Real menus for children - campaign?

In France and Germany I have often ordered small portions for the children, even though there's none offered on the menu. I sometimes order them a main to share and have never had problems getting extra plates and cutlery etc. there have even been occasions when the staff have made off menu suggestions or done mini tasting menus for the kids (they are toddlers).

Where there are children's menus they are often the same sort of thing you find in uk children's menus. Which are hit and miss with mine.

"Well, then, perhaps it is worthwhile? If it gets enough adults in to pay for it, then it's worth doing. I mean, perhaps it's worth doing here, too."

Mmm. I'm not sure the dynamics of family meals out are the same in france and the uk.

goodasitgets I know that pub quite well. Haven't been with the children last went a few years ago. Shall go next time am over.

Living as I do in the middle of nowhere, I find it hard to believe that there are many places in the UK where you can't find somewhere that does decent food for children. Including some chains. Jamie's children's food is fine, so is ask, so is pizza express as long as there are no dietary limitations. If parents stopped going to the ones that only serve crap for DC, they would improve their children's menus. Job done.

Maybe most children go for half of the 16 or 20 euro meal (it is probably less likely to be fancy, though honestly all the meals are good quality and use very good meat etc). At those prices, perhaps half the 16 euro meal represents a small profit, and half the 20 euro meal represents cost price? And most kids might not choose the more expensive and fancy option of the 24 euro menu. Not sure. I am going to watch like a hawk next time I go and see what people are choosing.

Havent rtft
I agree op.
Even expensive wedding venues can be woeful when it comes to the childrens' menu choices.

I don't mean to be a grump but I've just never eaten somewhere where they don't do a small portion of an adult main for children as a matter of course or where they won't if you ask. The only exceptions are chain restaurants/pubs where the food is all pretty awful anyway for both adults and children.

Well, then, perhaps it is worthwhile? If it gets enough adults in to pay for it, then it's worth doing. I mean, perhaps it's worth doing here, too.

Stealth, the point is, sometimes that isn't an easy thing to find. And voting with your feet means that quite a lot of widely available chains aren't places you can go with your children if you feel strongly about this/don't want to feed them the crap they serve. Why can't they just take as much care with children's meals as adults' ones?

Fuzz, then I think you are unusual - restaurants must also charge what their customers will pay.

Fin, I think it was me misreading! But logically if the 7 euro menu is half portions of each of the 16/20/24 euro menus, profit margins on the 7 euro:half 24 euro must be non existent. That restaurant must have observed that they get sufficient adults-in- family custom to make it worth while.

Haven't read the whole thread, but whyTAF would this be a topic for a campaign? Market forces. Take your business to somewhere which does food which you and your DC are both happy with. How hard can it be ?

The wine's half the price of the UK, too. If it wasn't for the French education system, I'd move there in a heartbeat!

Sorry for confusion. I did say it was a set menu. I think they don't do half portions off the a la carte but will do a half size menu of any of the set menus (there are a few at different prices) for 7 euros. The adult menus are something like 16 euros, 20 euros and 24 euros - all are three courses, as are all the children's meals.

Let them eat.... Sausages!

Oh, I am confused now - did you get a main course for 7 euro or a starter main and pudding for 7 euro? And the main was half an adult main?

It was a three course meal for 7 euros. Roughly half the size of the adult menus (which were 20 euros). Prices have been consistent over the last six years or so, so they are obviously not making a loss overall on it.

So random to see you mention Uffizi, BillnTed! Just round the corner from me. The Castle does childrens' portions of all it's mains for half price.

I was seen as a 'picky eater' as a kid. I didn't like burgers, chips, fizzy drinks, fish fingers, beans and so on (I do now ). My mum and dad used to get me half portions of adult things, and this was in the 80s! So it's surely possible.

If you'd be happy to order your DC a three course meal where starter was £3.50, main say £9 and dessert say £4 then I suspect you are in the minority given the usual "kids' menu" price. (I've knocked £2-£3off each "adult course")

Parents dining with kids probably aren't big alcohol consumers - bottle of house white, maybe?!

This is such a good idea OP.
I have always hated crappy kids menus - when DD was 2.5 we got some odd looks from the waiter in a pub asking if she could possibly have broccoli with her sausage and chips and she really did not like peas or baked beans. he said they had never been asked that before but they happily obliged!
Crap food at kids parties - soft play centre = soft mushy luke warm food, bleurgh!
Having a DD with food intolerances, I know that typical kids menus are rubbish where allergies etc are concerned too - DD is coeliac - no wheat or gluten - so cant have the burger, nuggets, fishy shapes, pizza, sausage or even the "healthier" pasta choice.
My local pub does not have a kids menu - kids are very welcome they have a lovely garden full of toys and play equipment - they just offer a small portion of anything. DC have shared salmon and new potatoes, steak and chips or an adult cottage pie or fish pie. The same pub have won numerous awards for their food.

Oh, I am confused now - did you get a main course for 7 euro or a starter main and pudding for 7 euro? And the main was half an adult main?

That must be a loss leader for that restaurant if so.

"Most places near me charge around £6 or £7 for a child's menu. I do live in London, though."

Exactly - for a MENU, not a single main course.

Would that fill your DC up, fuzz?

Slicing and arranging two slices of ham rather than four and one quarter of a melon not one half would take more than half the time.

Of the list price in a restaurant, about 30-35% is cost of ingredients, 30-35% is direct labour costs (cooking, prepping etc) and the rest of the price has to cover everything else - rent, rates, cleaners, accounts, marketing, repayment of fit out costs etc etc.

That's why even good children's menus, like Carluccio's, are things that are easy to bulk cook and will be sitting there in a pan/dish having been pre-prepped.