in all restaurants, but it’s not an ideal world; I see this question, much the same as young children travelling on aircraft.
Some people say. There is not such thing as badly behaved children, just badly behaved parents, by and large I agree with this, but there are exceptions. Most people’s children are probably well behaved, but it only takes one badly behaved child, to ruin everybody else’s dining experience
Increasingly, I’m seeing parents dining in restaurants, continually on their smart device and not engaging with their children, instead abdicating that responsibility to an i-pad or similar, or just leaving their children to entertain themselves. Take your child to a restaurant, engage with them or don’t go!
Some people say. There is not such thing as badly behaved children, just badly behaved parents, by and large I agree with this, but there are exceptions. Most people’s children are probably well behaved, but it only takes one badly behaved child, to ruin everybody else’s dining experience
Increasingly, I’m seeing parents dining in restaurants, continually on their smart device and not engaging with their children, instead abdicating that responsibility to an i-pad or similar, or just leaving their children to entertain themselves. Take your child to a restaurant, engage with them or don’t go!
daqinggregg said:
In an ideal world, the answer should be, yes children should be allowed in all restaurants, but it’s not an ideal world; I see this question, much the same as young children travelling on aircraft.
Some people say. There is not such thing as badly behaved children, just badly behaved parents, by and large I agree with this, but there are exceptions. Most people’s children are probably well behaved, but it only takes one badly behaved child, to ruin everybody else’s dining experience
Increasingly, I’m seeing parents dining in restaurants, continually on their smart device and not engaging with their children, instead abdicating that responsibility to an i-pad or similar, or just leaving their children to entertain themselves. Take your child to a restaurant, engage with them or don’t go!
I tend to agree the issue is with the parents. I'm normally pretty relaxed with these things. But 2 similar examples riled me this weekend. Both in airport lounges &at 2 different airports. Parents leaving their little darlings to get stuck into the free food. No supervision no guidance, The little darlings hunting in packs, ignoring others present, barging through, while parents fill their glasses with free booze leaving the darlings to it.Some people say. There is not such thing as badly behaved children, just badly behaved parents, by and large I agree with this, but there are exceptions. Most people’s children are probably well behaved, but it only takes one badly behaved child, to ruin everybody else’s dining experience
Increasingly, I’m seeing parents dining in restaurants, continually on their smart device and not engaging with their children, instead abdicating that responsibility to an i-pad or similar, or just leaving their children to entertain themselves. Take your child to a restaurant, engage with them or don’t go!
I'd ban the little monsters from airport lounges unless they are on a collar & chain.
Nemophilist - this is where I am at with the whole thing when it comes to restaurants which do not cater specifically for families. Just because they dont have a kids menu doesn't mean they shouldn't welcome kids. Let the parents decide if it's the right place for them.
Lost in espace - Prezzo, Ask? They are family restaurants with kids menus. I would expect them to be full of kids. Behaved or not. That is part of their target market. Same as the majority of restaurants.
I'm talking about the upper end of the restaurant market where IME the majority happily welcome children but doesn't always appear to be the case which I think is unnecessary. I've never experienced poorly behaved children in fine dining restaurants in the UK or abroad.
Poorly behaved adults... that's another thing.
Lost in espace - Prezzo, Ask? They are family restaurants with kids menus. I would expect them to be full of kids. Behaved or not. That is part of their target market. Same as the majority of restaurants.
I'm talking about the upper end of the restaurant market where IME the majority happily welcome children but doesn't always appear to be the case which I think is unnecessary. I've never experienced poorly behaved children in fine dining restaurants in the UK or abroad.
Poorly behaved adults... that's another thing.
21TonyK said:
So, am I the odd one out? I don't mean taking young kids to fine dining restaurants but being a bit put off by a restaurant essentially banning children?
I’d say yes. I’d get it if you were wanting to take children or meet people with children but to not go to a restaurant because they don’t allow children in the evening is a bit odd. I went out yesterday. There were a couple out with their kids and the kids were, by and large, well behaved.
The couple thought they fking owned the place. Up and down, they were both glued to their phones, the man, for some reason kept going in and out of a door right next to where I was sat, and it was bloody freezing.
My view would be, if they can sit still and enjoy their food, fine, if they absolutely have to make sure everyone knows they can piss around ans annoy everyone, go somewhere else.
Interestingly I had my dog with me, and you wouldn’t have even known, she sat quietly under the table and didn’t barely look up.
The couple thought they f
king owned the place. Up and down, they were both glued to their phones, the man, for some reason kept going in and out of a door right next to where I was sat, and it was bloody freezing.My view would be, if they can sit still and enjoy their food, fine, if they absolutely have to make sure everyone knows they can piss around ans annoy everyone, go somewhere else.
Interestingly I had my dog with me, and you wouldn’t have even known, she sat quietly under the table and didn’t barely look up.
