Anonymous wrote:Read the menu in advance, and then give your kids two choices when you first sit down. Order an appetizer that everyone will like.
Bring books, or stickers, or something for the kids to entertain themselves while waiting.
Eat outdoors when possible.
If the wait is super long, have one parent walk the children around, or go to the bathroom, or invent a reason to walk back to the car.
As long as your kids aren't screaming and throwing things, no one is paying attention to you. It's fine.
I don't really understand your specific complaints, but I do agree that eating out with kids is different and can be difficult. It's totally fine not to do it, or to only eat at casual counter order places or have take out picnics instead. But if you want to do it, there are good tips in this thread.
No, go home. No long waits with small kids. This is where things start to fall apart.