A Restaurant to Ban Kids Under 6 -- Older Customers Complained About Rowdiness

[Ptarmigan]

A Restaurant to Ban Kids Under 6 -- Older Customers Complained About Rowdiness
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/restaurant-bans-young-kids/story?id=14056230

[Boudicca]

It's the parents of the rambunctious kids who ought to be banned.  There are parents out there I seriously want to slap the shit out of anytime their child acts out.  I was shopping at Ross the other day and three kids were running around like heathens and yelling loudly.  Mom was acting oblivious the entire time, shopping as those her brats were someone else's problem.  The oldest child was at least eight or nine too.

Parents that refuse to control their children's behavior should be forced to baby Octamom's brood for 24 hours straight, ALONE.

[DefiantSix]

I say good on 'em.  If their understanding of their clientelle tells them that they can do this and make the majority of their customers happier - and therefore willing to spend more money in the restaurant - more power to 'em.

[compaqxp]

A Restaurant to Ban Kids Under 6

Thank God. If I live near them they'd get my business.

I'm sorry but there is nothing worse then being in a restaurant with parents who have no control of their kids.

[seahorse513]

imo, that is what restaurants like BurgerKing, McDonald's,Jokers, Chuckee Cheese are for. Those restaurants cater to those age groups. As children get older then kinda go little upscale to IHOPS, CrackerBarrel or Applebees. It's hard to expect children, even the wellbehaved ones to be able to sit down while waiting for a meal.

[Ptarmigan]

imo, that is what restaurants like BurgerKing, McDonald's,Jokers, Chuckee Cheese are for. Those restaurants cater to those age groups. As children get older then kinda go little upscale to IHOPS, CrackerBarrel or Applebees. It's hard to expect children, even the wellbehaved ones to be able to sit down while waiting for a meal.

Even McDonald's is more likely to cater to adults, not children.

I really hate it when kids run wild when the parents do nothing. It is not just restaurants, it is any public place.

[FreeBorn]

Reminds me of a bar on Chautauqua Lake in southwest New York. Typical summer "beach town" sort of place. This one bar has a sign on the door like any other bar, "You Must Be 21" but this place is unique. Their sign says "You Must Be 40" and they mean it. I don't think it's there anymore but it was for many years. If I ever open a bar (not bloody likely because I can't stand people's drama) it will be like that one.

[seahorse513]

Even McDonald's is more likely to cater to adults, not children.

I really hate it when kids run wild when the parents do nothing. It is not just restaurants, it is any public place.

If so McDonalds and even Burger King have playgrounds to help with the children's , shall we say excessive energy, as do other fast food facilities like them or perhaps not. How are children expected to learn to behave in regular eateries, if they cannot learn behave in the simplest of restaurants?

[vesta111]

If so McDonalds and even Burger King have playgrounds to help with the children's , shall we say excessive energy, as do other fast food facilities like them or perhaps not. How are children expected to learn to behave in regular eateries, if they cannot learn behave in the simplest of restaurants?

I have no idea how it is done in my neck of the woods today.   Family's get smaller and smaller the older I get.

As a kid up to 12 I do remember family coming in for Holiday meals and there was an Adult table set up and a kids table close enough for a parent to smack an unruly child.

I myself was not happy at 10 to sit at the kids table until grandma told me I was there to control the little ones. It seemed like every year it got easier as the kids grew and there was the promise that maybe next year I would sit with the Adults.

Once I graduated to the Adult table the next oldest to me had the burden of keeping peace at the kids table.     If the peace got out of hand, the parent would insure no throwing mashed potatoes or peas at each other with this look in their eyes that calmed down even a 2 year old--Stark fear of imbarassing their parents.

All us kids kept our seats until the meal was over and never or hardly ever dared to even laugh.

Much different in a Public place amoung strangers I have found.   Parents have no peer pressure to make them control their kids, no one knows them so no imbarassment.

I have had my share of total loss of control of my kids in resturents---never took the little ones out to eat but the teens came close to putting me in jail for child abuse.

I was at a buffet when my 12 and 14 year old decided it would be fun to spit watermellon seeds at the copper light over the next table.  The kids had [ male naturally] gone first to the buffett and when they came back I went.

 When I came back to the table some huge man was standing over my boys just staring at them. Both Boys looked like they ,and not the food was to be eaten.

Seems that once I left to get my food my lovely sons had decided to challenge eath other on who could make the copper lamp go ping with a spit seed.   Unfortunately both were bad shots and had hit this man in the back of his head.

Give me a jury of all woman with male children.




     

 

[whiffleball]

We'd patronize them. 

