Child-free Restaurants

[Pryderi]

Poll question: Child-free Restaurants

I believe that infants and toddlers should not be allowed into fine dining establishments.

[electron_blue]

1. Including Chipotle?

You are ruling out a ton of restaurants with your 'ban'.

Sounds like you must have had a bad experience.

[Pryderi]

4. Yes. I've had a couple of bad experiences. Maybe I should refine the criteria, but I

do believe there should be restaurants where infants and toddlers are not allowed.

[tigereye]

42. maybe some 5 star restaurants...

but I guess I think that most restaurants should be places where kids and parents can feel comfortable, too.

[Fran Kubelik]

2. And I disagree with you.

You're basically damning all kids under 13 to a diet of Denny's and McDonalds then. I get that there are annoying parents who can't control their kids, but I think it's unfair to say that's true of all kids. Mine (6 years old) is a perfect little gentleman when we eat out, and it's been at restaurants that serve alcohol that we've gotten him to try new foods.

[av8rdave]

47. It usually takes some alcohol before little kids will try new foods

A couple of glasses of wine, and their little faces are buried in the escargot.

[Fran Kubelik]

61. Pretty funny, bro.

;)

I suppose my wording could have been a little more clear.

[av8rdave]

73. Sorry....I understood exactly what you were saying.....

I just couldn't resist an opportunity to display my lame sense of humor!

[Fran Kubelik]

94. Oh definitely

And my props to your sense of humor!

[Common Sense Party]

58. Restaurants that serve alcohol to kids?

No wonder he's a little gentleman.:)

[Fran Kubelik]

62. My boy is no sloppy drunk.

:D

[madeline_con]

76. "Some places " in the OP does not mean all.

There should be adults only places that are not prohibitively expensive. Making them available would not mean only McDonald's and the like would remain family friendly. There would still be a huge demand for family resataurants.

I understand about your little gentleman, I have on of those. It's just that so many people don't have little ladies and gentlemen, but insist on taking them out in public anyway, where we are all forced to deal with them. :(

[Fran Kubelik]

95. We are in agreement. Hooray for well-behaved kids!

And the wording in the OP was different when I responded. Said children should be banned from all restaurants that serve alcohol. :)

[SarahB]

3. I like that idea.

When we go out without the kids, the last thing we want to deal with is screaming toddlers (though frequently we have to). I'd give up taking my 7 and 10 year old to places like Outback and Chili's for that privilege. :thumbsup:

[Renew Deal]

5. Dumb

Do you want to ban kids from super markets too? They sell alcohol. What about hotels? There's alcohol in the rooms.

[Pryderi]

6. Dumb is comparing supermarkets with nice restaurants.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. And I believe I'd rather enjoy a meal with my 12yo than

some of the assholes that pass for adults.

[Fran Kubelik]

8. +1

:thumbsup:

[Pryderi]

10. I updated to question to "infants and toddlers".

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Comment still stands.

[MrsMatt]

84. damn straight - at least my 12 and 4 year olds say "please"

and "thank you", and can converse without the f-word puctuating their dialog every second or third sentence.

I sometimes think it would be nice to enjoy a meal with my children without ADULTS indulging in vulger and coarse language. But, I guess I'm just tolerant like that.

[Maine-ah]

106. hell, my 2 year old says please, thankyou, and you're welcome.

I work in a family restaurant, and most of the time I can hear some adult dropping the f-bomb, or any other 4 letter word you wouldn't want being said infront of your children.

Yeah, I'd rather go out to eat with my 2 year old than most adults.

[last_texas_dem]

108. Agreed

Well, I don't have any kids, but I can definitely say that I've had more experiences with loud and obnoxious adults at restaurants than with children. Loud children at least still have an excuse; what's the excuse for adults who still haven't learned any manners? One solution might be to confine alcohol to bars and the bar areas of some restaurants so "adults" won't have the excuse that they were just "tipsy," but I'm sure that would be unpalatable to many.

