Kid-Free sections in restaurants?

[Pryderi]

Poll question: Kid-Free sections in restaurants?

[dropkickpa]

1. Yes

Is there a place I can leave Dropkid when I walk in? Seriously, she's turned into a little shit lately and I refuse to go out to eat with her because of it. Sad thing is, she'll be 10 in a couple weeks and she definitely knows better.

[bigwillq]

2. Yes (nt)

[tigereye]

3. maybe in fancy ones... for couples who want to forget about kids for a while

But in general, as a parent, I can't say I would take too kindly to that. The term "kids-free" is kind of offensive to me. :shrug:

[nadine_mn]

54. I can understand "kids-free" being offensive - I like the idea of quiet section nt

[Deep13]

4. No, but, the other diners have a right to expect that parents...

...will keep their children under control at a restaurant.

[Fleshdancer]

5. How about a women-free section? Jewish-free? Asian-free?

I think targeting a portion of the population just because you find a few of them annoying is a bit extreme.

[distantearlywarning]

8. If the women, Jews, or Asians are screaming and disrupting my meal

Then yes, I'd prefer to not sit near them at a restaurant either. I guess that makes me a racist. :eyes:

[Chan790]

9. Not a few. All of them.

All children.

[WolverineDG]

11. Actually, it's the do-nothing parents who let their kids run wild

& arrogantly believe that anyone who thinks children should behave obviously hate kids bother me more.

dg

[lukasahero]

22. We don't allow children to have all the same rights as adults

Your comparison is mute unless you think we should start selling alcohol to 5 year olds and letting them in to strip clubs.

[Lucian]

46. Not when you're trying to enjoy a nice night out...

only to be ruined by some little shit who won't shut his trap.

[nadine_mn]

Not even sure how you made that leap

Last I checked - children are NOT a protected class like gender, race, or religion. We have labor laws that ban children under a certain age from working - do you think that would be like having a ban on women or Asians working?

[nadine_mn]

53. delete dupe

[madinmaryland]

6. Yes (with an asterisk)...

If I am going to an expensive restaurant, then I don't want it ruined by someone annoying.

OTOH, if I am going to the Outback, the Olive Garden, or one of those, then I expect there to be children there.

[Chan790]

7. Yes. Yes! Oh dear God yes!

I'm just about orgasmic at the thought. Restaurants where people can't bring their kids; I'd never eat anyplace else, even if the food sucked.

[mentalsolstice]

10. Yes, at least in the bar area!

I hate seeing little kids take up seats in the bar area, drinking soda, while adults who would be paying more for a drink can't be seated. It's not fair to the bar staff.

[blueamy66]

36. and then the parents drive them home.....

after having a few....

[era veteran]

12. Do not bring your kids to a restaurant and let them run

wild. I have been doing this work since '77 & I will say something to the parent. They should be on their best behavior in public. Usually they will work a server harder, clean up is harder, and getting a decent gratuity the hardest. All the other guest are usually pissed off to varying degree. I had 80 sorority girls come in last night and they were a pleasure.

[LaurenG]

13. Change the title of your poll to Family Section and I'd be OK with it

I think having sections would be fine. If I have kids with me I'd sit in the family section, if I have only an SO or business associate I'd sit in the quiet setion.

[Pryderi]

20. If there are "Family restrooms", there should be Family eating areas.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

14. How about a shitty-parent section?

With a special time out place for parents who neglect their duties and let their kids go ape shit in public restaurants? Young kids can't help themselves sometimes. Their loser parents need a good shaming.

[KamaAina]

15. Only if the restaurant serves

:popcorn:

[mokawanis]

16. It takes a village

Excluding children from restaurants? Where else would people like them banned? Banks? Grocery stores? Movie theaters? I take my grandkids to restaurants and I insist that they behave themselves, but any asshole who complains or gives me dirty looks can just fuck off. Kids have a right to eat in a fucking restuarant. Maybe the people who can't deal with that are the ones who should stay away.

[RZM]

23. That's it right there

I once covered a rural area as a newspaper editor. A family had moved there and apparently their neighbor had a dog that constantly barked, all day and all night. The husband got so mad that he ended up shooting the dog with a BB gun, though luckily it wasn't seriously hurt. Anyway, his wife later petitioned to have a noise ordinance put in place so that 'something could be done' about the troublesome canine (to her credit, she thoroughly denounced her husband's actions in her presentation). The Township Trustees refused to consider it and the Trustee that addressed her gave an explanation was short and to the point. He said: 'Ma'am, you live in the country. Out here in the country, we have animals. And those animals make noises.' And that was the end of that.

