Children in restaurants

[21TonyK]

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?

[21TonyK]

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.

[21TonyK]

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.

Completely agree and though I would be in the minority on this one but to me, a restaurant blanket banning under 16's says a lot about their attitude toward customers. Very elitist and I think very old-fashioned.

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]

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!

[21TonyK]

number2 said:

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.

Completely agree and though I would be in the minority on this one but to me, a restaurant blanket banning under 16's says a lot about their attitude toward customers. Very elitist and I think very old-fashioned.

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.

Ooh, which restaurant and where in Mallorca?

(We've met on threads before where I've talked about Fera in Palma etc.)

Marc Fosh.

[21TonyK]

number2 said:

Ah of course!

We've been there quite a few times now - although only when staying at the Convent. Some pics from our visit last year to keep you going!

I do rate Fera more highly if you're looking for an alternative fine dining venue, but of course Fosh is very good.

Tempted by Fera, I think I'll speak with the others we are taking. They are "older" so might prefer lunch if we are doing a tasting menu.

For a less formal setting, I love this place...

https://molidestorrent.de/en/das-restaurant/

It's not rated but the food is superb and the service is just perfect. I think I'm right in saying its still family run... and they love kids (or at least my two!)

[21TonyK]

Timberwolf said:

Possibly there's an argument that the better approach is to ask on a case-by-case basis whether the children in the party will comfortably be able to see out 9.30pm with nothing more than civilised conversation and eat anything that's put in front of them, and it's not like there aren't adults who still fail to achieve that, but a blanket policy is no doubt easier to administer than getting into what differing parents consider "reasonable" behaviour and having to have a scene in the restaurant.

This is my feeling. At the age of 4 or 5 both my kids would eat anything albeit they didn't really understand what they were eating or appreciate it other than it mainly tasted "yummy". Theres no way I would have sat them through more than 4 courses though. But at the age of 12 or 13 they both were happy to munch their way through a full tasting menu or just eat off the a la carte if we were doing so. Fortunatelty(?) when they were little ipads etc didn't exist so mum and dad had to keep them entertained.

[21TonyK]

bigandclever said:

Restaurant policy or place-restaurant-is-in policy?

their website said:

Remember that the Marc Fosh Restaurant is located in the Hotel Convent de La Misió, which is “adults only”, so children under 16 are not allowed.

Ahh... that explains it. Didn't realise the hotel was adults only.

Makes sense, thought it was a bit odd to have kids banned from a stand lone restaurant.

[21TonyK]

Too a degree I think do. Eating out in g try he UK seems to be more of an occasional thing and seen as something special whereas my experience on the continent is it’s more an everyday thing which always seems to involve the whole family.