Should restaraunts be divided into "kids" and "no kids" sections?

[Taverner]

I'm a parent and I've always felt this should be the case.

Look, I may have rugrats, but I've also been childless. And nothing sucks worse than having someone elses rugrat ruining your dinner.

So I say yes...

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Yes, especially if the "no kids" section is called "home"

:grr:

Seriously, though - I agree with you, especially in the nicer restaurants.

Though it would be better to have "subtle, quiet normal people" room, and a "loud fucking boisterous smegma-pile" room, whether it be loud ass out of control children, or loud ass out of control adults.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. This should get interesting....

:popcorn:

[Blue-Jay]

21. The last time I was at a restaurant,

Some woman had damn triplets running around all over the place. Those brats stole my corn dog and my wallet.

[Misunderestimator]

26. LOL!

Not the corn dog!!

:rofl:

[Blue-Jay]

41. I only eat at the swankiest joints.

No corndogs = No business from moi. <sniff>

[greatauntoftriplets]

42. They are coming over tomorrow, and promised to return the wallet.

:rofl:

[philosophie_en_rose]

34. Pass the popcorn.

:popcorn: Yum.

[Texasgal]

3. Uh oh....

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[flvegan]

5. Can I have some of that, too, please?

I'll share my soda with you...

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Nah...this one will require

:beer:

[flvegan]

8. Even better.

[Texasgal]

9. Help yourself darling!

Let's sit together and watch this unfold....whaddya say?

[flvegan]

15. Absolutely!

I don't think I've seen this one before.

[Texasgal]

19. And ya know what?

This time it isn't about PETA!!!! :P

[Shell Beau]

4. I'm not really for separation of any kind!

Okay maybe smoking!

[Fenris]

7. I don't have a problem with kids.

I have only really been annoyed by loudmouth adults. Kids are kids. Adults have no excuse.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. The loudmouth adults who cannot get off their cellphones!!

I hate when I am trying to carry on a conversation and people are babbling to their companies while simultaneously babbling into their phones.

:eyes:

[Fenris]

18. It's important, dammit!

:D

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. GMTA...I pretty much posted the same thing just now.

:thumbsup:

[Fenris]

20. Indeed they do!

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Nothing sucks more than adults *who should know better* ruining my

night out. Raucous adults bother me far more than children. Ms. I'm-talking-too-loudly-on-my-cellphone is far more irritating to me than a child's laughter. Sorry...ya lost me on that one. :hi:

[DJ MEW]

22. how about an assholes and kids section.

My boyfriend and I were out eating a few days ago where the kids were very well behaved and didn't cause any problems, but their mom had a Nextel that was chirping away. I actually heard here tell her kid that he couldn't play the arcade game in the corner of the place because it would make noise and be rude to people, then she chirrped someone else with her Nextel like right afterwards.

They were Republican's too, the car they got out of had a W sticker on it.

[petronius]

67. That's right...

Even so-called 'bad kids' situations seem to really be 'bad adult' situations in my experience. Kids don't throw food, scream, and run around in a vacuum...

[DJ MEW]

13. oh please make this happen

It is not that I hate kids but some parents don't know how to control their kids and they run all over the place and totally ruin the evening for everyone else.

I have even seen some kids, at Pizza Hut, that will actually get out of their chairs and walk over to the salad bar and pick at it and their parents don't say a word to them.

[jpgray]

14. Other people in restaurants don't really bother me

Unless you spill a drink on me, do whatever you want.

[Ellen Forradalom]

16. This is turning into the THE Perpetual DU Flame War.

It all depends on the restaurant. There's McD's, there's the corner diner, there's the small ethnic place, there's fine dining---define your terms when you say "restaurant".

[XNASA]

17. If someone's rugrat is ruining your dinner....

Maybe you should start eating in better restaurants.

[Taverner]

23. It's not me - I take my kids out of the restaraunt THE MINUTE

They misbehave. It's the others. I understand what the parent is going through - and I know its hard to control the kid but....

I feel bad for the non parent who has to deal with this shit. If all of us with kids were in our own section, one - the kids would play together. And two, Mr. and Mrs. Smith wouldn't have their anniversary dinner ruined.

[XNASA]

28. Then they should start eating in better restaurants.

Our kids were always well behaved in public. I can't ever remember either one of them throwing a tantrum, etc.

