Ban kids from restaurants?

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by laketrout

... Do people know the failure rate of restaurants, it is pretty high & add to that a crap economy.

You do need to be careful about turning business away. Many years ago, a former GF and I went to a small new restaraunt in Amherst. We did not realise this place was going with the "Formal Dining" style and while we were dressed nice, we definitly did not meet their standard. Since we were at the door before we saw the small sign advising something about 'formal wear required,' and it didn't look crowded, we went in anyway.

The place was 1/2 to 2/3's empty but the hostess (perhaps thinking she had a polite phrasing for throwing us out) advised us that 'all space was reserved for the evening and they could not accomodate us today.' Unfortunatly she said it loud enough for everyone in the dining room heard and most looked over and apeared to be uncomfortable.

This was the 3rd or 4th place to try "Formal Dining" in this area. None of them lasted 6 months. You do take a risk for being too exclusive. Even if the people who visit you meet your target market they may wish to dine out at times that they don't. That is a lot of missed business.

I'm glad I'm only a customer and just get to pick where I want to go, not need to guess what atmosphere potential diners are looking for today.

[ChocolateGypsy]

Originally Posted by WakeboardMom

Funniest thing ever...(or not)....I was in El Mariachi in Moultonborough on Friday night with my husband. We walked in at 8:40...kinda late if you have kids. We sat at the bar, and I could see two tables in the corner that he couldn't see.
SNIP
Little boy was not falling asleep at 8:45. Instead he was standing on his chair, making friends with the folks at the next table, who were four adults between the ages of thirty and fifty-ish. I thought those folks were being good sports, smiling at the little boy and not getting visibly annoyed.
SNIP
This little vignette kind of illustrates why some restaurants might impose a ban on kids. I love kids; I had 4 and now I'm on to grandchildren. But at 8:30 - 9:00 on a Friday night, I'm looking to wind down from my crazy week. LOL...you'll find me at the bar.

The Mariachi has a children's menu? If not, I'm a little surprised at what the parents were willing to spend on the childrens' dinners. Then again, most restaurants in that part of the lake are closed by 8pm, except the Mariachi... which turns into a bit of a "pub" after dark. Might not have been the wisest choice, but not many choices if they just got into town.

I don't believe in banning children, but some parents seem to have a problem with judgement. If the lakes region had a strip joint, I believe there are some folks who would try to bring their kids in there as well! (And then holler "constitutional right" when they're told to leave.)

I see children whose parents are oblivious to the child causing problems with service, becoming a hazard and getting into things they shouldn't be touching. (Liability!!) Unless it is a restaurant which caters to families, believe me, restaurants don't want these customers -- they order the least expensive items, the waitstaff have to double as babysitters, it's extra work to bus their tables (since these kids tend to make a huge mess) and the children ruin the evening for the other guests with their screaming and rampaging. (Hey! They went there to get away from that kind of stuff!)

You'd think this would be a worst-case scenario, but unfortunately I see it a lot. So is it any wonder that some restaurants want to ban children? If you don't work in a restaurant, you probably don't see it enough for it to bother you... unless you are trying to propose to your girlfriend and the kid at the next table is having a meltdown... maybe you'd think twice.

[ChocolateGypsy]

I believe I have the "constitutional right" to start discussing perverted sex acts in public with my friends whenever your kid leans over into our booth to eavesdrop.

::wink, wink::

[SIKSUKR]

Wow. I can act like a bratty kid for that conversation!

[SteveA]

Interesting approach.

[NoBozo]

One notice I have seen: Unattended Children Will Be Retained and Sold as Slaves... NB

[trfour]

Being from a family of eleven children , we never went to an unattended restaurant!

Back in the early 50's when we came into town for some food and or drink, the restaurants loved us, tips and all! The drink of the day was Hires Root Beer. Now, them 5 cent Root beers was awful Good though!! Course, this was all before hi-res tv and cable that charge what ever they can get away with today!

You can still picture this in an old B&W photo by Life Magazine of us'all go'in west in 1952.
Love, Terry
___________________________

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

One notice I have seen: Unattended Children Will Be Retained and Sold as Slaves... NB

I'd shop there. Twice!

[ChocolateGypsy]

Darn, SteveA! You beat me to it!

Make sure there's plenty of sugar in that espresso... that'll teach those inattentive parents!

[ChocolateGypsy]

This is a good example of why people would want children banned from a restaurant (or any public place for that matter.) This may be offensive to some people, so if the moderator wants to remove it, I'll understand.

it's an award winning European commercial (i.e. banned from airing in the US) but it clearly makes it's point.

http://youtu.be/Fitxofd7kOA

[RailroadJoe]

Great video. Of course, we have to ban it.

[NBR]

Ban parents of poorly behaved children!

[Argie's Wife]

Gypsey - LOL! That commercial made my dog start barking!

Why is it that when the kids act up in public, it's always when there's a dozen or so people you know around? The youngest Arglet decided to test me pretty good at Hannaford's the other day... I marched him out of the store after I put back the items we were getting. He was none too happy and pretty vocal about the whole thing... I acted like "la-dee-dah" and kept moving, although inside I was thinking, "Oh, great... just perfect...." the whole time he was yelling.

Funny thing, when you stick to your guns in those situations the kids are amazingly well behaved the next time...

[ChocolateGypsy]

hmm... dogs barking? Oops, i should've suggested that viewers turn their computer volume down, sorry.

a public tantrum is a form of manipulation -- good for you, argie's wife, for not falling for it!

I remember trying it on my parents once... just once. Because I had seen it work for some other little kid. But I forsaw impending doom for me in the dark expressions which appeared on my parents' faces when i hit the floor screaming. So I stopped what I was doing and started praying I'd make it home alive. Never tried that again.