Anniversary dinner….with a 5 year old

[Anonymous]

I think anywhere that isn't an old-school fine dining place would be fine. Just go early. My kids love Stable on H St and St Anselm's by Union Market, not sure if those are too far east for you (we live on the Hill).

That said, if you want something that is really kid-friendly but also good, maybe Silver Brasserie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Le Diplomate
Unconventional diner
Succotash
Zaytinya outdoor seating or really any place with outdoor seating tends to be a little bit more kid friendly.

These are all good recs. My kids have been to Le Dip many times, they love the mac n cheese (ok, "macaroni gratin")

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of great child-friendly restaurants in DC/burbs. Red Hen, Republic, Pennyroyal Station, Zinnia etc. Try to leave the special occasion or fine dining restaurants to those dining without kids so you don’t ruin the experience of others, or complicate service. Be a conscientious young child parent so that others will not hate young children.

Signed, mother of active 4 year old.

Worry about yourself. My 4 yo eats any where with me including all the fancy restaurants. He eats like a horse so he's not just taking up valuable real estate. He doesn't drink but some adults don't do that. He'll always order dessert. He's much less disruptive than most adults tables who have had a few bottles.

If your kid eats like a horse, I really don't want him near my table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of great child-friendly restaurants in DC/burbs. Red Hen, Republic, Pennyroyal Station, Zinnia etc. Try to leave the special occasion or fine dining restaurants to those dining without kids so you don’t ruin the experience of others, or complicate service. Be a conscientious young child parent so that others will not hate young children.

Signed, mother of active 4 year old.

It's great you have the self awareness to know your limits of where your kid should and shouldn't be. But that should not limit others and their kids. I worked hard to get my 2 year old, then 3 year old, now 4 year old to know how to sit and behave and enjoy a night out at a restaurant. He has always had the right personality/temperament for it, but I don't have as much fun as I would out alone with my husband because it is indeed work; but regardless he's not loud, no screens are out, he does not get up from his seat or slide onto the floor, he doesn't throw food or make a mess, and he orders from the waitress, and I didn't have to cook and got to enjoy great food and maybe a drink. I used to give him a snack on the way there to avoid hanger, I always have crayons and scrap paper in my purse, and in the rare times I saw a meltdown percolating I swiftly removed him from the situation and left my husband to handle the check and meet us outside. I felt this was important to establish early for my family's overall happiness, but it is okay if others focus their time and attention on other things that I may have phoned in.

Some of us are just lucky. My mom said I was the biggest brat in the world and she could not take me anywhere, including church. I have a perfect child that I can take anywhere (girl). I am afraid if she ever has a kid- they wilp be a brat.

[Anonymous]

If they’re well behaved they can sit next to me at minibar for all I care but please, please keep them home when I am hungover at brunch the next day. Finally had a child free weekend away with DH and made the critical mistake of attempting to enjoy a Bloody Mary at a nicer restaurant amidst what appeared to be a MOPS meetup and it was not a pleasant experience.

[Anonymous]

Kids can go anywhere at 5 or 6pm as long as they are good eaters and well behaved. Truly.

What kind of food do you want? What sort of ambience?

Signed,

Mom of 4

[Anonymous]

OP here - we ended up going to Seven Reasons and enjoyed it. All was good. Staff was incredibly gracious and friendly and our kiddo tried all of our plates - including his first time trying beef tar tar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - we ended up going to Seven Reasons and enjoyed it. All was good. Staff was incredibly gracious and friendly and our kiddo tried all of our plates - including his first time trying beef tar tar.

Beef tartare is always enjoyable, but maybe I will try beef tar tar the next time -- although it might be a little sticky

[Anonymous]

Et Voila
Sfogolina

Both are relatively kid friendly, have kids menus, but also amazing (adult) food

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd choose somewhere and go early. Dress him up. It will be fun.

But I'd also work on this "we don't have a sitter" thing. Having someone you can leave your son with is really so valuable. I'd try it out on more casual evenings soon! He's at a great age for a sitter.

My mom used to advise using a sitter (or sleep overs) as kids grow. That way they associate itvwith fun and excitement.

If the kid has not slept elsewhere or had a sitter, and you need surgery or something, It adds to the trauma all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of great child-friendly restaurants in DC/burbs. Red Hen, Republic, Pennyroyal Station, Zinnia etc. Try to leave the special occasion or fine dining restaurants to those dining without kids so you don’t ruin the experience of others, or complicate service. Be a conscientious young child parent so that others will not hate young children.

Signed, mother of active 4 year old.

Your kid may well be "active" but my kid was fine eating out at 5. Obviously we ate on the early side and we didn't go for 10 course prix fixe meals but I am pretty confident he didn't ruin anyone's experience. It wasn't uncommon for people to express surprise when they realized there was a kid at the next table to them who was hidden by an adult and not otherwise conspicuous.

