Kids bringing fast food into restaurants: What do you think?

Michelle, let's say they DON'T know it. Why in the world are they bringing their children somewhere where they think they CAN'T order kids' food?

Who is letting this ruin their meal? That's a straw man argument.

It's a lively debate. Both sides are equally opinionated. Nothing wrong with that. I understand the business point of view. I get that totally. That being said, as long as there are no posted rules against it, if a parent chooses to bring food in for their child, and the establishment they are patronizing allows it, what is the harm? Is it affecting YOU, as a patron? If not, then look the other way, and let the parent choose how to raise their own child. Several people in the biz have said they have no problem with it, several do. This is still America, we're entitled to agree or disagree.

Actually it probably is affecting me as a patron. I'm probably paying more for my meal because your children who you bring in McDonald's happy meals for are not contributing to the profits of the restaurant. In this way it not only affects the restaurant but the other patrons. There should be no reason other than special dietary concerns to bring outside food into a restaurant for your children! The argument they won't eat anything else doesn't hold water, just ask for something they will like or challenge them to try something different! Don't pamper their every need.

Who knows why parents do what they do? Sometimes shit happens. Sometimes emergencies arise. I'm not saying take the kid to Corbett's but as you stated earlier, your friend left Lou Lou because she didn't know you guys could make something her kid would eat. I don't have children. I don't know that I CAN have them. My point in all this is, as a patron, why does someone get offended if someone else's child is eating food from an outside source. As an owner, I can understand being concerned, as it affects your livlihood. Anyway, it's been a long day. Goodnight.

I really don't understand why some parents are so adamant on this issue. It obviously isn't a big issue to the vast majority of parents, they make do with the situation. The other parents should just follow their lead and quit coddling their children.

I think I just died and went to some kind of heaven. Mark R. and I seem to be agreeing on something.

Don't take me for granted, Mark! You and I have to make each other really work for every consensus betweenus.

Michelle, I accept your statement that you think restaurant owners/managers have the right to be offended by this practice. I'm not sure how many patrons care about it; I've seen very little of their dismay in this thread. Some folks posted about smelling fish when they didn't want to; frankly I am offended and dismayed when EITHER servers or patrons wear too much cologne. Any person that works for me, whether it's in a restaurant or at school, even in the hallways - you'd better not be wearing cologne.

That's just me. I don't know how anyone can cook, serve or enjoy food if someone around them has on too much cologne.

So how are the general public, some of whom aren't in the know about this lovely forum, expected to know about ordering something not on the menu? I would have had no idea if you hadn't said something. I just think it's unfair to label someone as a rube because they don't know about the unspoken rule. That's not exactly common knowledge. Just sayin'.

That's one of the great things about this forum - now everybody knows!

I don't have strong opinions one way or the other about this topic, and if I did, they would have teetered back and forth and back again with some of the valid arguments here.

I WILL say, though, that restuarants would be entirely justified imposing the "seating fee" suggested by another poster, as they frequently do with cake service and wine corking.

And damn... While I read through this thread, there musta been a dozen additional posts (I promise I'm not a slow reader - I may have been distracted by one the few remaining LOST episodes). Whew. All this in ONE afternoon and evening? Hotbytes is on fire today. Bet five more posts are to be read by the time I share my comments. Way to go, chief admin!

So how are the general public, some of whom aren't in the know about this lovely forum, expected to know about ordering something not on the menu? I would have had no idea if you hadn't said something. I just think it's unfair to label someone as a rube because they don't know about the unspoken rule. That's not exactly common knowledge. Just sayin'.

Um, first of all, I think it's pretty common knowledge. Secondly, as per the myriad of numerous previous responses, no one is really saying their meals are constantly ruined, the question was "Is it rude?" The answer is YES.

If you find it so rude, feel free to patronize only those places with a strict "no outside food" policy. I think adults getting completely wasted and being really loud is rude, however, sometimes it happens, and you deal with it. If a kid eating a Happy Meal is so very upsetting to you, then I hate to see how you'd handle a truly catastrophic situation. Someone said earlier if a child wants to eat at McDonalds, to feel free to take them there. Guess they momentarily forgot that McDonalds is a chain, and therefore an evil no-no. So, what is a person with children supposed to do? Taking them out to eat at a nice place is offensive if they're picky, and only bad people patronize chains.

Is it ok or is it rude to bring in outside food. It is rude. I think it's insulting and not ok. Do I freak out and throw a fit when I see it happen? No. Do I lecture the parents at their table? No. Is it still rude? Yes. Is it rude to bring your own dessert? Yes. Do I accommodate patrons anyway without outward judgement? Yes.

Yep. Saw that the first time you posted it.

Did you bother to read it this time?

Though I have never brought any outside food into a restaurant, if I were a restaurant owner, I would not go out of my way to alienate ANY potential customers. This seems like a stupid principle to sacrifice business for.

How many restaurants have the luxury of turning away ANY business these days? Is business really so good and capacity utilization so high, that you are willing to turn away those parents with the picky child? Seems like it might be a good way to beef up that early evening business. Besides, those annoying kids (future caregivers, taxpayers, and customers) will be home and in bed before the serious business starts rolling in.

Seriously, does Mickey D's threaten your mojo?

