Should restaurants offer Child Free Zones?

Question

It used to be when you entered a restaurant you were offered Smoking or non-smoking sections. With the ban on smoking could we not reclassify to kids or no kids? I know this is going to get some heated comments. But hear me out. I have had a rough day and a late day and would like to grab a bite and read in a popular restaurant. I ask the host when I enter if there is a quiet area without young ones that she could seat me. Her manager points to a perfect corner way across the room (apparently a closed section) and tells her to put me there. All is well until a group of 3 mothers and 4 children under the age of 6 are being seated on the other side of the room. I look up and see that they are disagreeing with the host as to the table choice and pointing next to me. She tries to suggest 2 other table but no- they want the one right next to me. She offers to move me but there is really no other place that offered the quiet I was craving. No sooner does this party sit when not 1 but 2 more groups with young ones are taken to the refused table and point over in my direction and motion that that is where they also want to sit. Suddenly, I am surrounded by mewling, hungry and fussy children. I laughed it up and thought I should have said nothing perhaps Karma would have stepped in. Mind you the place was not packed, it was 7-ish in the evening. I know it is a public place- but would it really be that awful to say- I'm sorry that section is for adults without children. Would that really offend parents?

Answer

maybe not a kids vs. no-kids distinction but a more general loud'n'lively vs. calm and peaceful areas.

Answer

I hear ya. I normally don't mind little-kid-noise (of the "reasonably"-well-behaved-for-their-age variety) at all, but sometimes it's just more than I can deal with. (Older kids not "behaving well" whether without, or in spite of, parental opposition, are an entirely different story, but also not relevant to this post.)

I'm quite sure what you suggest would definitely offend at least some parents under the best of circumstances (people who think the world revolves around them rarely stop doing so when they have kids, they just extend their worldview to include their offspring, at least insofar as other people are concerned), and it would offend even me, I'm afraid, if the place started to fill up and the "kid-free" zone was was generally "preferable" or even just relatively empty compared to a more crowded "kiddy corner." Kids do, after all, generally "go with the territory" in public places. And in that vein, I think it's just not really realistic to expect it except in situations (like "fine dining" restaurants, particularly later in the evening), where long-established social/cultural expectations are on your side. Next time, consider looking for a relatively quiet bar that serves decent food. ;)

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Wow. Eight hours and all the posts are still so civil. Maybe you need to bring up allergies or minimum wage or tipping.:)

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until there is such a thing restaurants with bars are your best bet- often they offer the entire food menu at the bar (or will let you order off the full menu if you ask nicely) within the restaurant and it's ideal for a single diner.

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Yes. there could quite possibly be "child exclusion zones". As a parent, I would have welcomed such areas.

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Teaching children good table manners begins at home. Taking them out to eat is a chance to observe if they've learned anything, not a free card to irritate other patrons with their disruptive behaviour. If you take offense to negative remarks, you're teaching your children it's OK to be disrespectful. 
 Good mannered children is a reflexion of good parenting.

Answer

I have found that some cultures seem to think that it is OK to not only have misbehaving children at the table but allow them to run around loose. These same folks allow them to run up and down the isles at markets and grocery stores. On numerous occasions, I have had child-kart encounters, with the kart coming out on the winning end. I've come to the conclusion that you just can't fix stupid.

I have solved the restaurant problem by not going out very often and eating at higher end establishments that don't franchise. The prices at these establishments tend to discourage these folks and their broods and more than likely would ask them to leave should a "disturbance" occur.

Answer

hmm, it's like the "quiet car" they have added on the train system...no cell phone conversations, no loud talking. It is an hour of heavenly decompression on my ride out of the city. If I were still in restaurant design I'd sure love to incorporate a "side car" for quiet dining!

Answer

Just as the smoker had the right to intoxicate non-smokers lungs with dangerous chemicals, it seems some parents think they have the right to invade public spaces with disruptive, loud, somewhat spoiled/spoiled children.
The worst part is, for now, they do.
A simple sign which lights up after a certain hour which reads 'with children' is not a horrible idea. Children brought out to dine after 5 o'clock are a disaster waiting for a place to happen. The closer they are to sleepy time the more irratible they become, so, expecting them to sit quietly while dinner arrives is ludacris. Also, people sitting in such an area can get to observe each others' children, behaved or otherwise. Those insensitive to patrons who dine alone, will quickly understand how annoying it really can get.

Answer

For some restaurants I'd appreciate a quiet zone - an area where the music isn't too loud, and large groups, parties, and children aren't seated. I've been in restaurants with ear piercing bachelorette parties in attendance and restaurants which were hosting club events. Both rendered it impossible to carry on a conversation, and made a mere cranky child seem pleasant in comparison. And I'll take screaming children over aggressive drunk men any day. 

