Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Kids in fine dining type restaurants. What age from?

58 replies

AlwaysFreezing · 08/03/2024 09:18

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).

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 09/03/2024 17:31

Depends on the child but my dd1 went to her first fine dining restaurant at 9.5 months, we were looking at the menu and went to walk away when the maitre d' welcomed us in and danced attendance on dd throughout the meal, amazing french food.

Some restaurants have rules about children and it's never appropriate to have screens at one, so it really depends if a child can sit at the table and quietly chat to the others at the meal with a little colouring/puzzles perhaps if younger. As everyone is different it's hard to say what age but 5 or 6 probably is fine

Geebray · 09/03/2024 17:32

I wouldn't take them for such a long meal, just for the selfish reason of having to worry if they were happy, etc. At a place like that I want to focus on the food and wine, not my children.

mitogoshi · 09/03/2024 17:36

I should add that for job reasons mine were used to hosting fairly elaborate dinner parties at home which from pretty young they helped prep, serve and always were allowed at the table so sitting for 2-3 hours was normal. Dd said it was excellent training for the military!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Donthideyourlight · 09/03/2024 17:37

11 would be fine I think. I have worked in a couple of Michelin star restaurants and one with 2 stars. Generally, children are welcome at lunchtime from about 8yo. Some places are happy to have them younger than that.

One of the places I worked wouldn't have let young children in for dinner at all. My manager actually turned a family away even though they'd booked 😬. Tbf the man had booked that day as a last minute panic gift for his dw's bday and told us it would be dinner for two, then turned up with their 3yo as well. It was so awkward. It was in the middle of nowhere as well. I have no idea where they went.

Depending on the place, I'd go for lunch not dinner is what I am saying in a very roundabout way!

User3456 · 09/03/2024 17:38

I would only be looking at restaurants with decent ventilation or HEPA filtration in place tbh. There's lots of airborne infections still doing the rounds and I wouldn't want to expose my family any more than necessary, kids are already exposed enough at school (but that's a different thread...). Businesses don't seem to have raised their game on this. As a result we tend to only either get takeaway or eat outdoors in summer these days 😔

countdowntomexico · 09/03/2024 17:39

User3456 · 09/03/2024 17:38

I would only be looking at restaurants with decent ventilation or HEPA filtration in place tbh. There's lots of airborne infections still doing the rounds and I wouldn't want to expose my family any more than necessary, kids are already exposed enough at school (but that's a different thread...). Businesses don't seem to have raised their game on this. As a result we tend to only either get takeaway or eat outdoors in summer these days 😔

Have you time travelled here from 2020?

TammyOne · 09/03/2024 17:40

21 ish.

sleepyscientist · 09/03/2024 17:41

We have done two with DS (now 10), he great with the food and we do allow tech at the table between courses aslong as the volume is off. We are often in a group.....we once played Mario kart between courses!

We frequently eat out at independent restaurants and find them more accommodating than chains, as they appreciate other families that enjoy food as much as their own.

We have another one booked and they asked if he wanted any amendments (his only request was no egg yolk on a course). We are also taking a toddler (not ours) but have a private dinning room booked.

Synergies · 09/03/2024 17:42

Chef's tasting menu, 3 hours?

Get a sitter, leave the kids at home and go enjoy it.

BeaRF75 · 09/03/2024 17:44

For the sake of other diners, at whatever age they can behave in a mature, civilised way (ie no loud voices, no asking for ketchup, no wandering about and definitely no tech at the table). I appreciate that not all adults behave well, either, but that is a whole other debate!

Idontknowwhattodo78 · 09/03/2024 17:45

11 would be fine I think and a good experience for them. I wish my parents had taken me when I was young, I’ve had to learn about all this as an adult!
Having said that, years ago, at Marcus Waring there was a couple trying to get a little boy of maybe 4 to sit through a 12 course tasting menu. At 8.30pm. It was disastrous, far too late and too long for him (he kept trying to lay down under the table!) He didn’t want to eat it and communicated that loud and clear. To be fair, we just felt sorry for him and none of the staff batted an eyelid.

HauntedBungalow · 09/03/2024 17:46

16

WYorkshireRose · 09/03/2024 17:51

It completely depends on the child I think. We took DS at just turned 5 to a 2 star restaurant, albeit a fairly family friendly one. He isn't a fussy eater and has been taken to fine dining restaurants since he was born. If we thought it would be a problem, or disruptive for other diners, then we wouldn't take him.

user1469908676728 · 09/03/2024 18:00

Ours came to fancy places with us right from newborn - 14/15. Most often lunch in the Uk, Evening abroad, staff always made them very welcome and we wouldn't have taken them if they’d not enjoyed it. They were always keen to try new stuff when young, now older teenagers and they don’t want to come out to eat very often, they’d live on McDonald’s if they had their way!

MuggedByReality · 09/03/2024 18:05

I have no objection to children of any age in a fine dining restaurant. As long as they are quiet, well-behaved and don’t do anything to disturb other diners.

Chewbecca · 09/03/2024 18:08

Totally depends on the child.

If they can happily sit nicely and chat at appropriate volume for that long without any tech, they will be very welcome in my experience.

muddyford · 09/03/2024 18:09
Florin · 09/03/2024 18:17

User3456 · 09/03/2024 17:38

I would only be looking at restaurants with decent ventilation or HEPA filtration in place tbh. There's lots of airborne infections still doing the rounds and I wouldn't want to expose my family any more than necessary, kids are already exposed enough at school (but that's a different thread...). Businesses don't seem to have raised their game on this. As a result we tend to only either get takeaway or eat outdoors in summer these days 😔

Seriously you restrict yourself that much especially when kids are at school with a million bugs that is crazy! What are you worried they are going to catch? I feel sorry for your kids being restricted that much unless they have a health issue making you have to be so super careful.

We have taken our son from days old he has always been taught what manners are expected in a restaurant and absolutely no tech allowed, or moving around etc. Due to being taken to good restaurants from the start and absolutely loves trying new foods and having top notch service makes him so happy it makes it a joy. He love watching celebrity chefs on tv and then asks to try their restaurants and has done from 7, it’s a lovely hobby to have together. Our son has adhd and is 11 and is always complimented on his behaviour so if he can do it and he and us enjoy it I would expect most kids that age unless issues you haven’t mentioned to be able to manage it fine.

fruitypancake · 09/03/2024 18:20

We've taken ours and they love it and always behave impeccably- I think they rise to the occasion. Go for it

WaltzingWaters · 09/03/2024 18:21

I think 11 + would be fine as long as they’re reasonably well behaved.

KindredGift · 09/03/2024 18:23

Newborn.

noctiscaelum · 09/03/2024 18:27

It really depends on the child. Well behaved child who can deal with formal environment is totally fine in any restaurant as long as they allow it. Some 8 years old behave better than other 11 years old.

jannier · 09/03/2024 18:30

It's not ages it's behaviour so if they can sit and join in fine.

GreatGateauxsby · 09/03/2024 18:33

11 is fine.

If your whole family is going assuming you are a reasonable size (party of 12 or so) I'd just book the PDR (private dining room)

MumChp · 09/03/2024 18:35

I would expect my children to be able to join at 11 yo but you know your kids best.