We have to drive over an hour for good seafood and went to McCormick & Schmick recently to partake in their lobster trio.  Halfway through our meal a table was seated with a newborn and a toddler.  The baby slept, but the toddler did precisely what toddlers who are up past their bedtime do - shrieked, tossed utensils and food, broke a plate, spilled drinks.  When you're paying over $30 each for an entree you'd like to enjoy it instead of wolfing it down to get the hell out of the restaurant.

It is not the fault of the child or children.  I understand adults wanting to get out for a good meal, but if you can afford a place like McCormick & Schmick you can throw a few dollars to a babysitter.

[NHSparky]

Bingo.  Find a trusted baby sitter.

Now that being said, it's more on the parents.  Kids of 4 can be better behaved than those twice their age (or more).

I know I don't tolerate the kids acting up in public, nor does Scoobs.  I loved it when I used to ask a petulant child, "Where are your parents?"  The parent(s), righteously indignant, would give me the typical reply, "But they're only FIVE!" to which I'd immediately reply, "But you're NOT!"

Thus endeth the semi-bouncy.

[rich_t]

I heard about this on the TV news the other day.

I would certainly go to a restaurant like that.  I can't stand unruly kids.  I sure never let my kids run around like little heathens when they were little.

[vesta111]

We'd patronize them. 

We have to drive over an hour for good seafood and went to McCormick & Schmick recently to partake in their lobster trio.  Halfway through our meal a table was seated with a newborn and a toddler.  The baby slept, but the toddler did precisely what toddlers who are up past their bedtime do - shrieked, tossed utensils and food, broke a plate, spilled drinks.  When you're paying over $30 each for an entree you'd like to enjoy it instead of wolfing it down to get the hell out of the restaurant.

It is not the fault of the child or children.  I understand adults wanting to get out for a good meal, but if you can afford a place like McCormick & Schmick you can throw a few dollars to a babysitter.

I have been in some expensive restaurants that on walking in had to wait for a table as a family with small children had left everything from french fries to peas spit on the window.  

Takes time for staff to clean up this mess in order to seat customers in a clean sanitary environment.  Seats must be cleaned, tables, floors and do it fast so customers will not trip , fall or slide in Jello.

When the price to eat gets over $20.00 per person, who wants to sit in a seat with some kind of mush the servers did not see to clean up.

For that price $40.00 for 2 I can cook at home $ 4lbs. of chicken a small beef roast and a bunch of ribs with all the fixens.    Throw in lots of spaghetti and meat balls.

To dine out and pay the high cost of having any one meal cost about one weeks food, one expects to have it  [our way ] .  We who spend this money deserve a meal in peace, not have runny nose kids in your face poking at your food.

Darn It gets me angry when a waitress staff waits to ask if all is OK when I have a mouth full and can only nod.----How weird is it when coming from a funeral or the death of a pet and the waitstaff keep asking you if the food is good.----Now add in the kids that have parents that want to eat in peace and ignore their kids, all that money to make you want to throw up the meal.

Anyone have a dog that when they are fed are left alone, to interrupt them is to get a snarl and a go away???  I am like this, my days of shrieking children are over, days of being pestered as I eat over, I wish some quiet so I can communicate with my Adult friend and family.

Some people are like this, if I need anything I will wave at the server, I am there not to be interrupted with my expensive food but to enjoy it without interruptions from Anyone but my fellow table mates.

Anyone in here ever take a child to Chucky Cheese where 3-4 birthday party's are going on and after 20 minutes NOT  gotten a head pounding head throb????

Sparky you posted before I could and I LOVE your statement." The child is just a kid but you are not."

We went to the Lee races and a male with a 12 or so young man was kicking the seats over and over again.    Hubby took this for just some time and finally yelled to the kid to " cut it out""  OH_OH bad move.

The Male got into hubby's face and screamed that his son was just a kid.   I thought there would be a bit of a brawl at that point.   Hubby is a very quiet man, raised on the streets of Haverhill and quite big.   Never seen him angry yet in 20 years and hope never to do so.

He just took me to another stand away from the brat and bored kid and his father, and told me one has to pick their fights, the kid was going to have a hard enough life with out him making matters worse.

Lucky for the kid and his father had I been with my brothers in law, the father would have spent some time in the hospital and I would have had to go to the bank for bail money.
 

[Eupher]

Even McDonald's is more likely to cater to adults, not children.I really hate it when kids run wild when the parents do nothing. It is not just restaurants, it is any public place.

My local Mickey D's is absolutely overrun with retirees and geezers.

It's their local social club and gathering place. Coffee's cheap, air conditioning is on, and while the decor is pretty plastic, they don't seem to mind. They talk and solve the problems of the world.

*sigh*. Wistfully looking forward to the day when I can join their ranks......

[Scoobie]

If so McDonalds and even Burger King have playgrounds to help with the children's , shall we say excessive energy, as do other fast food facilities like them or perhaps not. How are children expected to learn to behave in regular eateries, if they cannot learn behave in the simplest of restaurants?

