How do you handle this?

I only have a couple of people that I know order a kid's meal for themselves. One of them is a about 5 foot and 90lbs soaking wet. The burger we sell in the Kid's menu is a 1/4 burger, the same as for the adults, but they don't get it dressed and a 12oz soda and 5oz of fries as opposed to 8oz fries (small) or 12 oz fries (large). I have another customer who orders a kid's gyros along with her son, but the husband orders a regualr size one. It doesn't really bother me, because I believe they order the kid;s meals because they have small appetites not in order to save money.

On the opposite side of the equation I had a customer recently order two banana splits, one for her and one for a three year old. There is no way a three year old could eat one of my banana splits, they are huge. Sure enough, half of it was thrown away.

We have an age limit posted on our menu boards. Sometimes, adults will come in an request to order off the kids meal because they want something small. We usually say yes but inform them that they would have to pay for an adult drink. Usually the beverage is the high profit margin item. And most of our customers don't mind it all all.

Maybe that is something you might want to look into!

I'd post an age limit on the menu. I'm not saying that you have to enforce it, but it will probably make most people who are doing this now uncomfortable when they order.

Also, perhaps you can take the drink off the kids' menu. Like most of my friends, I don't allow my children to drink soda. Ever. So when we order kids' menus, they end up drinking water but paying for the soda. Most adults do want a fountain drink, so they might be unwilling to order the kids' menu. Or, they'll have to order a soda separately, bringing up your take at the register.

Yep, i't's posted for all to see that our "Bat Boy Baskets" are for 12 and under. And we have sold kids meals to elderly, petite people. I've even had an adult ask if they could order a kids meal because they had gastric bypass surgery - how do you say no to that! I do like Nira K.'s suggestion of charging them for a drink. BTW, what is the name of your restaurant?

I would LOVE to be able to order a child-size burger at Home Run,

You can! All the patties in the house are the same size: hand-portioned at about 1/4 lb each. The kids meal gets a Li'l League Burger - one patty - which anyone can order off of the menu. Most adults do order the Big League which has two patties and eats so much better than one patty.

The point is that the kids menu is discounted already as a help to the family and an incentive to come there.

So true. We don't charge extra for cheese on kids meals, it includes a drink and a 1/4 lb. homemade fries (our regular portion is 1/2 lb.) Also, the hot dog for kids is the same all-beef 1/5 lb Vienna dog we have on our regular menu.

As I recall your "lunch special" is a burger of somewhat smaller proportions

Actually it is the same size burger but the only time that adults can get the "lunch portion" of fries - a 1/4 lb serving.

But like she said..people can be ordering it for their kids..so you never know. And if you see them then eating it in the restaurant..it's not like you can go and back charge them.

My teenage cashiers are uncomfortable questioning people ordering kids meals and I have embarrassed myself at the register when they point to their children sitting at a table for whom they are ordering!

This is not the worst problem to have and we are[u]glad to have 'em in the door and ordering to begin with! Just watching the pennies. Thanks for the ideas and letting me whine.

Hi Kathy,

I own Bazo's Fresh Mexican Grill. Stop by sometime when you get a chance.

We have two locations

University (U of L)
1907-C S. 4th street
Louisville KY 40208
502-899-9746
Mon thru Sat - 11.00am - 10.00 pm
Sun - 12.00pm - 9.00pm

Dupont (ST. Matthews)
4014, Dutchmans Lane
Louisville KY 40207
502-899-9600
Mon thru Fri - 11.00 am - 9.00 pm
Sun - 11.00 am - 8.00 pm