Kids in fine dining type restaurants. What age from?

[AlwaysFreezing]

Me and my brother are chatting about going to a restaurant with our families to celebrate a few birthdays in one hit.

There is a place that's fine dining, double rosette, not yet got a star, but I don't think it'll be long. It's a chefs menu, 6 course, 3 hours booking slot. We would love to take the kids with us, but we're not sure how well received they'll be, so I thought I'd ask here.

For reference this isn't our usual stomping ground. We eat out with kids, but Italian neighbourhood type places, or Indian restaurants, or chain ones. They know how to behave in restaurants and they don't need tech to occupy them over dinner.

The youngest child is 11.

What do you guys think? Is 11 a good age? What age is a good age? When is it too young?

I get that the experience may be wasted on a kid, or the other side of the coin, that if you don't expose then to this stuff, how do they learn about it?

We haven't made a decision yet, so just musing really, not dead set on it yet, but we're both keen to make a decision and get our table booked (here or somewhere else).

Mine have been fine with those sorts of places since a similar age. Key is a) whether they can behave without tech and b) if they'll eat that sort of food - there won't be any flex so they've got to be willing to give what they're given a go

Dd has gone to Michelin/high end restaurants with me since she was newborn. During toddler years we only went to kid friendly ones. She loves a proper table cloth and someone pouring her water now 😅 I’m a single parent and work in hospitality and eating out is one of my favourite things, so I needed her to get on board with it too because I refuse to eat at Zizzi and Pizza Hut.

As long as your kids are well behaved, and the restaurant is fine with them (do double check) you can take them whenever you want!

I think 11 would be fine if they'd actually eat the food. I thought this would be about younger DC who may disturb others but presumably at 11 and older they know how to behave.

If any are fussy eaters it might be worth a call ahead. Our local similar place would have happily tweaked the menu for an adult or child but a bit of notice helps.

I would think 11 should be fine. That’s not exactly a toddler who has lost patience sitting quietly

I think 11 is fine if they would enjoy the food and experience. It really depends on the child.

Mine started going to such places around 10. As others have said, if they can converse with the adults, not use screens, enjoy the food, behave politely and not get bored then it’s absolutely fine. We’ve found that high end restaurants are very welcoming to well behaved kids.

I took my child to Monica Galetti's restaurant at age 12. It was fine, no tech, they tried everything, liked some courses didn't like others, conversed with me and my friends and so on. It was lovely!

If your children are willing to try it all, don't need separate entertaining and can join the conversation you'll be fine.

Ask the restaurant! I've been to places where under 9s were not allowed, places where under 16s were not allowed and places where no under 18s were allowed. Rules can also be different for lunch and dinner (lunch being more relaxed). Only the restaurant can answer your question....

If they aren’t fussy eaters and can sit at the table for 3 hours without a phone then I think that you should go for it.

An 11 year old should be absolutely fine. I'd take a book for them in case of extreme boredom.

i was expecting you top say toddler age!

11 should be fine but 3 hours is a tad long - even i would get bored with that

Actually thinking about it, we once took ours when they were a toddler and a baby, when we were away from home and couldn’t get in anywhere else. We entered very tentatively, explained we couldn’t get a table anywhere and we’d hide in a corner, eat as quickly as possible and leave if anybody squeaked.

The restaurant could not have been lovelier. They suggested appropriate food, made it specially, served us quickly, and the waiting staff were super kind and entertaining to the dc. It probably helped that it was 7pm, they’d just opened and unlike everywhere else in town were very quiet.

Depends on the child. Dd at 11 would have been fine, if a bit bored after 3 hours. She eats most things. Ds would be an utter nightmare as he is very restricted in his food, struggles to sit still and has a voice like a foghorn at times. So I would not even consider it, and have had to give fancy family occasions in such places a miss as I know it would be awful for everyone.
If the restaurant has no restriction on age and the menu is likely to appeal to the child, only you can say how she might behave.

Thanks for the chat about it all, interesting isn't it?

I'm not at all worried about child's behaviour. Restaurant allows children.

Whether they will enjoy it or not is the unknown quantity, and we want everyone to have a good time. If they don't like the food, that's fine too. But yeah, 3 hours is a long time.

I'm seeing my brother tonight, so we'll probably make a decision and book something over the weekend. We're not angsty about it, but we've enjoyed discussing it all. Makes a change from how shit work is, how much everything costs and all the other mundane stuff we chat for hours about!

I actually think we've enjoyed discussing it more than we've enjoyed anything for a long time. Like a non threatening debate!

See if you can book private dning area

Totally depends on your child - if you know they will sit there (without tech!) and they will eat what is available, age is a bit irrelevant. It's more that they won't disturb other diners.

At 11YO I’d expect no issues with behaviour. Just perhaps check they’re allowed or there’s not a time they must be gone by. I’d also double check the menu to see that they’ll eat most of it or if there’s an a la carte option as you can’t have them
sat there sneering they don’t like it.

Mine have been to Michelin starred restaurants since babies but we’re reasonably selective so tend to avoid tasting menus and often go for ones within a hotel, places that serve brunch/lunch or maybe with outside space so it’s a bit more ‘child friendly’.

i took mine aged 10&12 to a posh restaurant for their dads 50th. It was Michelin but we had 3 courses. They loved it and periodically ask to go back! I’ve suggested younger foodie son get a job there! He’s a bit older now. Enjoy!

Mine probably wouldn't eat a tasting menu - too fussy - but would be able to sit and make conversation. They are 9 and 12. Not sure what the concern about tech is though. I have seen plenty of adults in fancy restaurants on phones and never noticed anyone raising an issue with it.

Mine are fine, DD ordered oysters on her 11th birthday.

Yes, 11 and up would be appropriate, especially if they have some experience of polite dining.

11 and over should be fine but check restaurant policy

If they can be relied on to not intrude upon other diner’s experience at the venue then they are not too young.

Disturbing other diners who might have saved hard for a one off experience is not on.

If they aren’t fussy eaters and can sit at the table for 3 hours without a phone then I think that you should go for it.

And can use cutlery appropriately - I'm sure OP's DC can, but many can't, or don't.