I have always wondered if people would patronize a restaurant if it actively did not allow for anyone under the age of 18 to enter. (Assuming its legal, of course, which I really don’t want to discuss, let’s just assume it please.) And I don’t mean: with a legal guardian/parent, I mean, sorry, you’re not old enough - scram. Not a bar or a club either. Just a regular restaurant around the price range of Applebees/Chilis/Outback, etc.
Fuck yes! Hell, why do you think I prefer bars and casinos to restaurants as it is? No one under 21 can come inside. Well, okay, there are other reasons, but I would gladly patronize a child-free establishment.
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.
Yes, that means I’d get a peaceful meal without having my kids with me.
Yes, please. Note, that isn’t to say that I think all restaurants should be child free but the thought of occasionally going somewhere I know there’s no chance of having my meal disturbed by children is very appealing. Of course there’s still a chance for my meal to be disturbed by an obnoxious adult. . .
I love kids, but I don’t see at all why this would be objectionable to anybody. So, I voted “yes.” Come to think of it, most of the times I dine out, it’s pretty much de-facto child free.
No, considering that I usually have at least one of the under-18s with me.
But yes I would go if I were just dining with my husband (and no kids) but the policy wouldn’t matter to me…In other words I would go with my husband if that’s the restaurant we wanted to visit; whether or not they allowed children would not affect my choice in any way (but would affect my behavior in that I would refrain from taking my kids to the child-free place).
Having been to a few restraunts in my lifetime: I don’t understand what the problem is with kids being there.
If some kids are being assholes that’s because they are arseholes, not because they are kids. Adults can be arseholes too.
And I’ve never been to a restraunt where a kid over the crying baby age was a problem.
So no, I wouldn’t prioritise a restraunt if it labeled itself as child-free If anything I’d avoid it: It seems like a snobby attitude. “No urchins or ragamufins here”
ETA: I’ll admit that I’ve probably just been lucky not to have encountered badly behaved kids in restraunts.
I have had many a restaurant meal ruined by screaming, misbehaving children. All these restaurants had different seating areas but do they use these areas to separate the childless from the childful? No, they seem to think that people without small children do not mind at all being trapped in a small room with screaming children. Since they sprinkle the screaming children families all over the restaurant instead of sequestering them all in one area you can’t even refuse the table so I would most definitely patronize a restaurant that didn’t allow small children and wasn’t ridiculously expensive.
Again, the options blow. I answered “something else.” I definitely wouldn’t go, and I am not sure I know people who would, but I don’t think you are a jerk for suggesting it.
I wouldn’t go because when I am out eating without the kid, I like to go to somewhere nice. Restaurants like Applebees/Chillis/Outback etc exist for me as places I can take the kid.
So assuming we ignore the legality of this hypothetical, it still wouldn’t work. You’d have enough pissed off families being barred that, when they hired a baby sitter so they could go out, they still wouldn’t choose your restaurant. Of those left, you’re not going to have a big enough clientele on a day to day basis to keep the restaurant afloat. Think about the economy right now. Restaurants that are inviting to everyone still can’t keep their doors open and now you want to bar paying customers from entering, just cause?
Yes, it may be a fine idea (and I voted as such). But no, it would never work.
I can’t see why not. I have no kids and I prefer not to be around others children.
Yeah - its the economics that really kill it. Reality can be such a drag on a good idea!
For those that answer “its not black and white” - if you come back. What other options should have been included?
It really doesn’t matter to me whether people have their kids at a restaurant, as long as said kids are behaving, which means no screaming, yelling, temper-tantrums or other disruptions. Of course, for this to happen, parents have to parent, and their kids have to mind them.
The other thing is that the kids have to remain seated with their families – no running around in the aisles or generally being a pain in the arse to others.
If your kid doesn’t know how or won’t behave in public, leave them home instead of inflicting them on everyone else.
I have seen some kids in restaurants that are absolutely well-behaved, and I have complimented parents on how well-behaved their kids are. I have also seen some little monsters, and have wondered quite loud (within earshot) why some people can’t make their kids behave, and why they feel the need to show everyone else what crappy parents they are.
Wouldn’t specifically seek it out, nor specifically avoid it, unless I’ve got kids with me.
Profile: Married with two kids. I also take my kids out to nice places at times, and also leave if they (or I) am acting up.
I already go to bar & grills that are 21 & over when I don’t want to deal with young-uns.
I would have no issue if a place set strict rules either.
Sure, what do I care if a place doesn’t allow children. I might avoid such a place because I would expect the restaurant to attract a lot of overly sensitive people, but I wouldn’t think about much. Now if a restaurant allowed children but banned cell phones I would go there in a New York second.
Wow - that’s a good idea too! I may have to go into the restaurant biz! (Cause I am just not losing money fast enough in the stock market!)
Sure, if the food was good. I probably wouldn’t actively seek it out, since I don’t seem to encounter screaming children that often, anyway.
I do tend to go to more couple or group-of-young-people oriented places, rather than the family-friendly types of chains, so that’s probably part of it. And since I don’t eat out all that often, when I do, it’s a place I really want to go, not just to grab something edible.