Its called parenting with discipline, and the class of restaurant one is patronizing has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Our kids know what is expected of them when we are out in public, they know acting out will not be tolerated, and usually all it takes is one glance from me with the Evil Mommy Eye to get them back in line should they stray from the rules (which is a very rare occasion). Ian, who is only four, is known for commenting about how rude other children are when he sees them acting up when we are out.

You can't blame the children, it's all on the parents. I find myself shaking my head in disbelief at what I see as "parenting" more and more every day.

[NHSparky]

Its called parenting with discipline, and the class of restaurant one is patronizing has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Our kids know what is expected of them when we are out in public, they know acting out will not be tolerated, and usually all it takes is one glance from me with the Evil Mommy Eye to get them back in line should they stray from the rules (which is a very rare occasion). Ian, who is only four, is known for commenting about how rude other children are when he sees them acting up when we are out.

You can't blame the children, it's all on the parents. I find myself shaking my head in disbelief at what I see as "parenting" more and more every day.

Windjammers.

[seahorse513]

Yes, but Scoobie you are a good parent. Too many parents want to be "friends" to their children. If a little child acts out a little smack to the hand or back of the child's shoulder and a firm "no", with eye contact works wonders... It is nOt abusive...but children learn to accept what is tolerated and what is not....

[vesta111]

Its called parenting with discipline, and the class of restaurant one is patronizing has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Our kids know what is expected of them when we are out in public, they know acting out will not be tolerated, and usually all it takes is one glance from me with the Evil Mommy Eye to get them back in line should they stray from the rules (which is a very rare occasion). Ian, who is only four, is known for commenting about how rude other children are when he sees them acting up when we are out.

You can't blame the children, it's all on the parents. I find myself shaking my head in disbelief at what I see as "parenting" more and more every day.

Sorry Scabby , not the parent, if parents had their way they would snatch up misbehaving kids in public paddle their ass and show them who is boss.  No parent would willing except going shopping with a child of say 8 years old that throws a fit in Walmart because Mom will not buy them a toy.  15 calls to the police for child abuse if one were to take them by the scruff of the neck and place them in a car.

 What the heck to do when the child itself knows mom or Dad dare not do one thing.  The child has been told that they have anger issues--not their fault and use this excuse until they are arrested at 15.   Giving any person any kind of excuse to not do the best they can  is sinfull.

 Lots of attention from Teachers and Doctors, not their fault they cannot controll themselves, each outburst bring more attention and poor thing to them.  The parents need to go for counseling to learn how to allow the child can continue with this control of the family.

 First thing I would do when a child old enough to know they have a gate way to darn near anything as they have a "Problem" would be to remove the child from the area, get them in private and depending on the age spank them soundly.   No way would I treat this Wolverine as a friend,  I am boss, suck it up.  Respect me or your ass is glass.

Parents are there to teach their kids how to survive as adults in the coming future.   Kids are smart and take advantage of all they can get in life, Grandparent comes along and gives just One excuse for bad acting and the parent has lost respect from the child if they disagree.

 What and how do parents have in their corner to raise and discipline kids.  Not one darn thing, we can loose our children over any darn thing, child is too fat to thin etc.

Only thing I can think of is to keep the baby's at home, in the house, teach them manors and deportment until they head out into the world of Kindergarten.--

Perhaps home school them or send them to Parochial schools, the Nuns will send the rambunctious ones home with one ear bigger then the other.  Any issues with anger or what not will be dealt with by the Nuns and the kids will learn respect.  Don't need thousands of dolars spent on Doctors to cure  so called mental problems with children -- turn them over to the nuns, they have been a great cure for rebelious kids for hundreds of years.

[Ptarmigan]

My local Mickey D's is absolutely overrun with retirees and geezers.

It's their local social club and gathering place. Coffee's cheap, air conditioning is on, and while the decor is pretty plastic, they don't seem to mind. They talk and solve the problems of the world.

*sigh*. Wistfully looking forward to the day when I can join their ranks......

Interesting. I have no problem with that restaurant has every right to ban 6 year olds and under. I don't blame the kid, he or she is the reflection of their parents. And sadly, too many want to be friends of them. I mean just look at those sports parents. I remember once listening to Michael Savage and he talked what is maturity and having children is not one of them.

[rich_t]

Sorry Scabby , not the parent, if parents had their way they would snatch up misbehaving kids in public paddle their ass and show them who is boss.  No parent would willing except going shopping with a child of say 8 years old that throws a fit in Walmart because Mom will not buy them a toy.  15 calls to the police for child abuse if one were to take them by the scruff of the neck and place them in a car.

 What the heck to do when the child itself knows mom or Dad dare not do one thing.  The child has been told that they have anger issues--not their fault and use this excuse until they are arrested at 15.   Giving any person any kind of excuse to not do the best they can  is sinfull.