But...now that it's just the wife and I for dinner in most cases, we tend to avoid 'family restaurants'....not that we haven't always tried to avoid them anyway.

[friesianrider]

33. I think you're absolutely right here...

My Mom took my little tush out of anywhere if I started misbehaving. It didn't matter where she was going or what she had to do - if I started screaming or throwing a tantrum, I sat in the car until I could learn to be "a big girl." ;) I think kids get the hint much better this way when they have parents who do this. Otherwise, they think they can dowhatever they want and there's only a 50/50 chance the parents will do anything at all.

:thumbsup: to you!

[Taverner]

59. Yes, and unfortnately that means sometimes dad has to eat out of a box

But these are the ropes you had to deal with.

As they say "is it fair? No. But tough shit."

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. except...according to my parents...I did this all the time, because I

hated sitting in restaurants. I kicked up a fuss just so they would take me out.

[nini]

24. That's not a bad idea really....

Both sides will be happy. I won't have to shoot the evil eye to those parents who have mastered tuning their kids out and let them go nuts.

I have no problem with well behaved kids being around me though. I actually enjoy them. It's the ones with the parents who can't be bothered they make me nuts.

[miss_kitty]

25. boy oh boy!

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[LynneSin]

27. I think parents need to consider the restaurant they take their kids to

When I go to some giant size chain restaurant like Houlihans, TGIF, Outback, etc - I expect familes with their loud obnoxious kids to be there. These restaurants are reasonably priced and many cater towards the family.

But when I'm dining out in a nice restaurant where I know a ton of money will be plopped down on the meal, I find it rude when parents bring their kids into these pricey places and make others suffer.

[geniph]

29. Thankfully, many restaurants in Washington state have that

it's called the bar. You can't bring your kids into the bar here (I was horrified when I went to Ohio and saw people bringing their kids into the bar), and many restaurant bars now are non-smoking. I always eat in the bar if I can.

However, I have to say that in the last year or so, I've been MUCH more bothered by tables full of shrieking teenage girls than by small children. What IS it with groups of teenage girls that they can't express anything in a tone below glass-shattering?!

[friesianrider]

37. omg I've seen that too!

I went out to dinner the other night and there was this group of 16-year-olds a few tables down who were laughing and shreiking at absolutely everything. It was almost as annoying as kids, that's for sure.

[asthmaticeog]

68. Well, if people didn't bring their kids to the bars,

it just wouldn't be Ohio! :hi:

[Mutley]

30. I think at the very least there should be a fairly small

room or section of the restaurant where people who don't want to be around kids can sit. Just a small, little, tiny area. One, little bity four or five table room. Is that too much to ask? It's no worse than making smokers sit in one of those little bity rooms, or go outside in the freezing cold, IMO.

I love kids, and they really don't bother me. But what REALLY annoys me is listening to people bitch about the kids the whole time we are out. So it would help me a lot if there was a place we could sit with no kids around.

[friesianrider]

31. ABSOLUTELY.

I've got nothing against kids. I just don't want to have to look at them or hear them :)

Honestly, I very much dislike most (not all) kids. Most (again, not all) are disgusting, rude, loud, obnoxious, and messy. I just don't think my nice dinner should be ruined by someone else's kids. I think a lot of parents just learn to tune out their brat's screaming and carrying on, so they expect the rest of us to just "understand" because "it's a child" and "children make noise." Well, I don't. And I've given dirty looks, etc and will continue to do so without a hint of guilt. There have been times that kids are exceptionally well behaved in restaurants, and I go out of my way to thank the parents for raising such good and respectful kids. Usually it makes the parents' day!

[greatauntoftriplets]

32. So I suppose that you once were a perfect child?

O8)

[friesianrider]

35. Ha, nah...

But I only had to be taken out to the car once or twice and I learned real quick that if I wanted to get my dessert and stay with the grown-ups I had to behave a certain way. And I did. You can ask my Mom - I was a good kid. :P

[Taverner]

36. Even if he was a brat I understand his point

Great dinners can be spoiled by toddlers.

And I have a toddler!

[Bridget Burke]

38. How about a "loud, obnoxious" section?

For loud, drunken parties of adults & kids whose parents don't give a shit.

