Kids In High-End Restaurants: Way or No Way?

[Randy]

This weekend in the New York Times, Shivani Vora wrote about taking her child out to eat. While she'd once tried to leave young Meenakshi home with a sitter, she discovers that many high-end restaurants will go out of their way to cater to the highchair set:

We were able to check in our bulky stroller [at Fred's, inside Barney's], and when it came to ordering for our little gastronomist, then about 10 months old, the Fred's waiter suggested an off-the-menu grilled cheese on whole wheat with a side of sautéed broccoli. It arrived within minutes. He was amused, not annoyed, by Meenakshi's game of dropping her plastic cutlery on the floor more than a dozen times so he could pick it up...

Meenakshi turned 2 last weekend—we celebrated at Café Boulud, where she selected her raisin-walnut roll from the bread tray to go with her goat-cheese risotto balls, and finished with a milk chocolate and peanut butter bar plus chocolate tuile (they wrote happy birthday on the plate), followed, of course, by the signature madeleines. She has been to some of New York's finest eateries, finding obliging staff and a hint of culinary adventure in an otherwise uninspired diet.

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It's one thing to wheel the stroller into a pizza parlor; it may be another to expect youngsters to abide by the manners standard at a formal restaurant. What do you think? Should parents bring their kids to fine-dining restaurants?

 

[Nebulous]

Ive never taken my six year old to a fine-dining restaurant and I dont think I would at this point. She has way too much energy. When we go to a restaurant, I am always telling her to sit right or sit down or Shhh, use your inside voice.

So my answer is no, kids should not be taken to a posh fancy restaurant, they should go to places like ihop or dennys or mc donalds.

 

[Jazzy]

All depends on the age of the child. You can't expect even a well behaved young child to be quiet as they are excited and easily bored.

 

[Masri]

It depends on the age (and other things) of the child. I know people my age who shouldn't be allowed in high-end restaurants.

 

[DrLeftover]

And there are those restaurants that will charge you nine dollars for that grilled cheese sandwich.



If I'm in your white tablecloth place, and I'm going to pay twenty five dollars for a steak, and some kid is screaming at the top of their lungs at the next table, I may walk out before the food arrives.



I expect that in McD's, which is reason number seven why I don't go there.

 

[Kasynlie]

The story talks about highchairs and strollers - they're what babies use. The poll asks if kids should be allowed in these restaurants.... which is it?

 

[N!ck]

I don't think children should go to High-end restaurants, not even I would want to be in one.

 

[The Dragon Master]

I don't mind as long as they are well behaved, also depends on their age.

 

[nolvorite]

If the food taste delicious then I'd like to dig in

 

[Nebulous]

If the food taste delicious then I'd like to dig in

What does that have to do with this discussion?

 

[nolvorite]

I was answering the question

 

[Nebulous]

The topic is about small children being taken to fancy restaurants.. Are you a small child?

 

[nolvorite]

The topic is about small children being taken to fancy restaurants.. Are you a small child?

I could be....



well the point is they need proper manners and etiquette to go to a fine restaurant so they won't embarrass themselves

 

[Nebulous]

Im sure you are a teenager therefor you dont qualify.

 

[nolvorite]

I have my moments