so called family resturant!

ping_2

As it has been half term this week I along with 2 other mothers decided to take our kids to one of those family friendly resturants with a soft play area attached, for lunch yesterday.
All was well as we entered the establishment and we found seats easily, there was a whole area free in the no smoking zone. As we were aranging our children we were asked to move to the busy 'family ' dinning area, "Why," we asked, "our managers instructions," was they reply. After asking to see the manager 4 times he came and said that the empty, yes empty area was for adults area, but not to worry as they were having a refurb soon and would have a bigger 'Family@ dinning area soon. Is it me or does that go completely against the FAMILY image said chain are tryint to put out????
We complained that they were discriminating the adults of the futre, but all the manager could say was well you've got a seat madam!
Needless to say won't be eating there again and am telling as many people as possible.

margaret_3

I know that I shall probably get flamed for this, but when we go out for a meal, we do appreciate an adults only area. If not, we would go to Macdonalds or somewhere like that, especially when we take our nieces out as we know that they cater for children and they don't have an 'adults only' area there.
I am not trying to upset anyone here. I'm just stating our preference.
Margaret

Bossyboots

No flaming from me margaret, I agree with you.

skylight

I have 4 kids - but I hate others.
Mine are not angels, but some parents have the attitude "I'm paying, my kids can do what they like". I find nasty, evil children in restaurants, on holiday - in fact everywhere I look!
If mine are naughty, they are chastised. But I want to take my kids out to nice places - because they DONT play up.

But I also go away to Warners Adult only places with hubby, cos we want to be on our own and dont want other peoples horrid brats to ruin it.

Can't win!!!

badgermonkey

I don't have kids and, as teachers, we do appreciate no children areas! But I wouldn't go to a 'family' pub with a play area and expect it to be child-free. In fact I wouldn't go there at all if I could help it - I'm just not the target market. So I think it's fair enough for the OP to be annoyed in this case.

Queenie

Difficult, I can see it from both sides.

You chose an "adult" area as your preference, but, you are there by the restaurants "invitation" and as such, yes, they can state which area's are reserved for "families" and which are for "adults". Part of the unspoken agreement you make when you enter the premises is to abide by their codes and rules. If they have a designated family area, reserved for adults and children, then yes, of course that is where you are to be seated.

Family friendly restaurants (especially if you are referring to "licensed" premises?) simply means that they welcome families and have made provision for children. It doesn't mean the whole restaurant is available. Respect has to be given to those who enjoy the food/ambiance of the restaurant who do not have children - hence the area you sat.

They are not "discriminating" because they have clearly defined areas.

I can't agree that it goes "against" the family image ... unless they had told you you were not welcome because you have children ... they have made provision for families, they are making it as user friendly as space permits and the fact the family area was busy merely indicates that it's a popular venue.

On the other hand, I can see why you might feel upset and I do think any Manager worth their salt would have had a more congenial manner, instead of resorting to an almost childish defense of "you have a seat madam" Equally, the staff should have been better trained so they could have given you an educated reply instead of "because we've been told to".

I also agree with Margaret ... if I go out w/out my children, but enjoy the food/ambience of a restaurant which has a designated childrens area, then I really don't want to sit with other people's children when I have the choice to sit in an area reserved for adults

After all ... 'family' doesn't just mean people with children, by it's very definition it means *all* age groups (incl. Grannies ).

Vote with your feet and purse, that's what I say

Poppy9

charlotte664 wrote:

I have 4 kids - but I hate others.
Mine are not angels, but some parents have the attitude "I'm paying, my kids can do what they like". I find nasty, evil children in restaurants, on holiday - in fact everywhere I look!
If mine are naughty, they are chastised. But I want to take my kids out to nice places - because they DONT play up.

Hear hear. Nothing worse than other peoples kids whinging, crying, shouting and running around.

We went out for a meal once (once was enough) with a couple who had a daughter a year old than ours. The girls were 5 & 6. The older child started as soon as we went into the pub/restuarant by putting sugar in coke to make it fizz everywhere. When we were seated as soon as she'd looked at the menu she was off wandering the restaurant. My daughter sat there wondering why she wasn't sitting down. By the time ice cream came she was carrying it around the restaurant eating it from its dish. Not once did her parents tell her off. In fact they commented they came her a lot because they were so child friendly. We were horrified.

Plasticman

Poppy9 wrote:

Hear hear. Nothing worse than other peoples kids whinging, crying, shouting and running around.

We went out for a meal once (once was enough) with a couple who had a daughter a year old than ours. The girls were 5 & 6. The older child started as soon as we went into the pub/restuarant by putting sugar in coke to make it fizz everywhere. When we were seated as soon as she'd looked at the menu she was off wandering the restaurant. My daughter sat there wondering why she wasn't sitting down. By the time ice cream came she was carrying it around the restaurant eating it from its dish. Not once did her parents tell her off. In fact they commented they came her a lot because they were so child friendly. We were horrified.

I agree. Some people just seem to let their kids run riot. It doesn't matter if we are in a restaurant, at McDonalds or at home - our daughter sits at the table until she's finished then asks to get down.

Poppy9

Plasticman wrote:

I agree. Some people just seem to let their kids run riot. It doesn't matter if we are in a restaurant, at McDonalds or at home - our daughter sits at the table until she's finished then asks to get down.

And how old is she now 30 :rotfl:

IvanOpinion

I have to agree with the majority of the respondents and say that the restaurant did nothing wrong. I hate going to restaurants and finding children running about and screaming, tripping up the serving staff ... I have always wondered who is to blame if a 'little darling' trips up a member of staff and ends up with a hot skillet of 'sizzling steak' poured all over them. Having seen the reaction of some parents that would say 'it is the restaurants fault, they say it is family friendly yet they can not handle children' whereas I would say it was the incompetent parents fault who were incapable or did not have the intelligence to understand that serving staff are walking along with plates of hot food.

It is nice to know that some restaurants will keep adult only areas .. I have a family too, and it does not contain any children, therefore I do not want other peoples misbehaved children running riot when I am trying to enjoy a meal. Well done to the restaurant, full marks for having a policy and adhering to it.

Ivan

jockettuk

the way i see it .. you take your kids out for a meal during the day during half term.. surly there wouldnt be to many adults there that day without kids.. i can appreciate it being a adults only area at night but during the day! I know of some oldies (as my daughter calls them) that go for a weekly meal once a week as a catch up with there mates and our nearest resturant is brewsters, they dont go during school holidays they find another resturant that doesnt have a soft play area.. ok there might be kids there but normally they there for a meal with there parents and not to play..