“Kids’ Menus Grow Up,” says the San Francisco Chronicle, which claims that more and more Bay Area kids are dining out at white-tablecloth restaurants with their parents, ordering off special menus that are worlds away from PBJs and spaghetti.
Lobster “corn dogs,” butternut squash ravioli, fried calamari, and roast pork loin are some of the delights to be had at Bay Area restaurants. Clearly some restaurateurs are reaching out to children with refined tastes—as well as parents who didn’t lose their desire for four-star dining when they joined the stroller set.
But are other diners turned off by kids in restaurants? Certainly the notion of children at fine-dining establishments is a controversial one. The Chron piece tiptoes around the issue, clearly not wishing to take sides but providing tips for parents who wish to dine politely, as well as the restaurant owners who’d like to attract them.
Like to eat out with the sprogs? Here are some savvy tips for dining with kids, plus some general table-manners advice for tykes.
Personally, I am grateful that there are still restaurants around that don’t cater to families with young children. I have a 16 year old, and when he was little, a meal in a nice restaurant with only adults was coveted. I resented the intrusion of young children, and I still do. I’m not a kid hater; I like most kids and love my own. I just enjoy the occasional break. He has learned the social graces just as well by waiting a few years before being introduced to white tablecloth dining as he would have if I had insisted on dragging him there when he was too little to understand or appreciate it.
Ultimately, it is up to restaurants to decide whose business is more valuable to them and up to patrons to decide what they’re willing to tolerate. Personally, on those very rare occasions when I am splurging on a nice meal, I choose restaurants that don’t encourage parents to bring the rugrats along.
I used to work as a line cook/pastry chef at an Italian restaurant that the average check was $100/per person. Our “children’s menu” consisted of chicken fingers and fries, plain bowtie pasta in butter, or plain pasta with marinara, all sold at the bargain price of $14. Not exactly exciting, but the restaurant wasn’t a kid place. Some parents didn’t understand the absence of a printed children’s menu and the lack of high chairs in a tiny, romantic Italian restaurant.
We’ve been taking our kids out to nice restaurants since they were about 5 yrs old. We will usually avoid tiny, intimate, quiet places, or overly ornate places that involve 3 hour meals, but they’ve become accustomed to behaving properly (generally) and finding something to eat (usually) even where there isn’t a kids’ menu.
They will now usually try almost anything at least once, and my older one (10) in particular has become a pretty adventurous eater and loves the pork belly w/ kim chee, frog legs, and duck confit at one of his parents’ favorite restaurants.
The trend toward tapas-style menus and 1/2 portions has made it all the easier, as we can actually order a prepared dish for them (when they’re feeling adventurous) without leaving behind a ton of food.
We also try to make it easier for the kids by asking that their entrees be brought out with our apps, and letting them mull over dessert while we’re getting our entrees.
I don’t think our kids have ever been any more obnoxious than any number of adult diners. I remember a great article somewhere about the author taking his young daughter out to high-end restaurants, and how often the staff seemed so equipped to deal with her, which prompted the revelation that young children are like certain of the ultra-rich: they are super-demanding, expect everyone to cater their every whim, and throw a hissy when it doesn’t happen immediately.
What I would really love to see somewhere is a “kids tasting menu”. I think they’d really get a kick out of it.
No one has pointed out that in cities like San Francisco and New York, finding kid friendly places is very difficult. Restaurants nearly always trend upscale because they have to pay their rent. I don’t think you can compare taking kids to a $20/plate restaurant in New York City and taking kids to a $20/plate restaurant in suburban Dallas.
TThomas -
I’ve actually found the Bay Area remarkably kid-friendly for dining. We found many places (including higher end) had children’s menus, and virtually all were accomodating about doing simple special orders and/or timing dishes to appease the kids.
Reports are here ->
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/433015
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/433164
Isn’t part of the reason why I live in San Francisco so I don’t ever have to see, hear, or otherwise acknowledge that children unfortunately exist somewhere in world?
Ok, I kid (a bit… I mean, I recall reading that the statistics actually support the claim that we have more dogs than kids… and I actually really like dogs), but I have to say I’m not a fan of this idea. It just seems too likely to go bad easily.
At the same time, though I’m still a very picky eater (no unprocessed tomatoes, no mushrooms, no green peppers, no green beans, no alcohol, etc.) even as a child I recall being able to behave properly, sit still, and maintain a reasonable conversational tone. Likewise while I threw the very occasional tantrum about not wanting to try something new my palate was definitely above the level of chicken fingers and corn dogs.
I’ve got nothing against dining out around children who behave well, the problem is finding well-behaved adults… including those who don’t even have any children.