That quote has always stuck with me and I think it applies here. Young children have a right to go in public with their parents and while they are there, they sometimes make noise, just like they do at home. I don't like being around screaming children any more than anyone else does, but I also don't think that anyone has a responsibility to ensure I'm not exposed to it. If you can't deal with being around children, tough. Life ain't fair ;)

[lukasahero]

24. "Excluding children from restaurants?" --- No - and you know it

Your post is disingenuous - NO ONE suggested banning children from anywhere - and you damn well know it.

[last_texas_dem]

30. +1

[Zavulon]

32. Some kids are absolutely intolerable.

Not all kids are well-behaved. Loud and disruptive behavior from kids other than your presumably well-behaved grandkids is a lot more offensive to a crowd of people than those dirty looks which offend YOU so.

Banks, no, grocery stores, no, but I would love to see some kids-free movie screens in larger multi-screen theaters. It's kids which have kept me out of theaters for over ten years now. The lion's share of them are loud, they're obnoxious, and their parents don't seem to give a fuck about the rest of us. So, the same "fuck off" you reserve as a response to those eeeeeeeeevil dirty looks which offend you so is exactly what I have for parents of unruly, loud, disruptive little brats who ruin a good time for everyone else.

I fully support kids-free SECTIONS in restaurants. By the way, in response to your "Kids have a right to eat in a fucking restaurant," not even the title of the thread's original post suggested otherwise. The thread asks about kids-free SECTIONS. So, before you blow another gasket, be advised that the OP referred to PARTS, SECTIONS of restaurants - NOT THE ENTIRE RESTAURANT - where some of us who don't want kids around can eat in relative peace. How you were led to believe that the OP talked about excluding kids from restaurants is beyond me, but whether it's a hair trigger on your part or just poor reading comprehension overall, I hope your presumably well-behaved grandkids don't inherit either trait from you.

Also, just as you point out in your overreaction that "Kids have a right to eat in a fucking restaurant," people who don't want to hear loud kids behaving poorly have a RIGHT to complain.

Yes, some people have rights which might irritate you, just as you and your presumably well-behaved grandkids have some rights which might irritate us. Deal with it, just as you expect us to.

[Chan790]

41. I believe there is a kids-free theatre in Alexandria.

Or there was when I lived in Arlington, VA a decade ago.

Something about a city ordinance banning minors from bars, so the theatre got a liquor license so they could call themselves a "cinema-pub" or some-such and started serving cocktails, beer and pub-food explicitly so they could ban kids. I think the tickets were like $18 a movie though, plus the food/beverages.

Still, movie, few pints, huge plate of nachos and NO SCREAMING KIDS for $50ish for a couple for a nice evening...might be worth it once in a while.

(I think the film selection lagged the current releases by a few months though.)

[Lucian]

47. Kids don't have the right to eat anywhere.

If a restaurant wants to ban kids, then they can. Just like kids can't eat in a lot of bars or strip clubs.

And why should I have my restaurant experience to be ruined by some little shit who can't shut his/her trap? If you can't control your goddamn kids, then maybe YOU shouldn't be the ones going out.

[nadine_mn]

52. where did the OP say "excluding children from restaurants"

It says "kid free SECTIONS" (my emphasis added)

Don't go into hyperbole just to prove a point that is trying to be made.

No one is talking banning children from places.

Read first - flame later

[progressoid]

17. As a parent, I'm ok with it.

[Mojambo]

18. I don't see the problem with it

Nobody is saying parents can't bring kids to a restaurant, only that a section can be set aside for people who don't wish to be disturbed.

I don't see why any parent should get a pissy about such a solution, but then some parents are totally fucking entitled.

[LynneSin]

19. I really think it boils down to the class of restaurant involved and even them some limits

If you're talking Houlihans or TGIF then kids are a way of life.

But if this is fine dining then I think they should be allowed to have some limits on kids being served.

[Iggo]

21. Nope.

I don't hate kids.

[Zavulon]

33. So you equate

disliking unruly, loud, disruptive behavior from some kids (and not wanting to be around such behavior) as a blanket hatred of ALL kids? How exactly does that work? Enlighten us alleged kid-haters, please.

[Iggo]

39. No.

I said, "I don't hate kids."

