Restaurant bans young kids

M V · Post by **M V** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:41 am

Restaurant bans young kids, wins fans
[QUOTE]The owner of a small restaurant outside Pittsburgh is banning children under the age of 6, saying they regularly disrupted other customers' meals.

The move has touched a nerve and led to television and radio interviews from as far away as New Zealand and Australia for Mike Vuick, owner of McDain's Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville, Pa.

It has also sparked strong opinions among those who applaud his decision and those against it. Mr. Vuick said he had received 2,000 emails, running 11-to-1 in favor of his decision.

"I'm doing this on behalf of all the kind, refined people who have emailed me who have had meals ruined," said Mr. Vuick, a former high-school sociology and psychology teacher. "I've decided someone in our society had to dig their heels in on this issue."

Thoughts?

M V · Post by **M V** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:48 am

I think it is a great idea. High time there were some restaurants where people could go out and dine in peace. I avoided certain restaurants when my kids were that young, and wouldn't be outraged if some restaurants have it as a rule. Not all agree:

[QUOTE]
Ruben Navarrette: Restaurant's no-kid ban pampers the adults

LET'S set a few things straight.
None of us were promised that we could make it through our lives without ever being bothered, inconvenienced or made to feel uncomfortable. When that happens - and it will - you do what grown-ups do: Put up with it, or you leave the environment that is causing you such misery and go someplace else.

Someone is going to come into your space and do something that irritates you. But the proper response isn't always a smoking ban, a profanity ban, a fast food ban, etc. Sometimes, all you need to do is speak up and ask people to be more considerate. If they refuse, don't rush out and call your city councilman or pressure an establishment to bar entire groups of people. Just tolerate it, or leave.

Read more: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_18490944#ixzz1SVPXkhpl

Looks like the idea is catching on. Malaysian airlines has banned kids under 2 yrs from first class in some planes. Good move.

RocknRoll · Post by **RocknRoll** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:04 am

modus_vivendi;399595Not all agree

That's right - I don't.
Variety is the spice of life and it makes a meal that much more interesting if there is some chaos around.

So what if some kids mis-behave in a restaurant- that's the perfect opportunity for the rest of us to brag about how much better our kids are... :-)

realgoogler · Post by **realgoogler** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:41 am

modus_vivendi;399595I think it is a great idea. High time there were some restaurants where people could go out and dine in peace. I avoided certain restaurants when my kids were that young, and wouldn't be outraged if some restaurants have it as a rule. Not all agree:

Looks like the idea is catching on. Malaysian airlines has banned kids under 2 yrs from first class in some planes. Good move.

Me too don't agree. I am fine if restaurants impose their code of conduct but not a blanket ban like this. What if I had well behaving kids, why should we be denied a seat.
I believe these adults should go to strip club for dinners which is Adult only anyways.

ana · Post by **ana** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:04 am

I agree with MV. one time me and hubby dear went to a bar cum restaurant without kids late in night. There were two Indian families with their kids sitting on a table right next to us and making plenty of noise. The families didnt care. It ruined the outing for me and I requested another table.

whats wrong on some places classified as no kids, i am sure there are lots of family restaurants also.

Old-Spice2 · Post by **Old-Spice2** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:26 am

I agree. Kids should be banned in Desi potluck parties too. Mummies are running after the kids with food plate all the time. Daddies don't get quality time to talk to other kid's Mummies!

sumachechi · Post by **sumachechi** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:09 pm

Dont agree. Experienced this when we were in the UK. We wanted to go out for dinner with our 5/6 month old baby to a local Thai restaurant who refused us entry at 7.30 pm. After that we didnt go out to such places when kids were small.
If the sound of a crying baby is a fun spoiler for people, what about inebriated adults talking loudly esp in groups and guffawing at lewd jokes etc? Not a fun spoiler? The western world needs to learn to be inclusive of children instead of having separate living areas, separate menu, separate parties, seperate lives for them.

mn_op · Post by **mn_op** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:38 pm

sumachechi;399645The western world needs to learn to be inclusive of children instead of having separate living areas, separate menu, separate parties, seperate lives for them.

Not sure what you mean. I think kids menu is a good idea. They would eat those blasted fries and chicken strips/nuggets with ketchup no matter what else is on the menu. Separate chair for small kids is also a good idea. Separate bed is also not a very bad idea. Separate parties also seems ok as they prefer their friends in the parties anyways.

I think restaurants should make it clear whether its kid friendly or not. Its easier for parents to relax knowing that restaurants do not have problems with kids spilling water oin the floor and then rolling in it while kicking the tables.

vapasi1 · Post by **vapasi1** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:42 pm

I hate the TVs in Indian restaurants. They will invariably have some cartoon channel on, if it is not cricket season. It screws the whole fun of dining-out and good family-time.

sumachechi · Post by **sumachechi** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:28 pm

mn_op;399675Not sure what you mean. I think kids menu is a good idea. They would eat those blasted fries and chicken strips/nuggets with ketchup no matter what else is on the menu. Separate chair for small kids is also a good idea. Separate bed is also not a very bad idea. Separate parties also seems ok as they prefer their friends in the parties anyways.

I think restaurants should make it clear whether its kid friendly or not. Its easier for parents to relax knowing that restaurants do not have problems with kids spilling water oin the floor and then rolling in it while kicking the tables.

I meant the other separates in a wider sense -outside of a restaurant. "Kids menu" as part of party food or once in a while is ok, but when there's a separate dinner at home everyday for kids( extremely common in the UK) ,its ridiculous. Kids need to learn to eat normal food , not just covered in batter and fried , eating with normal adults etc.Kids food (outisde of infancy and pureed stuff) was a concept I got introduced to in the UK for the first time. And Same for separate parties- at least in the UK, it is very common to get invites only for the adults and not including your kids. Kids come along only if they are specifically mentioned. When we were once invited for a wedding our 3 year old daughter had a separate invite with her name on it since she warranted a separate place card.
While I dont want to take my kids to a party where people were getting drunk, puking around and acting without inhibition, I would rather reserve my choice in not taking them rather than being banned from taking them there.