I don't spend much time in hushed temples of fine cuisine, but I've noticed very few kids on my rare visits.

Families frequent the local Chinese buffet & the local Mexican restaurant(s). But a little childish chatter doesn't bother me. Tantrums & running around are not that common--maybe the working class folks pay more attention to their kids.

Conspicuous cell phone users should be seated with the cigar smokers--out by the garbage cans!

[MN ChimpH8R]

39. Depends to a degree on how fancy the restaurant is

to a degree. Denny's or Perkins, who cares, but if you're shelling out big coin for a nice meal, there should DEFINITELY be a section free of small house apes.

[friesianrider]

40. "a section free of small house apes"

:spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl:

[LatinoSocialist]

43. sorry..

but when I go to restaurants I don't want to deal with the problems of other people's children. some places are for adults, and some for the whole family.

[friesianrider]

44. Maybe that's what it should be instead...

Restaurants just say upfront if they are "kids/no kids under 15" or whatever.

I just want to eat without seeing someone else's anklebiter shove chicken fingers up their nose or scream because they don't like their dinner. IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK!!??

:P

[KitchenWitch]

45. No, they should be divided into Good parents and Bad parents sections

:evilgrin:

The good parents section would have the families for which the children are well disciplined, and well, you all are smart and can figure out the rest.

[nini]

46. EXACTLY

it's not the kids as it's the parents who don't know how to parent.

:thumbsup:

[Scout]

48. but do you think the bad parents would actually let anyone

seat them in the bad parents section?

[KitchenWitch]

52. In my utopian world view ... yes

in reality, probably not!

:rofl:

[AirmensMom]

57. Bingo!

My kids never made a sound in a restaurant. Neither does my grandson. It's not required for kids to be disruptive. They can be taught manners -- then they don't bother anyone.

[MarsThe Cat]

47. CITIES & TOWNS should be divided into "kids" and "NO DAMN KIDS"-

so guess where i stand on it.

[tigereye]

60. uh some of us like kids

and our kids are well behaved. Sigh.

I have rarely been in restaurants where the kids are obnoxious and I have eaten out A LOT in many restaurants. This topic is very tired.

[friesianrider]

62. I'd like to know where you've been eating...

Anywhere I eat out nowadays I always ask the hostess specifically to be seated AWAY from any babies or kids.

[tigereye]

63. it would be a very long list

and this was true before I had a kid, and after.

Eatn Park, lots of ethnic restaurants of all types, fancy places, beach resorts, diners, what have you. We were on vacation this summer in California and I saw no obnoxious kids on the planes, in the restaurants or anywhere else we went. I have rarely in my nearly 50 years seen kids raging around unchecked, except occasionally in my office. ;)

[bliss_eternal]

71. The rare occasions I've seen children act out,

you can usually tell they are just tired, or maybe cranky because they are hungry. (Kids shouldn't be expected to maintain composure as long as adults).

Some restaurants don't take that into consideration. They should all provide little crackers or snacks for kids to nibble on while they wait for their dinner. The server should also ask parents if they want them to enter kids orders first so they can get their food quicker.

I found when working in restaurants this could help a lot. Parents that didn't have any snacks with them seemed to appreciate these little extras a lot.

:hi: Hi tigereye!

[tigereye]

79. yes

people often forget that kids aren't little adults. I always appreciated when the servers would take that into consideration. I still remember one fancier rest. where the server complained since my toddler wanted to play with the sugar packets... I didn't go there again for a while.

Many parents are very considerate about this and know what their kids limits are and try to be aware of other diners.

:hi:

[bliss_eternal]

82. I've encountered several parents

that were really considerate.

One woman and her husband, asked me if they could sit on the patio, after they already had their meal served to them. No one was sitting out there at the time. She went on to say, they hadn't been out in so long, and thought their little one (infant) could handle it, but she was fussy and they didn't want to bother anyone with the infant crying.

It was a really quiet day, not very busy--no one had complained about them, but I helped them move outside anyway, as they seemed to be more comfortable with that option.

[MarsThe Cat]

94. and some of us DON'T.

i LOVE my child-free existence, and recommend the experience to all.

[geniph]

49. If the hostess has crayons and placemats to color

then that's a pretty big hint that you should probably just suck it up if kids are making normal kid noises.