I don't have a problem with children responsibly taken to appropriate restaurants. Not high end fine dining, unless the child is able to behave appropriately by adult standards (not kid standards). If the kid gets restless or too noisy, someone takes them outside. The parents clean up any mess they make, and keep them from causing problems. 

The problem is, you don't notice those families, because the kids aren't causing problems. It's the ones who think that junior's ear piercing screams are so cute, or take a hungry two year old to an 8pm dinner, or think that letting the kid run around the tables is just fine that cause the problems and get noticed.

Answer

The point is, you are the customer and you asked for a quiet spot. In a restaurant, you order the atmosphere as much as anything. If they did not heed your needs, then they failed. The staff should have had the wisdom--and the insistence--to explain to the lady that you were tired and had asked for some privacy. I know if I had been hostess, I would have. I would have made up a story, or some such; privacy and quiet is such a liquid request to other people--they don't feel like you deserve it in public. I say this being a mother and having an ADHD child that has tremendous trouble sitting still. If my son is acting up, we leave. I won't disturb others--it's selfish.

Answer

I dont think in your specific situation it would have been appropriate for the hostess to say "that section is for adults" just because you wanted quiet. That is not their normal protocol of that establishment. Just your preference.

But, should they do it? Im not so sure. as other people said, it isnt always kids that are disruptive. Heck even a party of 2 adults could get loud if an argument started or too much wine was had.

I think if you are truly looking for quiet, it is better to order take out and go home.

Answer

Restaurants are public places. I don't think we should expect to be able to control the behavior of other patrons. Horribly behaved children are a drag, but so are drunk businessmen, arguing couples, rowdy company parties, and women who dress like they should be working a pole instead of eating a nice meal out.

Really, if someone wants peace and quiet and a place to read a book, they should get take-out and curl up at home.

Answer

There are good parents and bad parents and everything in between. I believe in inclusion of all family members most of the time when eating out. It is an enjoyable social and gastronomic experience that shouldn't exclude anyone. Parents who include and teach and socialize their children are doing their job correctly. My son went to his first fine-dining restaurant when he was two weeks old. We took him out to dinner regularly to all sorts of places thereafter. We took him to good places because we respected him and understood that he was an intelligent and contributing member of our family whose company we enjoy. He NEVER ONCE disrupted ANYONE or ANYTHING while dining out. It just wasn't an option; we taught him how to act and expected him to do it. We all had a good time together and he participated in conversations and ate all sorts of exciting foods. He is now a charming and successful adult who is comfortable in a variety of situations. He is also an excellent and adventurous cook. It is SO IMPORTANT to include children in a variety of daily activities and conversations.

Parents who drag their untaught and unprepared children out to restaurants and then proceed to ignore said children are rude, inconsiderate louts raising more rude, inconsiderate louts.

I am very sorry that some of you have been annoyed by children in restaurants. I am sorrier for those poor children whose shitty parents have neglected their jobs.

Answer

My wife and I have been raising 3 Chowhounds and though I agree with you wholeheartedly, my main concern is finding a restaurant where, 1. A family friendly setting also offers food fit for adult consumption and, 2. The automatic assumption that the kids at the table are automatically going to order chicken fingers or anything at all from a kids menu isn't a problem because there isn't a kids menu.

A half portion of anything from the regular menu will suffice. Many adults do the same for themselves. And if not, a to-go container suits us fine for any leftovers. 

Being automatically banished to the back table by the kitchen door because, GASP! , there's kids in your party isn't fun either.

But, yes, as I stated, I agree with you wholeheartedly that the greater majority of kids are better suited for ChuckECheese or MickeyD's than any restaurant.

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That is a brilliant, brilliant idea.

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I wonder if restaurants that serve alcohol could get around it by calling it the bar seating area, then not allowing kids "in the bar?" Seems like a way to do it that would get fewer complaints and be more socially acceptable.

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Yes, it would offend not only parents but others as well. (Full disclosure: single middle-aged person here. No children.)

Just because you want something doesn't mean you can or should get it. Restaurants are not Amazon Prime.

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I have a grown Son and a Grandchild and one more on the way - and I would not be offended at all for people wanting space without young children there while at a restaurant. Well unless you went somewhere like Chuck-E--Cheese of course, that would be ridiculous. The only problem I could think of is the restaurant not filling one of the sections and having people wait, but I guess they could ask people if they would like to wait or be seated in the "other" section.

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I wouldn't call it child free, but rather noise free. Restaurants are restaurants first and foremost, not daycare centers. Do you think it's OK to bring screaming, shrieking kids into a museum or movie theater as well?

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Yes, we need that stickers, no babies allowed. Put them on public places like restaurants, trains, planes, hotels, even supermarkets. I can't handle the loud noise they make, the big baby trolleys which consume a lot space, and their selfish parents.
Sounds offensive may be? But bringing children to this world takes a lot of responsibilities. Parents nowadays should be more sensitive towards other people right for convenience in public.

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Should restaurants offer Child Free Zones?

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