Rasika not allowing kids under 8?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. Kids younger than 8 really shouldn't be at a fine dining place for dinner anyway. They are tired, grumpy, etc.

Also, totally random, but I get so annoyed when I see women with babies trying to eat at places like that. The husband ends up sitting there and eating while she is somewhere in the corner, holding the baby in her arms, swaying back and forth. How is that fun for anyone other than the husband?

Have you had a baby before? You could be describing some of the meals out that we had when I was on maternity leave. DH and I would take turns holding the baby if she needed to be held, but you might not see that part. In any case, those few months with a pre-crawling infant are pretty much your last where you can take your kid out to a nice restaurant and actually enjoy your meal, so maybe cut these people some slack. Unless the baby is crying the whole time or something is going on where you think "wow this is not the right venue for this" leave them alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am fine with this. I have a 5 yr old who is actually pretty good in restaurants, but I still wouldn't take her to a fancier restaurant and I actually like when restaurants are very up front about the kind of place they are. A lot of restaurants will go out of their way to advertise that they are family-friendly or want to have kids there, and then you show up and they don't have a kids menu and people are annoyed about your kid.

That said, I'd love if there were more truly family-friendly restaurants in DC -- we often eat in the suburbs simply because it's easier to find a place where we know kids are truly welcome.

When I fantasize about opening my own restaurant, I imagine we'd do something called "family hour" a few nights a week, where we do an early service (like 5-7) that is geared specifically for families with young kids, with specials for the kids or family friendly shareables and the whole point would be to get lots of families in there for 90 minutes or so, and kids could learn how to behave in a restaurant without the stress of needing to get it exactly right every time because they are kids and they need more chances than that. Also just an opportunity for families to celebrate a birthday or graduation or something at a nicer restaurant but in a family friendly way. I feel like it could be good for the restaurant and great for families -- real community building and a way to create relationships with customers that could last a really long time because I would be so loyal to a restaurant that went out of it's way to become a part of my family's mealtime in that way.

We live on the Hill and there are many family friendly restaurants over here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awesome.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great!

Not every restaurant is for small kids. Get a sitter.

-- mom of two, who doesn't want to deal with other people's bratty kids on her night out

You sound a bit spoiled and high maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am fine with this. I have a 5 yr old who is actually pretty good in restaurants, but I still wouldn't take her to a fancier restaurant and I actually like when restaurants are very up front about the kind of place they are. A lot of restaurants will go out of their way to advertise that they are family-friendly or want to have kids there, and then you show up and they don't have a kids menu and people are annoyed about your kid.

That said, I'd love if there were more truly family-friendly restaurants in DC -- we often eat in the suburbs simply because it's easier to find a place where we know kids are truly welcome.

When I fantasize about opening my own restaurant, I imagine we'd do something called "family hour" a few nights a week, where we do an early service (like 5-7) that is geared specifically for families with young kids, with specials for the kids or family friendly shareables and the whole point would be to get lots of families in there for 90 minutes or so, and kids could learn how to behave in a restaurant without the stress of needing to get it exactly right every time because they are kids and they need more chances than that. Also just an opportunity for families to celebrate a birthday or graduation or something at a nicer restaurant but in a family friendly way. I feel like it could be good for the restaurant and great for families -- real community building and a way to create relationships with customers that could last a really long time because I would be so loyal to a restaurant that went out of it's way to become a part of my family's mealtime in that way.

We live on the Hill and there are many family friendly restaurants over here.

I live on the Hill and wouldn't say there are "many". There are some. But I also probably define family friendly more narrowly. There are place I'd take certain kids at certain times that I don't actually consider family friendly because they don't do anything to accommodate or welcome families. It's just that they are not openly hostile to them either and are fine with a well-behaved child or two.

But to me family friendly means the restaurant caters to families and wants their patronage -- offers a kids menu, seating is appropriate for young kids (not a bunch of high top tables, for instance), bathrooms are accessible and kid friendly, no one will give you a hard time for breastfeeding, there some kind of accommodation for strollers (not necessarily that the are welcome wherever but they can help you find a place to store it safely and don't freak out if you arrive with one), staff has been specifically trained to serve families, etc.. Not merely tolerates them assuming they don't pose any extra challenges.

[Anonymous]

I'm fine with it, they want to present a certain atmosphere and are assuming that kids under 8 won't fit with that. DD just turned 8 but she's really good in restaurants, but my friend has two kids (8 and 5) who can't sit still long enough to place an order and she lets them wander freely in any restaurant we've ever gone to. Obviously, I stopped going out with them.

[Anonymous]

That’s awesome. I would prefer it no kids under 12. Rasika is not a place for kids. No one wanted to pay for an evening out for lots of kids to be there. Go to Bucca di Beppo where you belong.

[Anonymous]

That’s a great idea!!

[Anonymous]

Mother and bartender here. This is a good thing. I work at a kid-friendly restaurant and frankly, a lot of people let their children behave REALLY poorly at restaurants.

[Anonymous]

I take my 3 year old and 1 year old (and my older kids) to fine dining restaurants all the time with no trouble. Never did like Rasika. Pretty mid and basic Indian food masquerading as something elevated (protip - it's not)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great!

Not every restaurant is for small kids. Get a sitter.

-- mom of two, who doesn't want to deal with other people's bratty kids on her night out

You sound a bit spoiled and high maintenance.

NP

Not high maintenance at all. She sounds quite normal actually.
You, on the other hand…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take my 3 year old and 1 year old (and my older kids) to fine dining restaurants all the time with no trouble. Never did like Rasika. Pretty mid and basic Indian food masquerading as something elevated (protip - it's not)

You are just so above it all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. Kids younger than 8 really shouldn't be at a fine dining place for dinner anyway. They are tired, grumpy, etc.

Also, totally random, but I get so annoyed when I see women with babies trying to eat at places like that. The husband ends up sitting there and eating while she is somewhere in the corner, holding the baby in her arms, swaying back and forth. How is that fun for anyone other than the husband?

Have you had a baby before? You could be describing some of the meals out that we had when I was on maternity leave. DH and I would take turns holding the baby if she needed to be held, but you might not see that part. In any case, those few months with a pre-crawling infant are pretty much your last where you can take your kid out to a nice restaurant and actually enjoy your meal, so maybe cut these people some slack. Unless the baby is crying the whole time or something is going on where you think "wow this is not the right venue for this" leave them alone.

why do you need to go to a nice restaurant with your newborn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take my 3 year old and 1 year old (and my older kids) to fine dining restaurants all the time with no trouble. Never did like Rasika. Pretty mid and basic Indian food masquerading as something elevated (protip - it's not)

You are just so above it all!

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Good for them!