[arcadian]

9. What I can't stand.

Are the parents who turn a section of the restaurant into their own little playworld. Oblivious to others. Large table with several kids, toys and crayons and shit all over the table mixed with spilled food, drinks etc. Inevitably there is smashed food ground into the carpet with food all over the floor. There are kids running all over the place and the parents are just sitting there with out a care in the world.

I can deal with a screaming kid now and then, but the above scenario really pisses me off.

[Lucian]

56. Usually when I see shit like that...

I turn around and walk out. There's no way in hell I'd sit through that mess.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

110. A waitress recently seated me in a scaled-down version of that...

It's a local coffee shop, not the first place that would come to mind when you think "kid friendly." It was around 11:20 or so, shortly before the lunch crowd, and the place was virtually empty. It's a pretty big restaurant. The first booth, right near the entrance, had a mom who'd set up a situation exactly like the one you'd described. She had a couple of kids, not sure how old but both were poster children for the "terrible twos" behavior...running around and making a lot of noise. The waitress seated me in the next booth. She brought the water and menus and I sat there for about two minutes, knowing that I wasn't going to endure that as a paying customer. When she came back to take my order I said "I changed my mind," got up, and left. I generally look for restaurants if I want to go out for a meal...not day care centers.

[TZ]

12. hmm

:popcorn:
I can see both the pros and cons of this point though.

[Symarip]

13. I don't have a problem eating around kids

It's when their dipshit parents won't silence them when they start to erupt. I can't stand when a rugrat of any age is screaming it's head off and the parent just sits there. At least take your shame to the parking lot and remove yourself from the situation so the rest of us can eat and drink in peace.

[kentauros]

15. I can agree with that.

I can't say I don't like children, but the screaming does hurt my ears.

There's always this approach, too:

[redqueen]

14. No cause you're punishing good parents / well-behaved kids.

I used to get compliments at nice restaurants when I took my then very young kids.

[tigereye]

43. I was usually told that my son was very well-behaved...

and we've eaten in some high-end places, as well as the family type restaurants.


My only gripe was a place where the waitress made a fuss about him (toddler) playing with the sugar packets. We didn't go back, and they went out of business soon after.

[redqueen]

50. My STBE's grandparents were wealthy

and so their celebration dinners were at fancy schmancy places. They insisted I bring the baby & toddler so I did!

Never had one incident. Maybe I'm just lucky... but if they had started making a fuss it's so easy to just take them outside/leave.

[Burma Jones]

16. How about no infants/toddlers after 7:00?

That should about do it........

[bikebloke]

17. If you don't want to eat a child, then don't order one.

:evilgrin:

[nini]

18. I love kids and well behaved kids are no problem at all

any person regardless of age who acts like am asshole should be banned from restaurants - not kids.

When a kid acts up in a restaurant it's always the parents fault anyway.

We should just ban lazy assed parents who should be sterlized for not raising their kids right.

[davsand]

19. We need "magic eject buttons" at every table.

Ate dinner last night at a local restaurant that is a "family" place. My 11 year old was horrified at the three year old that was climbing over the top of the booth and screaming in her ear while we were eating dinner. Finally, after the third or fourth time she looked at me and loudly asked, "Mom, why are those parents letting that kid DO that?" I had no answer for her and we all breathed a sigh of relief when they finally left.


I have zero problems with kids in restaurants--I have one of my own. I do, however, have a HUGE problem with asshole parents that think little Johnny or little Brittany is SO very precious they should be allowed to scream, run freely, and generally abuse the goodwill of every person present in that dining room. Those lazy f***ing parents deserve to be booted out the door with their rotten little spawn in tow--irrespective of whether they are done eating or not.

This is not about telling people they can't take kids out in public. If parents will not or can't control their kids then they need to just stay the f**k out of public places. I could give a crap about hearing that lame argument about "we have rights too" because YOUR rights to let your obnoxious brat run freely end at your front doorstep just like mine do. The rest of the world has every right to expect a certain level of civilization when you take your kids out in public.




Laura

[Fran Kubelik]

22. now this is a post I can get behind

:applause:

[auntAgonist]

30. me too!

