Ok, picture this: you and your sweetie have made reservations at Pepe le Phew's for two. You are looking forward to telling your beloved all about the great new position you may be in line for after the latest company re-org.
You are seated, and are playing with the water and the bread basket, when a family with three small (under 6) children is seated right next to you.
What is your instinctual reaction?
Thanks for playing the game!
2006-12-04 06:46:29 · 19 answers · asked by silvercomet 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Funny enough, being a mother of one child under the age of one, my initial reaction is, oh crap! A restaurant that requires reservations is no place for children of any age.
2006-12-04 13:56:08 · answer #1 · answered by jeepy1999 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, It wouldn't even catch my eye if the kids were raised the way I was.... but we all know that nowadays kids are rude, loud, disrespectful and can be oh so charming. Honestly, though, I would not notice unless the kids became loud and obnoxious. I would ask the waiter/waitress to kindly speak to the parents, and if that didn't work, I would ask to speak to the owner/manager and explain to him why you don't think you should be required to pay for your dinner (if it was less than half finished) because you were forced to leave. I'm pretty bold (It's the red-headed truck driver thang...) and I've been in a few truckstop restaurants tired and hungry and have actually asked parents to curb their child(ren). I ain't skeered!
2006-12-04 14:55:52 · answer #2 · answered by ladyw900ldriver 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My instinctual reaction is to glance over when the family is seated, then shift my attention back to my partner. I would smile at them if I caught their glance, but other than that I don't believe I'd have any reaction. They have every right to be in the restaurant just as I do.
2006-12-04 14:59:52 · answer #3 · answered by Erin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it's something important then i wouldn't make reservations where little children would be able to get in... i would have picked a more quiet romantic location. in such an instance; however, i would wait and see if the kids behaved... if i didn't think they would i would ask to be relocated in the restaurant when they have a free table that isn't next to any children because of the nature of the conversations that will be taking place at your table.
2006-12-04 14:51:25 · answer #4 · answered by YourBrownEyedGirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my reaction is dang.. why do people have so many flipping kids - dont they know that the number 1 threat to continued human existance (as noted by the United Nations) is human over population and the destruction and pressure it puts on our enviornment...
if people really loved their kids they would stop at 1 or maybe even 2 but dang.. 3 is just selfish...
oh I would also think.. dang if she starts complaining about how difficult it is to have kids she should have thought of that sooner....
also I generally dont go to restaurants with out my kid (1) BUT
If I wanted to go out and not be around kids I would have picked a different restaurant
2006-12-04 15:16:36 · answer #5 · answered by CF_ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Instinctively, I'd want to move to another table. In reality, however, I'd probably grin and bear it.
If I had a private conversation in mind, though, I would not pick a family restaurant to do it. It's just asking for disturbances. If you can't afford a fancier place, at least choose a nice little bistro that caters to adults.
2006-12-04 14:50:44 · answer #6 · answered by CJ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My first instinclual reaction is "oh great..."
But what really happens depends. If the kids are well behaved (well behaved kids do exist, they are just a minority) then it's no big deal. If they are obnoxious brats, I'd ask for another table.
2006-12-04 15:17:32 · answer #7 · answered by J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
wonder why the hell people would bring small children to such a restaurant. why would someone bring children under 6 to a fancy schmancy restaurant. come on, someone tell me. i know there are some of these people on Yahoo! Answers. these people are everywhere.
2006-12-04 14:55:52 · answer #8 · answered by practicalwizard 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, when i used to host and guest would make me move them from a table I was about to seat because there were children, I would do so but then I would have another host (not me) seat the next table that had kids with them as close to them as possible. I hate discrimination against children.
2006-12-04 16:11:21 · answer #9 · answered by Tera 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i wouldn't get too upset. most of the time parents who bring their children to nice restaurants are well behaved. if they cannot control their children then they are most likely at McDonalds running wild in the play place.
if they bother you, ask to be moved.
SD
2006-12-04 23:30:10 · answer #10 · answered by SD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