You're doing the equating.

[Zavulon]

59. In that case,

is it fair to assume that you believe one can be in favor of kids-free sections without hating kids? I don't think my assumption from your post was unfair at all, but now you've got me interested. As I write this, it seems that 91 of 117 poll respondents like the idea, and I'm hoping that doesn't mean you think 91 of us automatically hate kids just because we don't want to hear them at dinnertime.

[nadine_mn]

55. I love kids - but I also like the idea of kid free SECTIONS

sheesh why are so many jumping to hating kids and banning kids from everywhere

[Throd]

25. As a father of two little girls, I say yes.

Heck, there are times I wish I could be seated away from them too.

[Capn Sunshine]

26. Any restaurant worth their salt

Seats the kids away from everyone else. It's not that hard. Unles you are the Olive Garden

[rbnyc]

27. Instead...

...parents should not bring their children to restaurants that are not appropriate for their level of maturity.

[cherish44]

43. Excellent idea

It only took one time for me to drag my screaming toddler out of a restaurant in embarrassment for me to realize that talking her out to eat wasn't going to an option until she was a little more mature. If we wanted to take the kids out we went to a place where they could run around like Chuck E Cheese. For us it was a no brainer but some parents don't quite realize that there are other people in the world to consider. By the way an overactive toddler isn't the result of bad parenting. Most toddlers are pertpetual motion machines and getting them to stay put and stay quiet for a long time isn't easy no matter how great your "skills" are. So taking them to fancy fine dining restaurants where people want to enjoy a nice night out isn't the most considerate thing in the world. My kids grew out of it, like most toddlers do, I can take them (almost) anywhere now that they're teens :)

[rbnyc]

44. Good point about parenting skills. (nt)

[cherish44]

28. True story

I'm all for it. We went to a restaurant for a birthday celebration for my sister with my whole family and there were probably about 8 kids under the age of 7 with us. The place was completely crowded and we had to wait forever to get served. I got a little annoyed because some of my family members were constantly taking their squirmy kids for walks around the restaurant to keep them entertained while we waited. Did I mention the place was frickin crowded and superbusy?? And some of these kids were 5 and 6 and should have been perfectly capable of staying seated at the table. I was double annoyed because I saw lots of other kids in that restaurant who managed to stay in their seats while my nieces and nephews had to get up and go for walks every 10 minutes while we waited. No they didn't go outside it was January and 5 degrees. There were waiters, customers and the like having to dodge these kids. My daughter was 12 and even she embarrassed by our family. I did make a comment to my brother and sister that there were plenty of kids in that restaurant who were actually staying seated at their tables and not walking around the very busy crowded restaurant with their parents. Oh the dirty looks I got...I don't care, don't act like entitled snots....tell your kids they need to sit their butts down and behave in a restaurant and if that's not an option...LEAVE THEM HOME!

[last_texas_dem]

29. Nah

"Adults" need to get over themselves. I've long found many of them to be far more annoying in public than children. Annoying children still have time to grow out of it; annoying adults are a lost cause.

[Rochester]

31. Yes! I hate kids.

[Iggo]

40. .

:rofl:

[Maine-ah]

34. depends on the restaurant.

Don't expect it at a family type restaurant. Though, in "high-class" restaurant I can see it.

As for those that claim they hate kids, please keep in mind they are kids...they are learning, and if they're out of control it goes back to the parents. Usually if you just get some food into them, they calm right down.

My daughter is four years old. She's exceptionally behaved at a restaurant. Then again, I've been in the restaurant business for 15 years. I made sure from the get-go that she learned how to behave, and when ever there's been an issue we tell her we're going to leave. If the threat doesn't work, we pack up and go. We've only had to do that once or twice.

[Monique1]

35. The poster is not saying forbidding children

from restaurants but have a place for children - what is wrong with that? I also say time for parents to take responsibility for their children in a restaurant.

There are times I have been in a restaurant where children are hanging over the booth where I am eating or running around throwing food screaming and yelling. Teach children manners and there won't be a problem.

My adult children teach their children manners and they take their child out of the restaurant when they get out of hand.

Just because the restaurant is family style doesn't mean that parents should permit their children to run wild. Interesting that many churches have a special place for children also. If parents do not want to discipline their children in a public setting - take them to McDonalds where there is a playground.

Nothing is more annoying when trying to hold a conversation with screaming children in the same place. I always took crayons, paper,puzzles etc to occupy my children when they were younger. Children get bored quickly and need something to keep them busy.