[JoDog]

64. Agreed

I have no problems with kids. It's the parents who refuse to control, discipline, or even try to teach the kids manners that I have a problem with.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

79. Bingo

Good post.

I'm surprised the parents didn't come over and tell your daughter she had "No right to criticize my parenting!!!" as those types are always prone to do.

[Flying Dream Blues]

87. Extremely well said. nt

[LanternWaste]

20. I enjoy having kids around...

I enjoy having kids around during fine meals-- it reinforces my trust in the family unit in a basic and visceral manner.

Adults on the other hand-- those are the ones that cause me no end of grief-- loud cell phone conversations (plus the concomitant obnoxious ring-tone-of-the-month), snotty behavior towards the wait staff, banal and petulant conversations, etc...

Sometimes I think that adults should be banned from fine dining establishments. But then I quickly realize that it's nothing more than a mere preference on my part, and have to tell myself that my preferences don't really mean much to anyone other than myself...

[bigwillq]

21. It's not the kids' fault

that their parents do not know how to discipline.

[SacredCow]

23. I don't think kids belong in bars....

at least around here, where they're full of cigarette smoke. But otherwise, I find a crying baby MUCH less annoying than your average drunk bimbo and/or her stupid drunk boyfriend.

To that end, I've never had to complain about a crying child... However, I've had PLENTY of run-in's with (supposed) adults.

[NJmaverick]

24. Maybe it could be like smoking and non-smoking used to be

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tigereye]

44. ha ha

:rofl:

[Name removed]

112. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[petronius]

26. Neither - I think badly-behave people of any age should be excluded

from pretty much anywhere. I also think that business owners who want to provide a childfree environment should have the right to do so. Personally, I've never been bothered by a quiet and well-behave kid...

[Pryderi]

27. REstaurant managers and workers: What are their responsibilities when kids act up?

[RadiationTherapy]

29. Extra Kleenex for the people who whine about kids.

Laughing. Pointing. Calling friends on the cell phone making fun of the uptight pricks who whine about children. That kind of stuff.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[redqueen]

33. I once tipped a server who wasn't even working in my area

for attending to an attention-starved child at a table nearby.

Its in their self-interest to deal with it, if they're rewarded...

[Deep13]

35. Managers should eject anyone that is disturbing the peace.

Ultimately, the parents are responsible for the behavior of their small children. The business owner's only real recourse is to deny service.

[tigereye]

45. well, good waitstaff try to bring the kiddos food out early- esp. little ones

Those folks always got a bigger tip.

That way they tend to fuss less. Most parents bring toys for the little ones to engage themselves, and then take em outside when they start to fuss. That's what we always did.

[Maine-ah]

107. as a restaurant worker, it's not my responsiblity to police parents

if a child is running around I tell the child nicely to go back to the table. Usually that scares the heck out of them and they go back. But I work at a family restaurant, and my concern is more that the child is going to get hurt, not if it's pissing someone else off.

[flvegan]

28. This should be in GD. There's not enough screaming there yet today.

[mcctatas]

38. My first thought too...

of course I will refrain from using the popcorn smiley here :P

[AlCzervik]

31. i don't see many small children at fine dining establishments.

maybe you should define what you think of as fine dining.

[Heidi]

32. !

:thumbsup: *

*I have _never_ encountered a child, well-behaved or otherwise, in a truly "fine" restaurant.

[tigereye]

48. one high end place we went actually made really good chocolate milk for us

I guess it depends on how "high-end" you are talking. I've always thought that people who make/cook/ prepare, etc. really stella food would appreciate the variety of people (including little ones) who would eat said food.


Maybe the term should be "snooty." :rofl:



:hi:

[Missy Vixen]

52. I'll bite

No children's menu, no high chairs, white tablecloths and an extensive wine list.

I don't think any of us will be seeing it again anytime soon, but the local upscale steakhouse restaurant (Daniel's Broiler in the Seattle area,) used to have parents who insisted on bringing kids anyway. The only benefit to the current economic situation is the fact that those who are still going to be able to afford to eat there will not countenance having their dinner interrupted by the small fry.

