Charged for an empty plate?!

You’re missing the point, if it’s such a minimal amount of food, why do you need an extra plate?
OP might not want to abuse it but some would and it’s not down to staff to monitor her, it’s simple, you pay for one plate, you get one plate.

Isn't this like going to one of those buffets loading up your plate and then sharing the food between people? With the OP arguing that she could fill up her plate with as much food as she wanted, I'm surprised she didn't bring her whole family along... Yes, CF.

If everyone did this buffet style restaurants would go broke.

Your 10 month old doesn’t need a plate, you’ll be feeding him from your plate, if you want him to have his own plate then pay for it.

I’m not sure you can have as much as you want though? I’ve looked into Green King and it seems like they have a selection of 3 different plate sizes at different prices, you go up once to fill up and that’s it.

This is what I was coming to say.

It isn't about the actual food eaten, you have to factor in the staff costs.

Who is going back up for more food at a carvery!? You fill your plate once! It’s not an all you can eat!!

This is how I read it too, a lot of users are just being obtuse for no reason.

I’m confused why it’s fine for some users to completely pile up their plates but somehow OP adding a couple extra potato bites and a slice and then passing it to her baby is the end of the world. Very odd.

How much did they want to charge you? It’s different if it’s a couple of quid for a baby plate or the full amount for an adult one

This thread is wild! Honestly charging for a 10 month old baby! It's ridiculous! Of course you shouldn't "exploit" all you can eat etc but this is literally a tiny baby! What did they eat? Half a spud and some veg.
Of course you're not being unreasonable x

Most places offer a baby bowl for a few pound.
Bring your own bowl, I fed them off my plate as babies.

‘I asked for a plate for my 10 month old, not to take any extra food but to take it off my plate to give to him’

So in your own words, not an empty plate!

It's like a parallel universe sometimes.

If its a carvery, you serve yourself.

If you're giving some of what you've served yourself, to your child, you probably served yourself planning to do that. If its enough food its worth bothering to transfer it to another plate you basically want a meal for your child without paying for one.

Either the child is so young it can just have a odd thing off your own plate, or you want the child to have a portion of food on their own plate (in which case you pay for it).

It’s a carvery.. where people leave tons on their plates as “they paid for the privilege” to do that!

So you think their profit margins would account for a ten month old having a few spoonfuls?

Really?

At a Toby Carvery I go to sometimes Iv'e seen a lady with twins being fed from her plate. I've actually seen her there a few times on a Wednesday lunch time. The twins are about 14 months old now but been going since about 8 months old and seem to like carvery. I like seeing them and the waitress is always so nice to them too. They both sit up in highchairs and the Mum feeds them in turn.

Ok, like I say I’ve never been to the big chain ones. Have you been to Greene King? Do you know which format their carvery takes? If it is indeed all you can eat, I agree that does have some bearing on the OP’s issue - although I still think trying to charge a 10 month old for a full child’s portion is OTT.

It may just be a few mouthfuls but it still costs money for the pub to buy the food. A few mouthfuls over a year soon adds up. Many businesses have such tight margins a few mouthfuls can mean the difference between sinking or swimming.

Just how much food do you think a ten month old is going to eat?

It's still 1 plate of food, the same plate that she would be filling up for herself anyway! Of course that's assuming it's a single serving. I've never been to a carvery where you can go back up for more, but that seems to be a thing from reading these comments?

I can't see how people think this is being cheeky. It's exactly the same as ordering one meal to share with a friend and asking for a spare plate. I often do this with a friend as we both eat really small portions.

Yeah you shouldn't of asked for a plate but honestly never been charged extra at any carvery. I always ask for a bowl and fill from my plate.

The restaurant was fine with it if the baby ate from OP’s plate. It was the baby having a separate plate (which could then be filled) that was the issue.

If it was actually “a couple of mouthfulls” it would be no problem to have the baby eat from OP’s plate. There are presumably some 10 month olds who haven’t really taken to weaning yet who would genuinely only want that.

Wanting a separate plate to put the baby’s share into suggests it is as more than a couple of mouthfuls - more like a typical 10 month old would eat.

If we’re all labouring under a misconception and this buffet was not one where you could put as much as you wanted on your plate, and return for more if desired, she hasn’t said so despite the numerous times it’s been asked, as far as I can see.

Edit - although she has said “there’s no limit” so sounds like it is as most people think.

Absolutely ridiculous charge!!

Am I completely misunderstanding this or have most posters got the wrong end of the stick? I think OP is describing a normal carvery where you pay for a ticket, give your ticket in and put food on your plate. Once you've filled your plate, that's it- you can't go back up to the buffet. I had this same situation literally last Sunday when I went for a family carvery and asked for a side plate for my baby, because I wanted gravy on mine and it's too much salt for her. They gave me a free baby bowl which I didn't expect at all and had no idea existed (it's apparently always free at this one) and even a slice of turkey for her, which was lovely of them. They didn't want payment for it but I was prepared to pay. Anyway, I think OP (like me) just wanted a plate for him to share with her and no extra food. She didn't want to pile up an extra plate for free. Unless I've got it completely wrong.

They charge for children’s portions. Some places will have policies for under a certain age but I always just fed off my plate