No children under six allowed at restaurant

Victorya - posted on 11/06/2011

No I would not go. I have a child under 6! lol

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 07/14/2011

I also disagree with that, Schmoopy. My grandpa is a stinker sometimes and can be very difficult in a restaurant (or out in public in general). I love him so much, but he's a grumpy, impatient and sometimes rude old man.

Sherri - posted on 07/14/2011

Are u kidding me Schmoopy!!!! Most times I would say senior citizens and toddlers are very comparable. Clumsy, whiny, rude, spilling food, yelling at people. I have witnessed plenty of elderly people who CAN NOT behave in public and I will opt to sit next to a child any day of the week.

Schmoopy - posted on 07/14/2011

Just wanted to point out that children and senior citizens are NOT comparable in this case. Seniors have lived a lifetime already and know how to behave in public. Children are in the arduous process of learning how to become civilized.

In other words, eating at a restaurant beside an elderly person is not at all like eating near a toddler.

Jen - posted on 07/13/2011

Adding to my post, almost all restaurants allow kids. Why pick on one guy who doesn't? You can take your lovelies to the highest price place around or you can go to McDonalds. If I want to go someplace where I can escape the presence of toddlers for one blessed evening, is that so wrong? Am I saying I hate kids? No. But for each of you that say your child never acts up, there is a parent who is either too enchanted with their children or the parent who just doesn't give a crap and lets their child run wild. I don't believe there is a single person on this forum who hasn't seen it. WE may react to it differently but we've all seen it. If I want to go out to someplace cheap and have a laugh with a friend and not have it be a bar, why shouldn't we have that one place of respite?

Jen - posted on 07/13/2011

Oh I'd eat there in a flash if I could.

Anna - posted on 07/13/2011

Sara, you make a good point and I admit I don't think I made mine very well. I just meant to point out that laws against age discrimination, in their wording, only go one way. I don't know why and perhaps it isn't fair. You can (presumably under the law) deny employment to a 23 year old for being too young, but not to a 40 year old for being too old. You can't rent a car under 25 and this isn't considered age discrimination b/c young people and children just aren't who the laws are intended to protect.

At any rate, this doesn't really bother me, but neither would they get my patronage b/c I eat with my kids. It does strike me as a poor business tactic to alienate such a large percentage of the population so I can't imagine too many restaurants will follow suit. If there are people willing to pay money to take their kids out to eat, then businesses up to make a profit will be there to serve them.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 07/13/2011

"And no, kids aren't given the same rights as adults. They aren't allowed in bars, they can't live in retirement facilities and there are all sorts of things they aren't allowed to buy. I admit that these are examples of a different kind then we're talking about here, but I also don't know exactly where the line should be drawn."

It shouldn't be drawn at eating food. I get that they don't have the same rights as adults, but they are still people and they gotta eat. As far as leaving the restaurant, kids have break downs sometimes. I don't worry about promoting the behavior because they last time we left my daughter was about 14 months. She didn't care where we were she just wanted to run around. I suppose it would make more sense if it was a super expensive restuarant like Jamie said, but I still wouldn't support it.

Kelly - posted on 07/13/2011

I do see what you are saying, Amanda, but what if they don't want to go to a bar? Maybe they just want a nice, quiet dinner for two. In my area, the bars usually have loud music, do not serve food, or boast a hundred TV's blasting every sport known to man in your face....sorry, just not my venue of choice for a romantic dinner.

I guess local laws differ, in my area, even the Applebee's and other family oriented places sell liquor. Kids are always allowed in those. The only establishments here prohibited by law from allowing children inside are full on bars--they don't have kitchens, so we need restaurants that sell actual meals that cater to adults only, otherwise, there would be no place to go for dinner, other than a bar.....and you can't get dinner in bars here.

Jaime - posted on 07/13/2011

The only thing that gets me about this certain restaurant is that it is not an upscale restaurant. I can understand if people were paying $30-50 at a 4 or 5 star establishment that children wouldn't be appropriate.

But this place is a $10-20 meal "diner" and I find it ridiculous. If people can't stand children then don't go out to eat.

Amanda - posted on 07/13/2011

Kelly you are right, that is what is said but what I meant is go someplace else like a bar or a place like that. Usually if the serve liquar then children are not allowed. My husband and I have this talk all time and maybe we should look to other countries when it comes to this. They allow children in bars and even to drink at a young age and for the most part they don't have the crime rate we do.

Anna - posted on 07/13/2011

I don't have a problem with this. No doubt they will lose plenty of business, and if there's not enough of a market for places like this then they will go under. Any parents like myself and my husband couldn't be counted on as regular patrons, as our date nights are few and far between, so I can't imagine this will ever become the norm; there will always be other options for us. Even most of the nicer restaurants will continue to be family friendly as long as it meets a demand.

And no, kids aren't given the same rights as adults. They aren't allowed in bars, they can't live in retirement facilities and there are all sorts of things they aren't allowed to buy. I admit that these are examples of a different kind then we're talking about here, but I also don't know exactly where the line should be drawn.

