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In Dining Blogs
Is my kid restaurant-friendly?
As a food writer and parent, my perspective is not so much is a restaurant kid-friendly, but more so, "Is my kid restaurant-friendly?"  
By Amy L. Schubert RSS Feed
Food Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Amy L. Schubert

What is a blog?  For us it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Published Oct. 10, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.
Tags: kids dining, children

October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, special features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food. Bon appetit!

Molly Snyder Edler brought up a topic yesterday that is potentially near and dear to many of our hearts in, Are These Restaurants Kid Friendly?

It's actually a topic that Dan Harmon of WUWM and I will discuss in our upcoming radio interview, but I wanted to address it here on OnMilwaukee.com, as well, since Molly does such a great job of talking about parenting on this venue and the topic seemed to draw a lot of positive attention.

As a food writer and parent, my perspective is not so much is a restaurant kid-friendly, but more so, "Is my kid restaurant-friendly?" Let's face it. We're all, with kids or without kids, paying the same price for the food and service at any given establishment, so why should it be any different for us if we have our 6-year-old with us?

There are certainly great things a restaurant can do to make themselves more adaptable to well-behaved kids -- for example, offering half portions, serving milk and juice in rock sized glasses (or even plastic glasses for the super-kid conscientious dining experience), having crayons, or even just asking the children for their orders (kids are people, too!)

But, ultimately, most of the onus lies on us parents to teach our children what is and isn't acceptable restaurant behavior, and taking the steps to make sure we're prepared if things don't go as planned.

I'm by no means a model parent, but after taking Alex to a ton of places over the years and watching others' children dine, I've picked up a few things that may assist with taking your little ones along to dine:

  • Host sit-down dinners at your home with cloth napkins, please and thank yous, and no elbows on the table to set expectations for good dining manners.
  • Start kids off at a Chancery or a Red Robin, or somewhere else that is decidedly kid-friendly so they can learn by doing.
  • Investigate the venue and menu out online before you go: locate the bathrooms, decide what you think your child may like to eat there, and determine off the bat if you may need to bring along child-friendly items like sippy cups or a box of crayons if you think the wait may be a little long.
  • Bring along a fruit snack or a banana to eliminate potential "I'm hungry" whines while you're waiting for your food.
  • Wet naps. Never a bad idea.
  • Have a reminder conversation about what is and isn't appropriate in a restaurant before you get into the car to go. Getting out of your chair and in waitstaff's way is never, ever appropriate. Nor is yelling, or spitting out or throwing food.
  • If things get rough with a tired or cranky child, consider getting your food packed up to go, and leave.
  • Clean up after yourselves if you make an extraordinary mess. Or at least tip very well.
  • Most importantly-have fun! Dining out together should be an enjoyable treat for all!
6 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by debbah on Oct. 13, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (report)

We have taken our now 6-year old daughter to *nice* restaurants since she was an infant. We now take her anywhere, and I do mean, anywhere (Eddie Martini's, Coquette Cafe, Mr. B's, Lake Park Bistro). Inevitably you get the withering stares of worry when other diners see us enter, followed by strangers approaching after they leave to complement us and our daughter on how well behaved she is. I think if you spend too much time at the truly "kid-friendly" places your child may pick up more bad habits than good. Modeling good behavior at EVERY meal, not just "special" ones is really the key. Show respect for the food, your fellow diners, and the people who prepared it, whether at home, a restaurant or a friend's house, and you'll have a child you can and should take out with you everywhere.

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Posted by ecandlmh on Oct. 12, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (report)

Well, Funky Brewster, I am reminded of a sign I once saw that was posted in a vineyard in Napa Valley. It read: Unattended Children will be given a double shot of espresso and a puppy. I sincerely hope that if you ever dine in my establishment I have the opportunity to give you these gifts. It is not your server's job to supervise your unattended children. Your server should of course do his or her best to make sure they are as comfortable as can be in the environment, however you do realize that servers have tasks other than continually attending to one table correct? Brewing coffee, rolling silverware, running food, stocking ice, etc. Take care of your own children, or bring a nanny to do so.

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Posted by FunkyBrewster on Oct. 11, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (report)

I think of waitresses like dining babysitters they can look out while i get some me time by the buffet...

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Posted by JKranky on Oct. 10, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (report)

I think it is a great idea to try your child out at a child-friendly restaurant. Also, determine first whether your child is able to take direction and will listen to you when you are there. If you have a child that is not good at listening, avoid the restaurant scene until they learn to mind. No one is happy when a parent has to continually scold a child over the course of dinner. Also, I agree with MKE Dad. I'd like to see some guidelines for adults... like, don't blow your nose at the table, don't talk on a cell phone at the table, other tables don't need to hear your conversation, etc.

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Posted by MKEMomof2 on Oct. 10, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (report)

We have a small lunch box that goes along with us every time we head to a restaurant. It has a bunch of little wind-up toys, cars, action figures, etc. inside. The boys only play with it while we're out, so the toys always seem new to them. It's worked wonders to keep them occupied before we eat.

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Show me the other Talkback
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