I have experienced poorly behaved children in high end restaurants. It’s a sad fact that high end restaurants attract people with too much money and not enough fks to give and their children can often be ill disciplined. From a commercial perspective it probably makes sense to ban children if your target audience is littered with the above demographic to save you from having to contend with a poor reputation or endless complaints from people who want to enjoy their expensive meal without kids running around screaming or leaving the place looking like a bomb site. It sucks for the responsible parents and well behaved kids but restaurants are businesses often with fine margins and as such I don’t judge them if they refuse to allow kids in.
ks to give and their children can often be ill disciplined. From a commercial perspective it probably makes sense to ban children if your target audience is littered with the above demographic to save you from having to contend with a poor reputation or endless complaints from people who want to enjoy their expensive meal without kids running around screaming or leaving the place looking like a bomb site. It sucks for the responsible parents and well behaved kids but restaurants are businesses often with fine margins and as such I don’t judge them if they refuse to allow kids in.Only thing I can think is its a licencing issue.
Maybe a symptom of them serving alcohol as part of a tasting menu?
I have worked in pub/restaurants where we were not allowed under 5s on the premises as we had no baby changing facilities because the toilets are so small(Grade A listed UNESCO world heritage site).
Maybe a symptom of them serving alcohol as part of a tasting menu?
I have worked in pub/restaurants where we were not allowed under 5s on the premises as we had no baby changing facilities because the toilets are so small(Grade A listed UNESCO world heritage site).
ecsrobin said:
21TonyK said:
So, am I the odd one out? I don't mean taking young kids to fine dining restaurants but being a bit put off by a restaurant essentially banning children?
I’d say yes. I’d get it if you were wanting to take children or meet people with children but to not go to a restaurant because they don’t allow children in the evening is a bit odd. What surprised me even more was the restaurant in question is in Mallorca and my previous experience of both Spain and France is polar opposite when it comes to family dining.
If it was in the US or UK I might have expected it.
21TonyK said:
ecsrobin said:
21TonyK said:
So, am I the odd one out? I don't mean taking young kids to fine dining restaurants but being a bit put off by a restaurant essentially banning children?
I’d say yes. I’d get it if you were wanting to take children or meet people with children but to not go to a restaurant because they don’t allow children in the evening is a bit odd. What surprised me even more was the restaurant in question is in Mallorca and my previous experience of both Spain and France is polar opposite when it comes to family dining.
If it was in the US or UK I might have expected it.
Kids in Spain and France always seem to be well behaved and not glued to phones or tablets, I would be wary of a restaurant in Spain that wouldn’t take kids unless it’s an area full of Brits.
djc206 said:
I have experienced poorly behaved children in high end restaurants. It’s a sad fact that high end restaurants attract people with too much money and not enough fks to give and their children can often be ill disciplined. From a commercial perspective it probably makes sense to ban children if your target audience is littered with the above demographic to save you from having to contend with a poor reputation or endless complaints from people who want to enjoy their expensive meal without kids running around screaming or leaving the place looking like a bomb site. It sucks for the responsible parents and well behaved kids but restaurants are businesses often with fine margins and as such I don’t judge them if they refuse to allow kids in.
Birthday at Nobu, kid on the next table was crawling under our table, climbing on the chairs, window sills... ks to give and their children can often be ill disciplined. From a commercial perspective it probably makes sense to ban children if your target audience is littered with the above demographic to save you from having to contend with a poor reputation or endless complaints from people who want to enjoy their expensive meal without kids running around screaming or leaving the place looking like a bomb site. It sucks for the responsible parents and well behaved kids but restaurants are businesses often with fine margins and as such I don’t judge them if they refuse to allow kids in.(Clearly very wealthy) parents oblivious.
I gave the kid a look that could harden concrete, so it went off and bothered someone else.
Parents still oblivious.
If it's a Michelin starred restaurant im not sure it'll have any kids in it as you'd not expect that.
ASK, Prezzo, Pizza Express etc are nothing more than a glorified harvester now so I'd expect feral kids in there.
We will rarely enjoy a meal with my child at the table, mainly as we are helping him at the moment (he's 3), we don't do tablets as its feral and we'll try and entertain him.
It gets problematic if my Childs getting bored based on slow service but who wouldn't get bored.
ASK, Prezzo, Pizza Express etc are nothing more than a glorified harvester now so I'd expect feral kids in there.
We will rarely enjoy a meal with my child at the table, mainly as we are helping him at the moment (he's 3), we don't do tablets as its feral and we'll try and entertain him.
It gets problematic if my Childs getting bored based on slow service but who wouldn't get bored.
Mazinbrum said:
Oh that’s different, I thought it was here in Chavland.
It's a sad fact that that actually makes a difference. I'm 100% sure there are the same people all over the world but in Europe dining out be it at a service station, a cafe, a bar or a fine dining restaurant just seems to be more civilised!Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff