Would you go to this restaurant?

[confusedofengland]

I've just read on one of my Facebook groups about a restaurant where there is a film playing on a big screen & DC are given wireless headphones to watch it.

Lots of people commented that it was a great idea. I don't think I'd like it as one of the reasons we go for a meal as a family is so that we can have a chat & fun time together in a different environment from home.

I'm interested to know whether others find the idea appealing or not?

There is a restaurant near us which has a cinema room, playing recent children’s films with squishy seats and bean bags. We love it, the kids (4,9,13) get to eat with us and obviously we converse at the table, but they are entertained whilst we’re waiting for food and after eating. We get chance to have a quiet drink together after the meal.
Eating out with young children can be stressful, there’s a lot of waiting around. I wouldn’t judge anyone who let their child watch a film during a long meal to keep them entertained.

Interesting idea - instinctively I don't love it, going out to eat is a bit of a treat in my book and it's nice to enjoy your food rather than mindlessly stuffing it down whilst watching a screen. On the other hand if the choice is between bored/fractious children screaming, running around and playing on noisy phones/tablets without headphones, and them sitting quietly watching a film then I know which I'd prefer! Ofc in an ideal world only perfectly trained children who are able to behave well and sit nicely and chat with their families would be taken to a restaurant in the first place but we all know that isn't the real world!

How does it work though, presumably unless you have a timed slot you are likely to arrive in the middle of the film and/or be finished and want to leave in the middle? Normally a restaurant meal esp with kids takes less than the running length of a feature film? I can see it causing some meltdowns if the restaurant need their table back or the meter on the car park is about to run out just at the most exciting moment of the film!

That's very true maxelly. My ASC DS2 would most certainly have a meltdown if dragged away from a film before it ended I don't know the details of how it works but it would be interesting to find out.

I can also see it would keep kids quiet & allow a peaceful meal. I guess I'm in a different position from some in that my DC are big enough now for it not to be an issue (5, 8, 11) & even when they were smaller they were ok. Don't get me wrong, they can be total pickles at other times, but food is one thing guaranteed to keep them quiet