Now, there are kids and there are kids, just as there are adults. Some can sit through a long meal and behave in a manner that does not impinge on others. For many other kids, expecting them to sit reasonably quietly for an hour-long meal is absurd, and allowing them to get boisterous when they get bored is no kindness to anyone. Know your kid. I beg you. If yours is the kind that cannot sit quietly after half an hour (or at all), that kid is not ready for restaurants without crayons.

The teenage girls are bothering me much more lately, but they're pretty much limited to the hamburger-joint type of places.

I *heart* restaurants with non-smoking full-service lounges that don't admit anyone under 21. They make it possible for families to have a more boisterous meal, and they also make it possible for me to have a meal in reasonable peace. Seems like a reasonable compromise that works for all concerned; the folks with infants can bring them without being abashed about a bit of crying, the teenagers can have parties without being kicked out for horrid shrieking, and those of us who prefer to be able to have a quiet conversation with our dinner partner can do so. No prejudice against anyone, and no worries.

[Beware the Beast Man]

50. This may be one of the sorriest poll questions I have ever seen.

It's like raw meat to the lions.

[CanuckAmok]

51. yes. Adults inside, kids outside, unless the weather's nice...

...then it's the reverse.

[LaraMN]

53. Sure, so long as they also install wrists restraints for the

sloshed individuals who feel comfortable grabbing the asses of other customers who are carrying their babies to the restroom. Nothing like copping a feel off someone who has no free hands to defend themselves-- I'd say that does "suck worse.":grr:

[CanuckAmok]

56. yeah, and why cop a feel of someone with kids?

That's like stealing a Dodge Caravan.

[LaraMN]

58. There's no rationalizing the actions of the thoroughly intoxicated.

I'd half expect that behavior at a bar or a dance club, but not at a freaking Applebees.

[CanuckAmok]

78. Now I'm totally confused...why bring your kids to a dance club?

Or a bar? :shrug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

86. See, now I *would* expect that bahavior at an Applebees

The kind of clientelle a place like that attracts... epsecially the third-tier "businessman" who thinks he's hot shit because he has his own insurance practice or brokerage office or something...

Yeah, whenever I go to Applebees, which isn't often (and only because their grilled garlic shrimp salad is so FUCKING incredible), I expect to see a LOT of boorish behavior, from the ignorant low class people who go there, to the people who think they're "monied" and above others (but who can't, apparently, afford, or more likely *understand* a good restaurant).

And I'm never disappointed.

[LaraMN]

90. You are spot-on, I think.

Because the guy looked like he might well be a "third-tier 'businessman.'" We were there for an extended-family dinner. The food and the clientele were less than impressive.

[CanuckAmok]

54. The Ibis is a beautiful thing, too, but I don't want one ruining my dinner

The Ibis belongs in the marsh, just like children belong in Chuck E. Cheeze.

The ecosystem is fragile. Don't fuck with the ecosystem.





http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/WhiteIbis(CAM).JPG

[tigereye]

61. I HATE Chuck E Cheese

I went there once when a kid we know had his birthday there. I have never CHOSEN to go there.

Just so ya know, many of we "breeders" prefer more diverse fare. ;)

[greatauntoftriplets]

70. Same here....

We introduced the triplets to saganaki at age 2 (they love it) and I watched in disbelief at them last spring when they snarfed down grilled calamari. I won't eat grilled calamari!

:D

On edit: Meant to add that they were 4 1/2 at the time.

[bliss_eternal]

77. Families shouldn't HAVE to go places like that

I've gone to birthday parties there when cousins were small...Talk about sensory overload--kids go nuts in those places.

I'm surprised Chuck E Cheese is still in business. I don't know many families that like them at all...

:shrug:

[tigereye]

83. well

they did have salad that one time we went... that was shocking... ;)

Ikea has a very kid friendly cafeteria....

[La Lioness Priyanka]

55. yes especially in romantic/expensive places

[gollygee]

65. I think for nicer restaurants that's reasonable

but for a place that is obviously a family place, well if you choose a place with crayons it is an unreasonable expectation that there won't be kids around.

[superconnected]

66. I don't have kids, I don't have a problem with other peoples kids

any times I've noticed kids misbehaving are far and few between.