Julie

[redqueen]

70. I don't think I've ever seen "countenance" used so appropriately. (nt)

[Deep13]

34. Ten years ago I would have been horrified by the suggestion.

Now that I see that out-of-control children are the norm rather than the exception, I think I agree with you.

Here's a thought. Anyplace that has a bar should not have children in it.

[Pryderi]

37. Ah...that's how I should have worded it. n/t

[eyesroll]

74. There are "family restaurants" here (Milwaukee) that have bars.

We went to a "brunch with Santa" in a restaurant with a bar.

[DarkTirade]

39. There are establishments that cater to children. There are establishments that cater to adults.

There are establishments that prohibit children from enterting. Granted, most of those are nasty smoke-filled bars. But there are occasional places that are different.

Really it's up to the owner. The owner can choose who to admit for service. And if there's a demand for such a thing, the business will do well.

[Withywindle]

97. Indeed there are.

There are establishments that prohibit children from enterting. Granted, most of those are nasty smoke-filled bars. But there are occasional places that are different.

One of them is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (where I work part-time) - for regular concerts at least. The minimum age is 8. It's not because they hate kids - they have lots of special children's concerts and music classes and education programs and the like.

It's just that they understand that there are certain experiences that really do require sitting still and being quiet to get the full impact, and to not disrupt others, because others value the experience intensely enough to REALLY not want it disrupted. In-take, not out-put. When you go to a concert, or a good restaurant, or a movie, or what have you, you're there to take IN something. The people paying for that experience are paying for...that experience, not other people's random noisy output.

If you're too young and restless to be able to just TAKE IN for a couple hours, then you're too young to go certain places. It's not "discrimination." Children aren't a class that needs protection from that type of discrimination. All children grow up eventually and will be able to participate in those things if they wish.

[Orangepeel]

40. If a restaurant thinks they can make money doing it, they are welcome to

I really don't understand the controversy. Very few restaurants would ban infants and toddlers, but if they did, so what? People who want to bring their kids with them wouldn't go there.

[MissMillie]

41. most restaurants w/ a bar will offer a full menu in the bar area

where children are not allowed.

[av8rdave]

46. I stay out of McDonald's and Chucky Cheese. I don't think it's too much to ask

to keep your screamers out of Ruth Chris!

I worked hard to make sure my kids knew how to behave in a restaurant, and they were removed immediately if they didn't. However I would NOT have objected even then to restaurants that were "kid free." They still have lots of dining options.

[BeachBaby]

49. I think the decision should be made by the establishment.

I've refrained from bringing my toddler-age children to fine restaurants.

Sooooo many couples just want a couple hours away from their children so that they can have a quiet dinner, where they can talk and bond in peace, enjoy being out of the house, maybe get in some dancing.

All it takes is one screaming child to shatter the ambience.

[Pryderi]

51. Exactly! That's the point I was trying to make. :)

[Zomby Woof]

53. This flamewar smells of 2002

Not enough deleted sub-threads, however.

[AwakeAtLast]

86. And 2004

And 2006.

MAYBE 2007.

;)

[Zomby Woof]

113. You forgot 2003

And Poland. :patriot:

[last_texas_dem]

54. Nah

"Adults" need to get over themselves.

[Lucian]

55. Let's expand that to all retailers.

My gods, the other day when I was shopping, there was this mother and screaming child following me in the grocery section. The kid was screaming and screaming, and by the time I left the store, I had a huge migraine. The mother didn't do shit to shut up the little whiny ass kid. She just let him scream and scream. :grr: :grr: :grr:

This is why I'll never have kids.

[Pryderi]

57. nah. It's easier to leave a retailer than it is to leave a restaurant.

[KamaAina]

59. But if a restaurant is child-free,

how can moms breastfeed in them? :evilgrin:

[Zomby Woof]

60. They still can

But it COMPLETELY changes the nature of the establishment.


:hide:

[AlCzervik]

63. i went out for lunch and there was a mom breastfeeding her infant at the table.