I don't say this to try and brag or anything but simply to ask that we keep the parenting advice out of a thread seeking restaurant recommendations.

Yes, you are likely ruining others experience. People are pretending surprise. It’s not the loudness. It’s the need to want to be in a kid free zone for a little while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of great child-friendly restaurants in DC/burbs. Red Hen, Republic, Pennyroyal Station, Zinnia etc. Try to leave the special occasion or fine dining restaurants to those dining without kids so you don’t ruin the experience of others, or complicate service. Be a conscientious young child parent so that others will not hate young children.

Signed, mother of active 4 year old.

Your kid may well be "active" but my kid was fine eating out at 5. Obviously we ate on the early side and we didn't go for 10 course prix fixe meals but I am pretty confident he didn't ruin anyone's experience. It wasn't uncommon for people to express surprise when they realized there was a kid at the next table to them who was hidden by an adult and not otherwise conspicuous.

I don't say this to try and brag or anything but simply to ask that we keep the parenting advice out of a thread seeking restaurant recommendations.

Yes, you are likely ruining others experience. People are pretending surprise. It’s not the loudness. It’s the need to want to be in a kid free zone for a little while.

Nonsense.

I suppose if you hate kids, your experience would be ruined. IME, those people are VERY few and far between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of great child-friendly restaurants in DC/burbs. Red Hen, Republic, Pennyroyal Station, Zinnia etc. Try to leave the special occasion or fine dining restaurants to those dining without kids so you don’t ruin the experience of others, or complicate service. Be a conscientious young child parent so that others will not hate young children.

Signed, mother of active 4 year old.

Your kid may well be "active" but my kid was fine eating out at 5. Obviously we ate on the early side and we didn't go for 10 course prix fixe meals but I am pretty confident he didn't ruin anyone's experience. It wasn't uncommon for people to express surprise when they realized there was a kid at the next table to them who was hidden by an adult and not otherwise conspicuous.

I don't say this to try and brag or anything but simply to ask that we keep the parenting advice out of a thread seeking restaurant recommendations.

Yes, you are likely ruining others experience. People are pretending surprise. It’s not the loudness. It’s the need to want to be in a kid free zone for a little while.

Nonsense.

I suppose if you hate kids, your experience would be ruined. IME, those people are VERY few and far between.

Nope. Love kids and have young kids. You need to sublimate your ego a bit. People going to fine dining restaurants without kids want a child-free zone - and so do the staff at these restaurants. It's not a commentary on your kid who I am sure is great. But part of being in a social contract with others in a society is understanding the limits of acceptable behavior. It is irrational for singletons or couples without kids to be annoyed at kids being kids in kid-centered spaces. It is likewise irrational for parents of young kids to expect diners and waitstaff in a fine dining environment to tolerate kids being kids, especially during COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of great child-friendly restaurants in DC/burbs. Red Hen, Republic, Pennyroyal Station, Zinnia etc. Try to leave the special occasion or fine dining restaurants to those dining without kids so you don’t ruin the experience of others, or complicate service. Be a conscientious young child parent so that others will not hate young children.

Signed, mother of active 4 year old.

Your kid may well be "active" but my kid was fine eating out at 5. Obviously we ate on the early side and we didn't go for 10 course prix fixe meals but I am pretty confident he didn't ruin anyone's experience. It wasn't uncommon for people to express surprise when they realized there was a kid at the next table to them who was hidden by an adult and not otherwise conspicuous.

I don't say this to try and brag or anything but simply to ask that we keep the parenting advice out of a thread seeking restaurant recommendations.

Yes, you are likely ruining others experience. People are pretending surprise. It’s not the loudness. It’s the need to want to be in a kid free zone for a little while.

Nonsense.

I suppose if you hate kids, your experience would be ruined. IME, those people are VERY few and far between.

Nope. Love kids and have young kids. You need to sublimate your ego a bit. People going to fine dining restaurants without kids want a child-free zone - and so do the staff at these restaurants. It's not a commentary on your kid who I am sure is great. But part of being in a social contract with others in a society is understanding the limits of acceptable behavior. It is irrational for singletons or couples without kids to be annoyed at kids being kids in kid-centered spaces. It is likewise irrational for parents of young kids to expect diners and waitstaff in a fine dining environment to tolerate kids being kids, especially during COVID.

You are making up your own scenario. OP isn't talking about going to Marcels or Fiola. The ones mentioned on here (even where OP went - SR) are perfectly suitable for a kid to show up. I imagine that they probably went on the early side (6ish) which makes it even more acceptable.