Do South Africans often eat at posh restaurants with their children?

Question

Or do you only frequent the Spur, Wimpy, Mac etc. for fear that your child will ruin the place?

Here is something that may interest you, and in turn you may add places that you have experienced to very children-friendly. I place this link because I would like to share the info with you, and not because I am trying to advertise anything. So trolls, please do not report me. I am sure there are many tourists who would be happy to know that some restaurants in South Africa are child-friendly. We have been to places that have welcomed dogs, but have frowned when children visit their venues.
http://www.eatingoutwithkids.co.za./index.html

*Add* Artistag, I fully support your view that children should behave when in a restaurant. But, did you perhaps know, there ARE children who have been brought up to behave themselves in such places? It is a matter of discipline. I am talking about children who have been taught to say please, and thank you, ans excuse and I beg your pardon. BUT, one cannot expect every child to sit absolutely still in a restaurant for the duration of the meal. And, I must say, there are many adults who cannot behave themselves in better restaurants either. And children are a part of our world, whether you like it or not. How are they to experience such things if the restaurants and their patrons do not wish them to be there? We all were children at some stage in our lives. Get real, granny!

Oh, yes, I forgot. My children are now grown up, but they always went with us to restaurants. We always chose those venues that were child-friendly. And we have never had a problem with other patrons complaining or that we had dirty looks from the restaurant staff either. As I said it is a matter of how the children are brought up. Whereas my children know when to use which knife, fork or spoon, many of those that have only been allowed to frequent Mac and co, are still eating with their hands!

**Add* I appreciate your view, BUT, my question is about restaurants that ARE child-friendly. That is why I gave the link for info on such venues.

Answer 1

My family always did, we used to eat at Jan Smuts back in the day, also the Mount Nelson and Groot Constantia were regulars..... we never had "kids" food, my ma insisted on healthy grown up food, I hate chips and lekkers, only chocolate and marshmallows.... I think she did us a favour!
PS. We were always well behaved because pa told us that the doorman would take naughty children to be braaid and fed to the crocodiles in Joburg Zoo!!!! The doormen and waitresses would usually oblige parents in this threat and play along with it for a tip..... !970's child psychology for you!
PS Other punishments included No Haas Das se Nuuskas, Chips or 240Robert, no drive in, and absolutelty no swimming at a pool party ( a dire threat). The tokolosh was also thrown in for good measure in exceptional circumstances of extreme "stoutery"!

Answer 2

Yes I take my two kids where ever I go ..... one is 9 and one is 4. With the first one we only went to the Spur but then I thought ag nee man, I am so tired of Spur Food and have never been a Wimpy fan and now I take them everywhere. They are quite good and most Restaurants how ever posh they are have potatoes (baked/ chips). In Italy kids are always welcome everywhere. So as long as I pay for their meals I have never encountered any problems. But then again PE is a very relaxed city ....Oh and if the posh Restaurant do not have Cream Soda, "white creamsoda" ie Lemonade is also okay

Answer 3

Fortunately some places do cater for the kids Wimpy, Spur, Mikes Kitchen and Mc Donald's to name some, but it could be annoying if kids take over and don't behave, but that is not the restaurants fault and with some of the food prices not a lot of people want to spend that much money on one meal

Answer 4

As a child I remember my parents taking us to a "posh" restaurant once, maybe twice a year. I remember never feeling relaxed at these venues and although very well behaved, extremely relieved when all was over.
With my own kids, we frequent venues like Dros, Ocean Basket, Admirals, Spurs etc - all child friendly. But I believe it is necessary as a form of "upbringing" to take them to a "posh" restaurant, maybe twice a year. That really is the only way they can become accustomed to a more formal atmosphere. I am fortunate to have very well behaved kids, so no fear of ruining anything!

Answer 5

Actually Cakes, this is an extremely interesting topic and it's good of you to have brought this to our attention. As kids, we always accompanied our parents to restaurants and were always forewarned not to misbehave in any way, consindering that there were four boys! I am of the opinion that because of the regular outings and discipline, we all learned how to behave in public eating places wheither they were the posh ones (which didn't all welcome kids) or the usual family takeout ones. It's a good experience for the kids and more convenient for the adults. And like you said, alot of kids do know how to behave and have manners.

Answer 6

I hope you don't mind me answering your question, I am not South African...I am from the US.

I've seen the trend toward bringing children to posh restaurants increase over the years. (I'm in my 40s). I don't know what side of the fence you're on in this issue, but I am on the side which frowns on bringing typical children into these serene and elegant eating establishments. I say "typical" because most children are not well-behaved nor quiet enough not to disturb other diners while eating out. There are, of course a very very few children who have been brought up in such a way that they act accordingly. Now don't get me wrong, I love children...really love them (we raised 3 of our own). But not all places on the planet are proper for them. One of those is a restaurant you described as "posh". The adult diners here pay for (and demand) quiet, refined atmosphere, romance, and lavish food. Bringing the typical child into this equation pretty much ruins the quiet (usually it's the parent constantly shushing that ruins it for us), children are not romantic, and I don't know any children who enjoy eating faux grois and pheasant under glass.

Many times my husband and I have had our elegant, expensive and romantic dinner ruined by loud giggling, whining and flailing arms, legs and tableware.

Bring your children to fast food places and mid-level restaraunts, but please please keep them home when you dine in a 4 star establishment.

Added later:
I fully respect your views, and agree with most of them. I stand by my answer. As I mentioned in my answer, there are few children who can behave properly while dining in a posh restaurant, my own children had great manners (I was taught ettiquette in school and in turn taught my children) but we did not take them to non-child-friendly places. I think that is where we disagree. Perhaps I did not fully explain my point of view. Take your children to children-friendly places, by all means. But do not expect that ALL posh restaurants should become child-friendly. There should be SOME places reserved for adults only. That is what I intended as my point.

Answer 7

I have quite a few childhood memories about eating at posh restaurants. Mostly i remember always falling asleep in them (but fortanetly never in my food )!
I was always well-behaved; that was the way i was brought up...

Its all up to the parents. If the parents know they have well behaved little angels, then its fine; but the parents who know their kids are terrors (or worse, DONT know) and still bring them along, well you cant say its the kids fault is it?

Answer 8

I’ve seen very few posh restaurant with kids meals……maybe it’s coz many SA parents don’t take their children along in most cases……but my sister’s two boys always had problems going to a sit-down restaurants….. they always wanted to go to get something from Mac or KFC or Debonair’s pizza……originally I used to get upset…..but their mom told me that I was just wasting my time with them……..they are now teenagers and we don’t worry much about where they eat……..but they are still into fast food…….the good thing is that they shed those calories at the skatelab everyday……..

Answer 9

Very interesting and thank you for the valuable info. As a family we often eat at places like Spur, Porterhouse, Jimmy's killer prawn and Chow baby. Love wimpy for their breakfast. Do that one regularly.

Answer 10

Which ever does the terrific nutrition. you're able to flow to a nicely suited notch eating place, pay interior the trail of the nostril yet finally end up with a C**P meal. i might sense greater comfartable in a pub as its greater of a communal place.