Well, that was interesting. I just read all 8 pages- good going Robin.
Speaking from a restaurant employee's POV only, I think it is ridiculous for a patron to assume bring in food and taking up space is OK with a restaurant's staff. I give an absolute pass to medical conditions and allergies, but other than that- really?
What is so hard about asking what a kitchen can do for you- if an adult at the table didn't like (fill in the blank) I can assure you 98% would ask for a substitution. For 10 years I worked in a place that was proudly kid unfriendly, we were told that no substitutions were to be made, yet the chefs always kept some noodles in back just in case. I even ran to the hot dog stand on the corner one night to make a family happy. (PS- the guests were not charged). When people choose to be in the hospitality business they tend to take the HOSPITALITY part very seriously.
Is it because this problem involves children that people have blinders on? Think about it. If your friends were at one of our local craft beer establishments and you didn't like craft beer- would you have the guts and nerve to carry in a six pack of Bud Lite?
That is my two cents- and even though I realize that in the big scheme of things it isn't of great import, I must say I've enjoyed this discussion more than most. Carry on.

Though I have never brought any outside food into a restaurant, if I were a restaurant owner, I would not go out of my way to alienate ANY potential customers. This seems like a stupid principle to sacrifice business for.

How many restaurants have the luxury of turning away ANY business these days? Is business really so good and capacity utilization so high, that you are willing to turn away those parents with the picky child? Seems like it might be a good way to beef up that early evening business. Besides, those annoying kids (future caregivers, taxpayers, and customers) will be home and in bed before the serious business starts rolling in.

Seriously, does Mickey D's threaten your mojo?

Again, who said anything about turning away business? The question was: is it rude? The answer is: Yes.

If you don't mind being rude, go for it. I won't ask you to leave. Thanks for coming in.

Is it because this problem involves children that people have blinders on? Think about it. If your friends were at one of our local craft beer establishments and you didn't like craft beer- would you have the guts and nerve to carry in a six pack of Bud Lite?

Eight pages ... and the truth.

Ahhh. The joys of insomnia.

Here goes, only because I know that if I don't say it, I am not going to be able to go to sleep. Here's the scenario...my grandmother has been in the hospital for several days. My parents/aunts/uncles/cousins and I have been at the hospital for what seems like weeks, waiting for the inevitable to happen. After she passes, several members of my family decide to go dine out. The adults want real food and a few drinks, the kids wanted fast food. So, they split the difference. On the way to the restaurant, they stopped and got us fast food, and the group of us ate in the restaurant. This brings me to my point...maybe instead of being annoyed when you see a family bring in food from outside, be kind, as you have no idea what may be going on.

Did you bother to read it this time?

Nope.

Marsha, thanks for the response. I completely disagree, but so be it. Comparing a restaurant with a strip club is uh.... interesting? I think you need to write an article about what goes on in the kitchen when we're not looking.



So what would a restaurant typically charge to whip up something special for my kid?

Would I be paying a ridiculous premium for it or would the price typically be reasonable.. and by reasonable I mean what you would expect to pay for a kids sized meal?

I typically associate "off the menu" with "lube up here comes the check". Is this a wrong assumption on my part?

Yeah, it's a wrong assumption. There is no way a white tablecloth restaurant is going to rape you for a kids' meal, if they are a decent establishment. Cheesy noodles = max $4.99, most places. It's not that "special"! They are making it in the back all night for the servers! Chris, you know I love you and yours. I think you are laboring under some false assumptions, for sure...have you ever tried to order kids' food at a nice, sit-down restaurant? My guess is no...otherwise you'd already know this.

My general opinion has always been : If they don't have a kids menu, they don't serve kids.

I'm ok with that. We have never taken our daughter to a "nice, sit-down restaurant". Unless you count CPK, which I don't. Wait.. we took her to P.F. Changs once but then she LOVES Chinese food and always has. It's nice-ish. She's 10 now, so we've discussed taking her out to a fancier place. I think she is now old enough to appreciate it and maybe even be adventurous with her food selections.

I never took this discussion to be around upper crust establishments. I would never take McDonald's into Corbetts or Seviche.

I might take it into El Tarasco or some such. I would also never suggest taking a different pizza into a pizza place. Maybe a burger into a pizza place if everybody wants pizza and one kid won't eat it.

The original example was someone who took a burger into a Mexican place. I have no problem with that. You aren't likely to find a burger on the menu, and not likely to find fixins for a burger in the kitchen. My daughter wouldn't eat Mexican food for a long time. I love it. Like, love it. When I get the craving for something more than Taco Bell, it's not fair to leave her at home. She still wants to be part of the family.

So I pick her up McDonalds or whatever. We order a drink for her and make sure to tip extra, though 20% of a happy meal is like $.80.

I've carted McDonald's into my Mom's house when she was cooking something I knew would not be acceptable. I've cooked Kraft Dinner so I could make something "weird" (her words) for my wife and I.

So no. I've never tried it, but a lot of the people on here have for some reason extrapolated the original question into "Is it Ok to eat a Happy Meal at La Relais."

Obviously no. Duh. There are certain standards a diner must uphold. Stop running off to strange, illogical conclusions.

But honestly, I'd have no qualms about taking one into a place like Wick's, Qdoba, Shiraz or some other such middle of the road establishment and everybody else can... as I said... shut up about it.

Especially if you don't have kids of your own.

And btw - if I had $1 for every time my party of 2 has been seated at a 4 top I'd get $1 off most of my meals. Judge not lest ye be judged.