Fine Dining for Children

I go out to eat often. I avoid places where there will be a lot of kids, dine out late, or dine at bars. People let their kids run around at restaurants all the time, it's very aggravating!

Oh, come on. Can't we have just one conversation about children without having a big discussion about how awful it is to have kids in public?

I mean, really. Every time there's a wine or beer discussion, wouldn't it get really really old if people came on with stories about how irritating the table filled with drunken yahoos next to them was? Pretty much no one on the board likes kids. I think we get it. Should those of us with children stop reading the board?

Wow, so dramatic!

This reminds me of the big Christmas celebration that was held every year for the children of the employees of The Palmer House and Conrad Hilton in Chicago. It was for kids under 16 only and consisted of a sit down lunch served in the big ballroom. The older kids were responsible for the younger at each table. At the end, right before Santa, the lights went down and the waiters brought out trays of some sort of orange dessert that was ablaze. Perhaps The serving piece was a candle or something- memory fades here- but it was spectacular, and I never recall any child misbehaving. Of course we all knew there was a present at the end of the meal.

Pretty much no one on the board likes kids.

Did my post imply that, Tina?

Nope. But I surely can't be the only one who has picked up on the vibe. "Fine Dining for Children" First response? "Children suck."

Oh, come on. Can't we have just one conversation about children without having a big discussion about how awful it is to have kids in public?

I mean, really. Every time there's a wine or beer discussion, wouldn't it get really really old if people came on with stories about how irritating the table filled with drunken yahoos next to them was? Pretty much no one on the board likes kids. I think we get it. Should those of us with children stop reading the board?

Wow, so dramatic!

Nope. So irritated. And clearly making a point.

I love the little girl who said that they never put anything good on the children's menu and that "they always have chicken nuggets and stuff." Ha! How great is that?!

Lol! That's awesome. Yes most children's menus need some work! Some kids eat more than chicken fingers

"Fine Dining for Children" First response? "Children suck."

Did that get edited or deleted? I can't find it in the thread.

[Robin Garr]

Nope. But I surely can't be the only one who has picked up on the vibe. "Fine Dining for Children" First response? "Children suck."

Tina, I respect your concern, and I even respect your right to be mad. But I went all the way back over this thread, and, like Marsha, I couldn't find that remark. And I also found about two pages of posts in which the only person against children in restaurants was Annemarie, and while she expressed herself in colorful style, I don't really see her knocking children so much as parents, if you know what I mean.

Seriously: Look at the whole thread and tell me if I'm not right. I just don't see a "vibe" that's anti-children in this entire thread, and I honestly wonder if it's something I'm not seeing ... or something you're not?

I'm sorry, but I have to feel for Tina. I'm a mother of a 3 yr old with less than stellar behavior, so maybe I can sympathize. Annemarie, you would have been mortified by me today in Target then. I have a child with an oozing ear that's refusing to sit down in the cart as I'm trying to check out. So I'm trying to work the CC machine, and hold him down all while he's having a meltdown. did he look like something was wrong with him? No. Is he special needs? Yes. Does he look like it? No. YOU NEVER KNOW what's going on. Am I supposed to hide myself away in my house day after day and hope on the off chance that maybe today will be a good day? I swear it's the same way with going out. I would love to spread my dining dollars out, but it's just not worth it. *sigh* Calgon take me away.

I don't have kids yet, (one on the way) but I agree with Tina and Megan. I have noticed a distinct "kids suck" vibe on this board wherever and whenever children are mentioned. No one would come right out and say, "I hate kids," of course, but the vibe is most definitely there.

Goes to show you never really know what the situation is. I say keep on dining out- even if you have poorly behaving kids, as long as you are making an effort to modify the behavior.

I'm sorry, but I have to feel for Tina. I'm a mother of a 3 yr old with less than stellar behavior, so maybe I can sympathize. Annemarie, you would have been mortified by me today in Target then. I have a child with an oozing ear that's refusing to sit down in the cart as I'm trying to check out. So I'm trying to work the CC machine, and hold him down all while he's having a meltdown. did he look like something was wrong with him? No. Is he special needs? Yes. Does he look like it? No. YOU NEVER KNOW what's going on. Am I supposed to hide myself away in my house day after day and hope on the off chance that maybe today will be a good day? I swear it's the same way with going out. I would love to spread my dining dollars out, but it's just not worth it. *sigh* Calgon take me away.

Megan, I hear ya. I have a boy with Autism and it was a long hard road, but now he is our easiest kid. Keep on keepin' on and come out to Westport. We are tolerant.

I don't have kids yet, (one on the way) but I agree with Tina and Megan. I have noticed a distinct "kids suck" vibe on this board wherever and whenever children are mentioned. No one would come right out and say, "I hate kids," of course, but the vibe is most definitely there.

I certainly don't think this Forum dislikes children or get that vibe, but I do agree with some of Tina's reaction. I had some of the same reaction around 1:00 - but due to operator error , my response was never posted.
We've been thru the " misbehaving kids in restaurants" thing before. Can we get back to the original intent of the post?- to talk about a great way to teach kids about fine dining ( and proper behavior in the establishment) and oh by the way, a very clever way to bring in traffic during a dry spell, and get some great press at the same time.

Deb

All,

Read this in the NY Times- the Four Seasons does a special event for children.
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/childrens-day-at-the-four-seasons/?ref=dining
No special kids menu; they are treated as adults as much as possible. What a wonderful idea! Wouldn't it be great if we had something like this in Louisville?

Deb

OK, I'll bring it around to the original post. Why don't we have something like this in Louisville? ITBers?

So, more on topic... It would be kinda neat if some of the local establishments would do something like this. Maybe not free, but reasonable, like $5-$10 so it's not too hard on any of the parents and would help cover the restaurants costs for food/service. It would be a really good field trip for schools. So many local places are closed on Mondays, but they could spend one or two Mondays a year for kids to come in and try new foods, learn about manners and etiquette, and get dressed up.

For the record, you've probably never seen my kid in a restaurant because you wouldn't notice her. At all. She doesn't talk to people she doesn't know. And lately, the places we tend to frequent with her are Bazo's (unfortunately we only ever see one or two other tables there - they must get a lot of lunch business), Havana Rumba, and Shiraz. She's never seen the inside of a large scale fast food restaurant unless you count QDoba. Plus, she won't eat anything off of any kids' menu. So I'm not defensive about my own kid.

I think a fine dining experience geared toward kids would be great. However, I think the opportunity is out there even without doing something specially geared toward littles. I know Corbett's has a lunch/brunch thing. I won't be taking her anytime soon, but in a few years? Why not?