[KamaAina]

65. Why were you eating lunch at Olive Garden??!!

:P

[AlCzervik]

66. nope, just a local place called Mimi's. Really cute baby too.

i only been to the Olive Garden once and it was so long ago i can't remember if the food was good or ok or sucked.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

72. Like so:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q3Dd0F36v4

[harmonicon]

67. meh

it ought to be self-regulating. I hate going to restaurants for so many reasons other than having screaming kids around that I don't really worry about it. ... or I just go to places where people wouldn't bring kids.

[Phoonzang]

68. I'd start with child-free airplanes first....

:hide:

[mwooldri]

96. They do have 'em! They're called PRIVATE JETS.

Then again, I don't know if Hooters Air was restricted to 18+ only... besides they're bust.

Sorry, but flying a scheduled airline today is literally flying Greyhound.

Mark.

[Nye Bevan]

69. It's pretty simple.

If a restaurant has high chairs and a kids' menu then it's OK to take your kids there.

If it doesn't, then it's not. Simple.

[One_Life_To_Give]

71. G-String Dancers on Tables should be a clue

G-String Dancers on Tables should be a clue that children shouldn't be there. :evilgrin:

[Gormy Cuss]

75. Better to have management escort the badly socialized parents out the door

because if the parents don't have the common sense to understand when it's time to remove a child too young for the grownup room, it's time they learned. I've been in many fine dining rooms where other tables had well behaved little ones. It ain't rocket science -- either the kid is able to handle the quiet room that day or she isn't. In the latter case, the adults need to understand that it's time to leave. There are many other restaurants where boisterous children are welcome.

[jane_pippin]

77. Just keep them out of the smoking section.

(FUN NEW CAN OF WORMS ALERT!) :D

I don't mind kids in restaurants. I'd love it if they were all well-behaved angels, but that's not always the case. Whatever, they're kids, probably bored, or uncomfortable. It's ok. It happens.

I do mind, however, when families sit in the smoking section. I don't know how prevalent it is, (I hope not very) but at one of my favorite restaurants in our neighborhood I've routinely run into families, non-smoking, sitting in the smoking section and it makes me crazy. I just want to have a beer and a smoke in my neighborhood joint every now and then, but of course I'm not going to if there's a little kid 3 feet from me. The place is split into two almost completely different buildings joined by a little service hallway for the waitstaff. There's virtually no way smoke from the smoking side will make it to the nonsmoking side. (It used to be a smaller place, then they bought the building next to it and expanded). The smaller place is the non-smoking section, the larger, newer restaurant/bar is the smoking section. Where does everyone want to sit? The big new cool side. The result? Sometimes a kid or even a little baby is plunked down next to a table of smokers.

It's no good and an uncomfortable situation for everyone, really. So I guess I just needed to whine about that and suggest that if you go to a place like that and want to sit on the "cool" side, leave the kids home. Got the kids? Sit on the slightly less cool but still pretty damn cool smaller side.


(I realize this is pretty much a problem of a specific place--though perhaps there are similar setups elsewhere--but look at that, I went ahead and ranted about it anyway. And, I don't think this place would exactly fall under "fine dining," but it's far from a dive too).

[Skittles]

78. no, I have no problem with well-behaved children

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

80. I've long advocated child and non-child sections

Maybe the restaurant shouldn't specify it, but I think they should try to keep the kids in mostly one area. It's why I try to go to restaurants and eat out late at night.

I had a friend who worked at a buffet where they used a seperate dining area as an unofficial "Child-Free" zone. Then one day a woman came in with her bratty kids who were already tipping shit over and punching one another as they came through the door, and she asked to be seated in that room. My friend, the hostess said "Oh, sorry, I have to fill the next waitress's station" and the woman started bitching loudly demanding to be seated in there. Finally, my friend told her it was an area they kept kids out of and she flipped the fuck out. "YOU ARE DISCRIMINATING!! I'LL CALL THE LOCAL TV STATION ABOUT THIS!" Finally the manager came out and told her to take he kids and leave, that she already proven why some people can't handle eating out. I heard she even called the cops about having her rights violated, and they laughed at her.