Kelly - posted on 07/13/2011

"you sit at the bar or even go someplace else." --Amanda

That is pretty much the point isn't it. These restaurants are giving adults who don't want to be around kids someplace to go where kids will not be a problem.

Elizabeth - posted on 07/13/2011

I would rather them ban cell phones and teenagers or preteens. Lol!

Amanda - posted on 07/12/2011

There is a place in my town that will not allow children under the age of 12. My husband and I have decided that, it is one place that we will NOT be going. I can understand that if you are having a date night not wanting to be around children but that is when you sit at the bar or even go someplace else. I have found that most of the time it is not the other children that I have a problem with but the teenagers that either look like hoochies or gang bangers being loud and obnoxious. Taking the children out with you to a dinner is a way of enforcing good family values and any restraunt that would not promote that is not a restraunt for me.

Teresa - posted on 07/12/2011

Good point Sara D.... places aren't allowed to discriminate against sex, race, religion, and can't discriminate against old people.... but kids don't count? Awesome.... @@ :(

Teresa - posted on 07/12/2011

Since I only ever go out to eat WITH my kids (except the brief period almost a year ago when I went on a couple of dates)....I'd never eat at a place that bans kids. It's totally the owner's decision, but considering that my now 3 year old has never in his life been as loud in a restaurant as almost every single adult in the tables surrounding us... I think it's a stupid ban. Why put a blanket ban kids? Why not just ban loud people... regardless of age? ;)

Teresa - posted on 07/12/2011

I think it is the right if the establishment to refuse service to anyone they choose. I see signs all the time at places saying as much. I would go there when I wanted some quiet without my own children.

Kelly - posted on 07/12/2011

I'd probably eat there. I know, I'm going against the tide, but my husband and I get maybe one night a month to enjoy dinner together kid free and experience the part of ourselves that are not "mom" and "dad". The rest of our lives are devoted to parenthood, so I don't want my one night ruined by a restless screaming tot. Unfortunately, I have been in restaurants many times where the parent did not address the situation with the child properly.

As previous posters have mentioned, there are tons of nice places to take kids, so if you have your kids with you, eat at one of those.

I agree that children should learn from an early age how to act in a restaurant setting, but again, there are tons of family restaurants, like Applebee's, Arizona, etc., to teach those skills in. You have to be in a restaurant to learn, so those first few times, you can be sure you will be disturbing other patrons. Many times, having to leave the restaurant is not a good way to discourage ill behavior because children often WANT to leave, so that will only encourage the behavior.

Good Day! - posted on 07/11/2011

Yeah, I don't know who would eat there. I certainly wouldn't.

Off topic: Sara D, you look great in your profile pic! I know you are close. Please keep us updated!

Sherri - posted on 07/11/2011

Would totally boycott a place like this. If I can not eat out with my family then I will not be giving my patronage to such an establishment.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 07/11/2011

"Worth noting: There is no law preventing restaurants from banning children. But, restaurants cannot ban senior citizens because they are in a protected class under the law."



This is an interesting point from the article. It seems that children aren't people. I think kids are fine in restaurants as long as parents are aware and responsive to their behavior. Our daughter usually does well, but there have been 2 times where she was not so great. She didn't want to sit still, she wanted to run around. We had just received our food so we asked for boxes and took it home. I've never been in a restaurant where the parents didn't address their child's behavior. I guess I can understand something like this in a fancy, expensive restaurant, but I'm not comfortable with this. I wouldn't eat there. Just like I don't go to weddings if my children aren't invited.

Jane - posted on 07/11/2011

Sometimes we have been seated in a bad location, but sometimes they put us at the next available table. Generally our service is good, in part because our daughter very early on learned the value of saying please and thank you to people doing things for you.

Gena - posted on 07/11/2011

I agree Jane. My children know the rules and they know how to behave. I can imagine the crowd that will enjoy this rule, and I probably wouldn't want to dine with them any ways. But one thing does bug me when I take my family out to eat. I find that they usually seat us away from most of the other patrons. In the behind the wall to the back section usually with other families with children. Which I understand but usually leaves us wanting better service. Did this ever happen to your family?

Jane - posted on 07/11/2011

Sorry - we would skip any restaurant that decides to do that. We always dined out as a family and most of our kids have dined out as babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers without incident. The problems have come mostly from the teenagers, who can be horribly loud and insensitive.



We have found that small children can learn how to behave in a nice restaurant, and it teaches them an appreciation of good food, in addition to the typical chicken nuggets and fries.



In fact, I enjoy seeing children out dining and interacting with family, learning how to behave and to appreciate good food.



Besides, there are plenty of excellent restaurants that don't ban children. And the time-honored solution for a screaming child is for the parent to remove the child from the situation. One time sitting out the meal in the parking lot with a parent is generally enough for most kids.