Restaurant Bans Kids Under 6: Discrimination or Smart Move?

[mkats]

I approve.

Boyfriend and I went to a Hibachi restaurant once and although we had a reservation for two, there was some miscommunication and they seated us at a table with a family with four children (apparently the restaurant didn't have tables for less than eight, but okay). All was fine until the children started picking up their knives and forks and started banging them on the plates and table. The dad looked at us, grinned, and said, "Aren't our little drummers so cute?"

We apologized to the waitress and left.

[ilovesalchows]

We have some great restaurants in Portland that have kid's areas. We always go to Hopworks or Laurelwood when we want to go to dinner and take the little guy. Otherwise its Thai takeout or the food carts.

I don't know who would take a pre-schooler to a nice restaurant anyway. I hate going nice places with mine. Its amazing we get through dinner at home sometimes.

[Bostonfan]

I have fond memories of going to an upscale restaurant 1 or 2 times a year with my parents when I got to around 10 y/o. It felt very fancy to me and we dressed up a bit. I was old enough to behave and appreciate the difference in the quality of the dining experience. Banning kids under 6 y/o is personally very reasonable I think. It's important for children to go to a nice restaurant to learn proper manners in a public setting. But before the age of 6 y/o, it's pointless to try to instill that in chilldren.

[Tinami Amori]

There should be Family Restaurants and Adults only restaurants.

[marbri]

I wish they'd ban cellphones in restaurants :D

[AliasJohnDoe]

I usually never curse when having a conversation in public. But...

Am I the only f**king person who deliberately laces their f**king conversations with f**king curse words just to get f**king parents with disruptive f**king kids to f**king leave my f**king vacinity?.....It really f**king works.

[manleywoman]

I have kids and I think it's fine too. I have plenty of dining options both with and without kids, so it's cool by me.

[BigB08822]

I usually never curse when having a conversation in public. But...

Am I the only f**king person who deliberately laces their f**king conversations with f**king curse words just to get f**king parents with disruptive f**king kids to f**king leave my f**king vacinity?.....It really f**king works.

LMAO! This reminds me of a story. Some friends and I went out to eat at a rather nice place, definitely not some place you take your children to if you can help it. It was getting late, about 10 PM (!) and we were having drinks and cutting up and enjoying ourselves. We weren't being loud but we were right next to their table and not in a booth so there was no sound barrier at all. They finally asked us to watch our language and our conversation topics. We told them to put their children to bed like a real parent. :lol: Liquid courage, hehe We weren't saying anything too bad but we were not going to sit there with our mouths shut all night because they decided to bring their children to eat at 10pm to a nice restaurant.

[Lacey]

My youngest grandchild will be one next week. He is by far the best behaved of the six. Give him food, and he can sit contented for an hour and a half.

[manhn]

I don't have kids and almost never have issues with kids in restaurant. Unruly teens or rude adults are much more problematic.

[numbers123]

I wish they'd ban cellphones in restaurants :D

this!

[Prancer]

I don't have kids and almost never have issues with kids in restaurant. Unruly teens or rude adults are much more problematic.

I can't even think of a time I've had an issue with kids or adults or anyone in a restaurant. I'm sure there have been some, but they must not have been too traumatic or they'd pop right into my head.

I seem to lead a much-less-troubled life than a lot of people here do. I go out in public and get things done and rarely run into annoying people who say or do things that irritate me. I don't understand it at all.

[marbri]

I can't even think of a time I've had an issue with kids or adults or anyone in a restaurant. I'm sure there have been some, but they must not have been too traumatic or they'd pop right into my head.

I seem to lead a much-less-troubled life than a lot of people here do. I go out in public and get things done and rarely run into annoying people who say or do things that irritate me. I don't understand it at all.

You must live in the same alternate universe that I do.

[Allen]

I served and bar tended during undergrad. I would have been thrilled to work in a restaurant that banned kids.

[marbri]

I don't think kids should be allowed in restaurants where severing is going on either :D