 Lots of attention from Teachers and Doctors, not their fault they cannot controll themselves, each outburst bring more attention and poor thing to them.  The parents need to go for counseling to learn how to allow the child can continue with this control of the family.

 First thing I would do when a child old enough to know they have a gate way to darn near anything as they have a "Problem" would be to remove the child from the area, get them in private and depending on the age spank them soundly.   No way would I treat this Wolverine as a friend,  I am boss, suck it up.  Respect me or your ass is glass.

Parents are there to teach their kids how to survive as adults in the coming future.   Kids are smart and take advantage of all they can get in life, Grandparent comes along and gives just One excuse for bad acting and the parent has lost respect from the child if they disagree.

 What and how do parents have in their corner to raise and discipline kids.  Not one darn thing, we can loose our children over any darn thing, child is too fat to thin etc.

Only thing I can think of is to keep the baby's at home, in the house, teach them manors and deportment until they head out into the world of Kindergarten.--

Perhaps home school them or send them to Parochial schools, the Nuns will send the rambunctious ones home with one ear bigger then the other.  Any issues with anger or what not will be dealt with by the Nuns and the kids will learn respect.  Don't need thousands of dolars spent on Doctors to cure  so called mental problems with children -- turn them over to the nuns, they have been a great cure for rebelious kids for hundreds of years.

Yes it is the parent Vesta.  If a kid acts like that in public you can damn well bet they act like that or worse at home.  If they are properly disciplined at home they won't act up in public on most occasions.

I have been in some homes where the parents let their kids run around like little maniacs, talk back to them and just be down right disrespectful.   If you don't make them behave at home, you aren't going to get them to do so in public.

[seahorse513]

Sorry Vesta, it is up to the parent to teach manners at home first, parents are completely at fault if children misbehave in public. My parents were "parents" not my "friend". Having someone like a "nun" teach your child is not the answer either. Been there, done that"
 I gave my kids "options" shall we say.
Me: Mike if you do this, this will happen, if you do that, this will happen...If he makes the wrong decision , there were consequences, and I followed thru" I didn't like disciplining the kids, but someone had too...because their natural parents sure as heck weren't going to.

[Evil_Conservative]

As a mom of a toddler, I hate taking my child out most times.  She used to be well behaved, but now she turns into a terrorist in restaurants.  When our daughter acts up, I remove her from the table and we go outside for a little chat.  She only really acts up while waiting for dinner to arrive, which is understandable, but not still not acceptable.  We rarely go out now.  We went to Applebee's this past weekend for our anniversary.  That was the most kid-friendly place we could go to enjoy a decent meal.  Carleigh acted up and I left in a really bad mood.  It's like the whole restaurant is staring at you when your child starts to whine and act up.

So we just order in for a meal "out" until Carleigh can understand the concept of a restaurant.  When family comes to town, they always want to take us out.  I tell them I prefer not to because we have a toddler who doesn't understand that we must wait for our food to cook and arrive.  But they want to still go out anyway and ignore my warnings.  So when Carleigh does act up, the grandparent's act shocked.  Whatever.  It is what it is.

Staying home is better. 

I don't care if restaurants owners want to ban children from their establishments.  It's their place of business and they can do what they want.

[seahorse513]

I gave you a high 5 Jess!! Most people won't admit that their child will act up. one cannot expect a toddler to sit there and wait. Moreover, you even tell your guests that your little one is not fond of restaurants, and it would be better to have dinner at home..
Not sure how Gina does with her two little ones, but I am sure they have their moments. Gina has an edge that her eldest can maybe entertain the two younger ones, Scoobie is the same way, and I think that helps. I think Picnics are always a good idea with small children when in a big group.

[Evil_Conservative]

I gave you a high 5 Jess!! Most people won't admit that their child will act up. one cannot expect a toddler to sit there and wait. Moreover, you even tell your guests that your little one is not fond of restaurants, and it would be better to have dinner at home..
Not sure how Gina does with her two little ones, but I am sure they have their moments. Gina has an edge that her eldest can maybe entertain the two younger ones, Scoobie is the same way, and I think that helps. I think Picnics are always a good idea with small children when in a big group.

Oh gosh yes.  I'm not a "my child is the most perfect angel in the whole wide world" type of mother.  I used to get compliments about how well-behaved Carleigh was when we would go out.  Something about turning one made her go crazy in public restaurants.  And now that she is two, watch out.  Crayons and an activity sheet only keep her occupied for about five minutes. 

[LC EFA]

If I want to restrict or enable entry or service in my business place then that's my business.

Should I choose to open an all-smoking red meat serving restaurant that has topless waitresses, a three drink minimum and bans children then fine. Ain't any of the governments business.

Don't like it ? Don't come.