[DarkTirade]

103. So maybe we should start having 'bad-parent-free' restaurants instead...

:)

[cynatnite]

81. Nope and our romantic evening was spoiled by a 2 year old tantrum throwing toddler...

It's up to the dining establishments to determine that.

[Monk06]

82. Clothing optional dining at ............

the Mercantile Grill on Pearl Street and Pete's Downtown in Brooklyn.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07212008/news/regionalnews/the_naked_city_120845.htm

[Lethe]

83. I hate kids, so i'm all for restricting them

fuck kids, i hate them with a passion.

They're only cute because they're yours. I hate you and your stupid kids.

I don't go into Chucky Cheese with a wallet full of $1 bills trying to get a lapdance and decent scotch. Keep your stupid kids outta my way before I choke them with my bicycle chain.

[GoneOffShore]

85. I think American kids shouldn't be allowed in fine restos - French kids are alright though.

:popcorn:

:hide:

[mwooldri]

100. Ah but would French drinking rules be permitted too?

AFAIK youngsters are introduced to wine early on in France... not a lot, maybe 1/2 glass for a 8-10 year old at most.

[GoneOffShore]

105. And diluted with water. One can only hope

[Runcible Spoon]

88. oh goody one of my favorites

:popcorn:<---------------not sharing with children :evilgrin:

[margotb822]

89. Child-free flights?

anyone?

[pokerfan]

91. Yes!

Crate the children and stow them with the baggage!



:hide:

[mwooldri]

99. wrong reply to wrong thread.

But still: upthread I said child free airplanes are known as "private jets".

Mark.

[elocs]

90. Not infants or toddlers, but I believe that young children should be taken to restaurants

and movie theaters so they will have the opportunity to be taught how to properly behave in those places. The trouble is that too many parents simply do not care enough for their children to teach them well.

[MrSlayer]

92. I have never once had a problem with a child in a restaurant or on an airplane.

And I eat out often. So, no.

[Zomby Woof]

102. You must not fly often

[MrSlayer]

104. Not often, a few times a year.

But I'm also really good at ignoring and not letting things bother me.

[mainegreen]

93. Agreed, but 99% of all restaurants are not fine dining establishments, so...

[Withywindle]

98. As with smoking, I think it ought to be up to the business themselves.

If there were child-free restaurants, I would certainly go there! (well, if the food was decent and I could afford it). Others would not. That's fine. It's a matter of taste. I don't view it as discriminatory* any more than the mere existence of Red Lobster is discriminatory against people who don't like or can't eat seafood.


*Childhood is a temporary state (fortunately). You can't compare it to being a member of an ethnic group or orientation or anything like that.

[TheKentuckian]

101. I don't agree with any type but have no problem

with adults only restaurants of any type. You know, the kid friendly Applebee's is just a few blocks away type deal. Parents probably could use some totally kid free time other than going on a retreat.

Bring on the booze, cussing, smoking, and whatever kids aren't supposed to be around as an option. I don't mind kids, even like them but doesn't mean they have to be everywhere adults are except bars and some parents drag their kids to them too.

[DainBramaged]

109. What is wrong with us? This is disgusting. Progressive? I think not.

Most of you people won't go into an Olive Garden anyway (or most any other 'restaurant' anyway), so why ban kids from there?


We are what we used to think was absurd.

[Coyote_Bandit]

111. Children sections

That's what resturants need. Kind of like they used to have smokers sections. Show up with a kid for a meal and you can expect to be seated in a section where everybody else has showed up with a kid in tow. Everybody there can share the pleasure of dodging whatever is being thrown and stepping over all the mess on the floor and trying to hear over the screaming and miscellaneous tantrums. Show up for a meal without a kid and you can be seated with the adults and have some reasonable expectation of enjoying your meal.

I've had too many meals ruined by bratty kids acting out at resturants. Spills, noise and crap on the floor are standard fare. I've also experienced kids crawling across the back of the booth in which I was sitting. And one little monster took the opportunity to run his food encrusted grubby little fingers through my hair. Nary a word of correction or appology from the parents.