My son, my grandson and I went out too lunch a few weeks ago, people came up to him and said what great manners he had - not a problem., proud grandma here. My son toward the end saw he was getting restless so we left. We were finished and continued our conversation at my home. He is only 2 1/2. He was not allowed out of his seat at the restaurant. We also talked to him while we were eating ... not just a body who was sitting in a chair.

I do understand the posters feelings and I do understand the parents side - but it all comes down to the parents who ignore their children in the restaurant and think they are cute when wild.

[Maine-ah]

37. uh, I think that's basically what I said.

[Orrex]

57. .

[blueamy66]

38. It's all about the parents.

Learn how to raise your kids right. Teach them manners.

If I acted up at a restaurant as a child, I was taken home.

Kids these days....

[Curmudgeoness]

42. Yes yes yes. Did I say yes...

I am so sick of trying to eat a nice meal and having to tolerate screaming nasty kids. Just because their parents are used to this sort of behavior does not mean that I am. They act like it isn't even happening. Ugh.

And I realize that there are well behaved kids. Too bad they are the minority.

[Lucian]

45. An absolute must.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

48. yes

Me and my wife don't even go out to eat anymore because half the time it's miserable. We do takeout for special occasions.

[jberryhill]

49. Okay, but can we agree on keeping adults out of the ball pit?

[Chan790]

50. Ohhhhh.

"But that's my favorite reason for going to Chuck E. Cheese." - Chan, 30

"Geesey Chrisey, what are you? 30 going on 8?" - Jacey (my youngest brother), 23

(Actual conversation.)

[blueamy66]

51. And then there was the mother who brought her 2 yr old daughter

to the buffet with one of those Fisher Price pushy ball poppy noise making things and let her run up and down the buffet line popping the shit outta that thing. I wanted to grab it and smack the mother in the head with it.

[nadine_mn]

56. Heck yes - and I like kids

I don't have children - but I used to work as a child advocate at a domestic violence shelter for over 3 yrs and one of the best parts was getting to take kids out - to McDonalds, to Chuck E Cheese etc. I knew ahead of time that I was going to have a van load of kids and took them places that were child appropriate. I also knew that as an adult my job was to be engaged with the children and not tell them to go play in the ball pit while I chatted with my co-worker. It was fun - and I learned a lot about children and their attention spans.

Believe it or not - not all children can sit quietly at a table full of adults for up to an hour (the length of a dinner service at a TGIF's or Applebees). I feel sorry for the kids because there is so much vying for their attention - TV's, all that fricking flair on the walls, other diners) and its sensory overload and adults are boring.

My husband and I met with his brother, wife and 3 children (all 3 under the age of 10) to go eat at a family restaurant at the Mall Of America. Before I left work to meet them, I pack my purse with crayons and printed off coloring sheets (thinking that the kids would probably have coloring sheets and its not fair that I would be left out). When we got to the restaurant - I was a little surprised that the BIL and SIL didn't have anything to entertain their kids. My husband and his brother had not seen each other in years and I had not met his wife so I at least expected a lot of adult talking. After watching BIL and SIL either ignore their squirming daughters or give them dirty looks and telling them to "be good" (which is such a stupid thing to say - they weren't 'bad' they were young, had no idea who husband and I were and were bored) - I took my crayons and coloring sheets, moved towards the kids more, shared my stash and the evening went by fine. I was able to talk and color - the kids were happy an adult wasn't shushing and ignoring them, and I didn't have to speak much to BIL or SIL.

(whole other story - I can't stand them)


So all that said - I do enjoy children and I agree with many posters who say that its bad parenting not the kids (and not even bad parenting as much as unrealistic expectations) that can make dinner frustrating.

I would expand the "kid - free" or "family section" to quiet section. Ban cell-phones too and maybe keep it to small groups. Also in the quiet section get rid of the loud music or tvs mounted on every corner. Sometimes I like to go out to eat with my husband and not have to shout to be heard over loud groups, drunks, crying kids, screaming adults and cell phones.

If restaurants can have kids eat free nights and specials, why can't they also have an adult night special?

[Orrex]

58. I only eat at restaurants that are certified 100% kid-free

Nothing I hate more than chewing my way through a nice, juicy hamburger and finding part of a kid still inside.

We should have standards, for pity's sake!

[xchrom]

60. Provided the food was good - restaurants with adult only zones

Would get my business.