Why do you need restaurants to be 'family friendly'?

[Anonymous]

What does that even mean? Play area? Mandatory chicken nuggets on the menu? Lets kids run around?

Since my kids were little, I've taken them to restaurants where I want to eat. Basically the same kind of restaurants I went to before kids. Of course, I'm not taking toddlers to Alinea or for 9pm dinner in the city, but I'm not going to eat at special super-casual kids-room-on-the-side eateries for 5-7 years of my life either.
They sit at their chair and are no more noisy or disruptive than any average patron (probably less), whether we are at a casual or a fancy place, so we're going to nice places with good food.

[Anonymous]

When I think family friendly, I usually just think of casual places where it's not a big deal if my two year old is a little louder or messier than your average patron (we obviously are trying to keep him well behaved when we take him out, but there's still an occasional outburst or him wanting to get out of his seat or a few dropped cheerios because he's 2).

We like to take him to this local burger dive that usually has loud music and other places that also have lots of kids. I also appreciate kids menus since they're cheaper and he doesn't eat a lot, but we also usually bring food for him or can find something for him on the regular menu.

[Anonymous]

Are adults dropping big bucks for a special occasion, and will they give us the side eye?

If no, I consider it family friendly.

[Anonymous]

I think it just means casual/lower price point and quicker service (not a multi-course "experience").

[Anonymous]

I don't. I'm a foodie and am raising my kids to be foodies also. They're not chicken nugget type of kids.

[Anonymous]

I’m with you, OP. I drove my newborn straight from the delivery room to Ruth’s Chris.

[Anonymous]

I used to take my eldest to Michelin starred restaurant because she could behave herself. Then I had two more kids, both boys. Now I need family-friendly. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does that even mean? Play area? Mandatory chicken nuggets on the menu? Lets kids run around?

Since my kids were little, I've taken them to restaurants where I want to eat. Basically the same kind of restaurants I went to before kids. Of course, I'm not taking toddlers to Alinea or for 9pm dinner in the city, but I'm not going to eat at special super-casual kids-room-on-the-side eateries for 5-7 years of my life either.
They sit at their chair and are no more noisy or disruptive than any average patron (probably less), whether we are at a casual or a fancy place, so we're going to nice places with good food.

Thanks for the humble brag. My preschooler is not always silent and neat at restaurants. He enjoys a coloring page and crayons. There are kid friendly places that serve excellent food so we do not feel like we are missing out. We do introduce him to nicer restaurants on occasion with a plan B if needed. We also get sitters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you, OP. I drove my newborn straight from the delivery room to Ruth’s Chris.

Newborns are easy

[Anonymous]

I don't need all restaurants to be family friendly, but when dining out with kids ages 2 to 6 or 7, there are certain things that make the experience more enjoyable for everyone (including waitstaff and other patrons). This includes:

- reasonably quick service, including bringing appetizers promptly or even bringing out kids meals early if possible, but also having a way for people to pay and leave swiftly after they finish eating (like QR payment, running cards at the table, or simply ensuring staff aren't so overbooked with tables that they can't pick up the check quickly)

- standard kid accommodations, like booster seats and high chairs, a menu that has items the average kid can and will eat (some kids are more adventurous, others are not, even an adventurous 3 yr old isn't eating a bone in ribeye on their own), bathrooms that will accommodate a family (stalls big enough for a parent to join their kid if necessary, changing table, etc.).

- staff are not openly hostile towards families, this is a culture thing, some restaurants would prefer you not bring kids, which is fine, but a "family friendly" restaurant will hire and train staff to be welcoming to kids and families

Some restaurants do this stuff, others don't. I'm not looking for chicken nuggets and a ball pit, but there are things that make taking kids out to eat a lot easier and more pleasant. I've been to restaurants where we had a lovely meal but my kids are getting antsy because we've passed the hour mark and the waiter is MIA and we are ready to go but need to pay, or where the bathroom is lovely but I had to change a diaper on the floor because there was nowhere else to do it.

[Anonymous]

I love when people credit their parenting instead of their kids’ natures. May you not have any additional kids that might disrupt your worldview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you, OP. I drove my newborn straight from the delivery room to Ruth’s Chris.

On NYE?

[Anonymous]

I think to some extent people now look for “family friendly” restaurants (a vague term that means different things to different people) in part to signify they are not interested in family-hostile restaurants, expense-account places, bar height table or stool only places, tasting menu only, etc. There are some who mean stereotypical kids menu type place but not everyone means that. If my kids can sit at fairly normal table/chairs, and order the salmon but without the sauce, then it is friendly to my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't. I'm a foodie and am raising my kids to be foodies also. They're not chicken nugget type of kids.

I do not want my kids to me “foodies”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are adults dropping big bucks for a special occasion, and will they give us the side eye?

If no, I consider it family friendly.

This.