My latest encounter with a bratty kid at a resturant was on Sunday. Kid looked to be about three and was seated in a high chair. Mom was with a group of four other ladies who had all come from church. Kid was tired and even though Mom tried to control his behavior it was not effective. And Mom was distracted by her effort to converse with the other adults at the table. In the course of the meal the kid threw his food, his silverware and his milk, he screamed constantly and he threw food on the floor and at other diners. The three tables of diners around the end of the table where this little monster was seated all had stuff thrown at or on them. During much of the meal I could not hear the conversation of the person with whom I was dining. I don't blame the kid - I blame the Mom.

[BlueJazz]

115. Bravo...Well Said !

[AllegroRondo]

114. I have eaten at one

on our honeymoon, we went to Victoria and Alberts in Orlando. a five star place, and one we probalby will not be able to afford again in a loooong time. 7 course meal, live chamber music, extensive wine list, you get the idea.
they do not allow children under 16, not even with an adult. no exceptions. we loved it, not just for the food but for the quiet relaxing atmosphere. clearly there is a market for places like this, even if its a small one.

[ScreamingMeemie]

118. My son (10) and I ate at Victoria and Alberts. They didn't kick him

out and there were several other children there as well. Perhaps it was a special night that you went?

The worst people there was this really obnoxious group of 40-somethings.

Here are their age policies:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=VictoriaandAlbertsDiningPage&bhcp=1

[LostinVA]

119. OMG!!! I've always wanted to eat there!!!

I did do the tea at the Grand Floridian twice. Fun.

[ScreamingMeemie]

120. It was fun.

And he was well behaved. I dropped a fork on accident.

Hey, I'm going to PM the new number. :hug:

[LostinVA]

121. Received and PM answered

I want to do the Tasting Dinner at the table in the kitchen.

[Eurobabe]

116. Pretty freaking harsh

My kids are grown, yes I get annoyed by parents who don't teach their kids table manners, but no kids in restaurants? Sheesh.

Unless you are talking really high end places, in which case, most people get babysitters anyhow

[ScreamingMeemie]

117. How about loudness free restaurants??

No cell phone calls, no guffawing, no loud kids. I'd be up with that.

[kentauros]

122. The way to start on that is to ban all those "showcase" kitchen restaurants.

I know what goes on in restaurant kitchens; I don't need to see them work as I eat. In fact, I don't want to see them as that would cut out 80% of the noise such restaurants generate.

There's some bar/grill chain I've been to a couple of times (can't remember the name, it's that "generic" or similar to all the rest) and they have one of those open-front kitchens. The noise level is so high that you often have to literally yell to be heard by the people at your table. And this is supposed to be a little higher-dollar than Chili's/TGIF etc. If my workmates want to go there again, I'm declining. However, I will say that it is only almost worse than a room full of ear-piercing screaming kids ;)

[QueenOfCalifornia]

123. I have kids

I have taken great pains in educating them how to behave in a restaurant. They are 8 and 9 and are past the annoying toddler stage.

I have had meals in fine restaurants destroyed by children and screaming babies. I do not think it is appropriate for little ones to be taken to fine dining establishments until they can sit through a meal without melting down. It is inconsiderate of parents who think we all should embrace their children as though it is our duty. Fuck that shit.

When we get a sitter and go to a nice joint, the last thing I want to see is a screaming kid and a clueless parent. Go to medium priced family spots to teach your kids how to behave and when they get the hang of venture into nicer places for lunches as a starter.

I would feel safe, at this point, taking my children to fine dining establishments because they are courteous and polite and they know if they fuck with me or their Dad that dinner is over. Period.

Oh, and for you idiots who take your babies and toddlers to a 2 hour feature length motion picture and expect to "enjoy" that movie? WTF is wrong with you?

I took my daughter to a movie last week and there was a baby screaming through 1/3 of the thing - It ruined the movie and in my opinion that lady with her baby owed me $17 for our movie tickets.