AIBU to think that DCs should be served first?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

When dining with my family, we always serve the children first. It gives us time and space to cut up food, get them sorted with sauces etc. Then, when the adult food arrives everyone is ready to tuck in.

I have been eating out recently with friends and more often than not the adults are served first. Why do restaurants do this? It causes more faff than necessary. Back in the dark ages when I waited tables we were told to serve children first. Happy DCs = happy bill payers.

So AIBU to think DCs should be served first?

[IceBeing]

yanbu. drives me bonkers when they bring all the food before the DC's because they instantly start kicking off....

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

Tbh, I think yabu. Food is served when it's ready. Kitchens can be chaotic and I think expecting children's food, then adults is a bigger ask than you realise.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Yanbu.

purely bed on the fact it gives you a minute or two to cut it up for them (if need be) amd pass all the sauces etc amd cool down for a minute so when yours arrives you can all just get on with eating together.

far easier

[Gileswithachainsaw]

based.

[RhiWrites]

Not the worst thing in the world for kids to have to wait sometimes. It's a teachable moment.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

sod them having to wait. not worried bout that- I just dont want mine going cold whilst I'm having to sort out the kids

[Gileswithachainsaw]

but i realise that's precious

[NicknameUsed]

Why can't you request that the children's meals are served before yours when you order?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

in fairness though there shouldn't he massive gaps anyway. no one's food should have to sit round going cold for any longer than it takes to go back kd get the other orders.

very bad form for massive intervals

[Friolero]

Yanbu, it seems common sense to bring out the children's meals first, at least if they're little and need help cutting it up etc.

[KittyCheshire]

We always ask for the kids food to come out with the starters or first if we're not having a starter!

[cookiefiend]

The worst is wagamama, I know they serve whenever it is ready, but we have been three times with kids now and they are always served afterwards, on one occasion more than 20 minutes. You try enjoying your meal in front of a hungry toddler. This happens even when I ask them to put the kids one through first. I don't think I'll take Dd there again as it is excruciating.

[curren]

In most working kitchens food is sent as its ready. It maybe that the people doing the kids meals are running behind the main chefs.

It's easy to rectify.

Ask. I always say, can we have the kids meals just before ours.

It's never been a problem.

[Lunar1]

Yanbu, my favourite restaurant always brings children's food out first and let's you have 2 mins to get them sorted. It means I can actually get a hot meal!

[TiggerPiggerPoohBumWee]

If you are at a table as a group, with one order, all the food should come at the same time. That's how restaurants work. If it doesn't, you're eating at the wrong places!

[herecomethepotatoes]

Tbh, I think yabu. Food is served when it's ready. Kitchens can be chaotic and I think expecting children's food, then adults is a bigger ask than you realise

No it isn't. A ticket is fired at the same time (or as close as is possible). If a child's meal takes a little longer than that will be acounted for by any head chef worth their salt.

I think the issue may be with the serving staff who take food off the pass in a different order to child's first.

For years, my job was managing teams who troubleshot (shooted?) bars, restaurants and hotels. This was before Trip Advisorr et al, but small things like a child's food coming out first can make a big difference to a dining experience.

[LazyMilk]

I just ask for the kids food to come as soon as its ready, rather than being held til ours is ready too

[BackforGood]

In a half decent place, they will surely send additional waiting staff to your table and bring it all out together ?

[NoSquirrels]

Any good food place will bring the kids' food first. It's really simple, but really appreciated, and always something I notice and care about. The places that get it wrong we probably don't hurry back to, honestly. And as kids menu stuff is usually pretty basic and simple to put together and serve, it should always come first, there's not really much excuse.

[CruCru]

It makes me laugh when kids' food comes out last. The restaurant staff then look really surprised that no one is having a particularly nice time.

[fresta]

I always expect everyone's meals to come at the same time , it's only polite to wait until everyone has their meal before starting. Or at least that was how I was brought up!

[NoSquirrels]

If we're at home, then we serve from the middle of the table, so there isn't really the issue, and the Dc are taught to wait until everyone is served.

If we are in a child-friendly dining place, I don't care at all if the DC get their food first - easier than entertaining them, if they're eating they're not whining! If it comes at the same time that's fine. If it comes last I judge

If we are eating in a fine-dining establishment then a) no kids anyway and b) if the food came at different times I would be appalled!

[herecomethepotatoes]

it's only polite to wait until everyone has their meal before starting. Or at least that was how I was brought up!

But exceptions can be made for children, don't you think?

[fresta]

I don't like it when the children's meals come first. I've taught dd to wait until everyone has food before she starts. Also, if children eat first they are then finished before evryone else too and they have to be occupied while the adults eat. If you all eat together it far more sociable and children learn to enjoy it as a social activity.

[Drinksforeveryone]

I agree with Fresta

Nothing wrong with teaching Dc that everyone should eat together. No one starts before all diners have their meal in front of them.