Kid Free Zones - the next wave after no cell phones??

[meme]

Agreed. Chain restaurants cater to families with kids. At most places in DC, there aren't even special menus for children.

I agree to a certain point too, but why would you want to bring your kid out on a Friday and Saturday night after 8 p.m. just to eat?

 

[MMDad]

If the establisment serves booze then it's catering to adults, not children.

So are you saying I shouldn't take my kids to a pizza place? Name a restaurant around here that does not serve booze.

 

[AMP]

These places all cater to the family crowd. If you don't want to be around kids, go somewhere a little higher class.

They didn't used to (most places with bars didn't, you got funny looks if you brought your kid into a place with a bar that allowed smokers), and at that hour I don't expect to see young children out there anyway. Every once in a while, though, I want junky appetizers and a cheap margarita.... I do go to higher class restaurants, as you put it, and there I see either no children, or 4 years olds who know how to handle a knife and fork and who keep the cloth napkin in their lap.

"Children should be seen and not heard" should be brandished above every eat-in establishment.

 

[MMDad]

I agree to a certain point too, but why would you want to bring your kid out on a Friday and Saturday night after 8 p.m. just to eat?

Some families are on a different schedule. You should expect a certain standard at upscale places, but if you go to a chain that caters to families, expect families.

 

[AMP]

If the establisment serves booze then it's catering to adults, not children.

Agree heartily!!

 

[AMP]

Some families are on a different schedule. You should expect a certain standard at upscale places, but if you go to a chain that caters to families, expect families.

See, the lowering of standards is rampant. "Give us your screaming toddlers, your food slinging rugrats, your ignorant mothers, your dads that look the other way... and we will serve them."

 

[MMDad]

They didn't used to (most places with bars didn't, you got funny looks if you brought your kid into a place with a bar that allowed smokers), and at that hour I don't expect to see young children out there anyway. Every once in a while, though, I want junky appetizers and a cheap margarita.... I do go to higher class restaurants, as you put it, and there I see either no children, or 4 years olds who know how to handle a knife and fork and who keep the cloth napkin in their lap.

"Children should be seen and not heard" should be brandished above every eat-in establishment.

When you walk in and they have balloons and crayons, expect what you get.

I will not take my 3 year old to a nice restaurant yet because it imposes on others. I would take my 6 year old because she has good manners.

 

[meme]

Some families are on a different schedule. You should expect a certain standard at upscale places, but if you go to a chain that caters to families, expect families.

You are correct, but I know that on Friday and Saturday nights the "older crowd" likes to go out for drinks and shoot the shiznit with their friends/dates/or whoever they can converse with. I think someplace like Denny's or Friendly's is a more "friendlier environment" at that particular day and time.

 

[thakidistight]

So are you saying I shouldn't take my kids to a pizza place? Name a restaurant around here that does not serve booze.

Chuck e cheese? Fast food establishments? Bob Evans (I am not sure about that one, never been but I know Friendlys didnt).

 

[mAlice]

So are you saying I shouldn't take my kids to a pizza place? Name a restaurant around here that does not serve booze.

It's really not my problem. As I stated before, I had the common courtesy to not torture other patrons with a small child. I fed my child before I went out, and hired a sitter, or I stayed home. I really don't see why other people think they're so special that they should do things any differently.

 

[MMDad]

Chuck e cheese? Fast food establishments? Bob Evans (I am not sure about that one, never been but I know Friendlys didnt).

So you're sayng I should drive up to Annapolis, eat fast food, or go to Slob Evans until my kids are 21? Why don't you go to a bar instead.

If there's a kids menu, they cater to kids, and you should expect to be exposed to them.

 

[MMDad]

It's really not my problem. As I stated before, I had the common courtesy to not torture other patrons with a small child. I fed my child before I went out, and hired a sitter, or I stayed home. I really don't see why other people think they're so special that they should do things any differently.

You never went to a resturant while your kids were small? Not Nicollettis? Applebees? Nothing?

 

[AMP]

When you walk in and they have balloons and crayons, expect what you get.

I will not take my 3 year old to a nice restaurant yet because it imposes on others. I would take my 6 year old because she has good manners.

Just cause they give away balloons and crayons does not mean people can let their kids get away with acting like little idiots at these places. I expect at least the same courtesy I give with my child. If your kid is in a mood or otherwise not fit for being in a restaurant, stay home.

 

[mAlice]

You never went to a resturant while your kids were small? Not Nicollettis? Applebees? Nothing?

Not with them, no.

 

[mAlice]

Just cause they give away balloons and crayons does not mean people can let their kids get away with acting like little idiots at these places. I expect at least the same courtesy I give with my child. If your kid is in a mood or otherwise not fit for being in a restaurant, stay home.

crayons and balloons are the establisments way of trying to help parents control the kids that they insist on bringing, because most of the time parents just let the kids scream and run around like animals.

 

[AMP]

So you're sayng I should drive up to Annapolis, eat fast food, or go to Slob Evans until my kids are 21? Why don't you go to a bar instead.

If there's a kids menu, they cater to kids, and you should expect to be exposed to them.

Cause people bring their kids to bars, see above: Applebee's, Bennigan's, etc, etc. No, not saying you should slob around, just merely stating that if your kid is not fit to take to a decent restaurant and interact with a modicum of self dignity instilled in them by decent parents, then yeah, you should stick to teh slobby places.

Slob Evans

 

[RoseRed]

Name a restaurant around here that does not serve booze.

Rick's Cheesesteak Factory, unless they finally got their license.

 

[Pete]

I take Boy to the bar. I keep him quiet by letting him play lotto. Never fails, some chic starts tickling him. He is such a "chic magnet"

 

[BadGirl]

Good, well-mannered kids are cool. Bad, ill-mannered kids are not.

Keep the bad ones at home and let the patrons of a restaurant or bar enjoy their night out without the disruption of dealing with a bunch of noisy, inconsiderate brats.

 

[BadGirl]

I take Boy to the bar. I keep him quiet by letting him play lotto. Never fails, some chic starts tickling him. He is such a "chic magnet"

That's because you've taught Boy to be a respectful young man, and to sit back and quietly amuse himself while the adults do their thing. Boy is a delight to be around. You've done something very right with him.