I do have a problme with women who slap their kids in public.

[bliss_eternal]

69. Restaurants w/ a host or hostess worth their salt

will set things up like this.

Not to toot my own horn, but when I was hostessing, if a couple with no kids came in, I made sure to seat them on the opposite side of the restaurant from the families.

Maybe they had kids, but secured a babysitter and wanted a night out. Maybe they were a childless couple, and didn't want to hear it. Either way--I tried to do this--and usually people noticed and were appreciative.

I know most hosts aren't this 'conscientious', so if I'm not in the mood for noise--dh and I will ask to not be near a family when dining out, and hosts are usually fine with it.

But usually, I'm cool with it. Sometimes the child at the next table is ridiculously cute and plays peek a boo with us. I LOVE that! It can make your night to be told by a little one, all about their special day at the park, and shown all the little trinkets they got. Really makes me smile! :hi:

[Iris]

72. Not a bad idea. . .

I'm surprised some resaurant "entreprenuer" (hate that word) hasn't thought of it yet.

[ScreamingMeemie]

74. We had a restaurant here for time (Michigan) that had a dining room,

and a playroom with closed circuit television so parents could watch their children under the care of licensed daycare employees while they enjoyed a "grown up" dinner. I don't know why it didn't go over so well. I would have gone. :hi:

[Iris]

75. Oh, yes. That's the kind of thing I mean!

Or, even a fancy-ish restaurant where there could be a kid section where kids can experience a nice place and learn how to behave in one w/o the stress of having to act twice their age!

[fleabert]

73. I thought you said 'restraints'

lol

[arwalden]

76. No... But Having An Adults-Only Restaurant Would Suit Me Fine.

[AussieDave]

80. I wouldn't mind kids if they were properly controlled

but many parents seem to think the restaurant staff are there to babysit and chase after their little darlings so the parents can have "a night out".

Until a lot of parents learn how to control their children in public - it's separate sections for you lot.

[Redstone]

81. Boy, you like starting flamefests, don't you?

This is only about the 377th time I've seen this subject on DU in the last year, and it ALWAYS gets ugly.

Redstone

[El Fuego]

84. I find...

... people don't bring the kiddies to your finer restaurants anyways.

[sleipnir]

85. Kids should stay at home. Period

There's no reason for brats to run around in the world. They should fear sunlight and not long for fresh air.

I hate screaming, but I hate cold eggs even more.

[Mizmoon]

87. Children should be thrashed soundly at restaurants

not only for the entertainment of fellow diners, but to give their beleaguered parents a chuckle too.

[fortyfeetunder]

88. Parents should have a clue

when a restaurant is kid-friendly or not. I am surprised more people don't research where they can take children so they can all enjoy the meal?

Or is it part of this entitlement culture? "I want to eat at my fancy-schmancy restaurant and take the kids".... :puke:

[unsavedtrash]

89. how about a no cell phone section?

usually happy to sit with kids and would even sit in smoking if it were also cell phone free.

[philosophie_en_rose]

91. "Kids" Sections don't have to be awful

or completely separated. I think that there should be a noisy area in most restaurants and more intimate, quiet places as well.

It should be up to the individual. If you're taking the kids to Olive Garden, it's one thing. However, parents should really think twice about taking the kids to more expensive places without having a care for the kid's comfort and other people in the restaurant.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

92. Yes.

I love well behaved kids. Unfortunately, more people have poorly behaved children. And then there are the parents who bring their sweet little babies out to a restaurant and then ignore them completely. And the baby is just sitting there looking around until their fries or grilled cheese comes. Makes me sad. These are the kids who know to sit quietly or their parents will find something to yell or hit them about. And most of the time they aren't even a year old yet. So please put these sad people in a separate room. Preferably one that is sound proofed.
Duckie

[Pool Hall Ace]

93. Kids v. no kids good, Noisy v. quiet section even better.

I realize most parents have mastered the ability to tune out their children, but many of the rest of us have not.

Yes, I was a kid once. But I was raised back in the day when parents were expected to teach their kids manners before bringing them out.

There are some parents who teach their kids manners even today, but the numbers seem to be dwindling.

The up side? I've saved money and improved my culinary skills by not eating out. There are other reasons besides unruly children to avoid restaurants.