To Think that Babies don't Belong in Super-Swanky Restaurants?

[14hourstillbedtime]

I love babies (especially on toast). Also love the integrated Mediterranean-like culture over here that enfolds babies into everyday life (babies with meatballs? babies on marinated lamb?)

However, I still think there are some places Babies don't Belong, and one of these places is a make-up and high-heels uber swanky restaurant! Yesterday, DH and I (very over-excitedly) went out for only the second time since DC2 (3 months), and there, slap bang in the middle of the posh joint, was a four/five month old baby!! It was very delicious-looking, but I can't help but wish it hadn't been there...

So, Am I Being Unreasonable?!

Rockbird I assume that's a dig at me.

I don't think there's any time of day where people should have to PAY for a meal out to have it interrupted by kids being allowed to run riot around the place. Sitting talking at a table fine - but running around, especially in a place where waiters are carrying hot food, coffee and the like - it's completely unacceptable behaviour. The kids in question were being allowed to dig with their hands into plant pots, climb into the window area and all sorts. It was flipping well dangerous the way this lot were running around and climbing on things.

I'm sorry but if you bring your kids into an environment where there are other people paying for something - you DON'T let them ruin the experience for those people, you take responsiblity for managing their behaviour - whether it's Macdonalds (although I'd hesitate to call that an "experience" more a "get the hell out of there") or the flipping Fat Duck (picked the poshest restaurant off the top of my head).

You have no right to let your kids run riot and screw over everyone else - I don't care if they've got ADHD, ABC, DEF or GHI.

Exactly what is being unreasonable about not wanting to eat a meal with kids shrieking and climbing 2 tables away - which is what happened in that situation?

When we were little - we only got to be taken out for meals when we were known that we could behave and we were on warnings of best behaviour. I don't see anything wrong with that.

I bet you wouldn't like to see small children in club class on an airliner either would you? Weirdo.

We often take our two year old to restaurants and he's lovely. You don't like to look at him? Go elsewhere you freak.

MR SILVER1

No YANBU

Last Summer me and DH were taken to Le Manoir by one of his colleague, it was for lunch. I was super excited, never been, not been out in months, my Mum had over 2 DS's overnight, bought a new frock, the lot.

At the next table were two toddlers, who were quite frankly a pain, knocking over drinks, getting up, satring at us, pulling my handbag off my chair.

Thank god one of our guests was a big loud mouth (who no doubt peed off several other diners) and distracted me from the kids.

Piss off FFS it's Le Manior!

BTW is was the best food and service and place I have ever been too. Not stuffy, relaxed and just stunning.

No YANBU

Last Summer me and DH were taken to Le Manoir by one of his colleague, it was for lunch. I was super excited, never been, not been out in months, my Mum had over 2 DS's overnight, bought a new frock, the lot.

At the next table were two toddlers, who were quite frankly a pain, knocking over drinks, getting up, satring at us, pulling my handbag off my chair.

Thank god one of our guests was a big loud mouth (who no doubt peed off several other diners) and distracted me from the kids.

Piss off FFS it's Le Manior!

BTW is was the best food and service and place I have ever been too. Not stuffy, relaxed and just stunning.

Silver, nice post.

YABVU. This is the norm in the poshest restaurants in Paris. That age baby is the easiest to take anywhere and the hardest to leave at home if you are bf. I would be more likely to agree with you if the baby had been a toddler - behaviour less predictable and more likely to annoy other diners.

Ds was taken to the poshest restaurants as a baby and then we had a bit of a break when he started walking (at 2) and then resumed normal dining habits when he was 3 and old enough to know how to behave in a restaurant. I wouldn't take him if I didn't think he would behaviour as I'm well aware how annoying badly behaved children are to other diners.

There are lots of nice family friendly ones as well. I could name several great restaurants close by that I've eaten in in as part of a group, just the two of us and with my young nephews. Maybe there's a cost element if your paying £20ish a head it's family friendly anything over £50 and dependant on other factors I'd expect it to be adults only.

Also I would never be able to afford/ justify the cost of club class seats or first. However it's understandable if passengers don't relish the prospect of sitting next to a crying baby/ noisy child, who does? It's just much less likely to happen when you've upgraded so they're extra dissappointed after all they are paying a lot of money for a bit of space and hopefully some peace and quiet.

Children being noisy and running about in restaurants is a completely seperate issue. The OP clearly said the baby was quiet, well behaved, and not disturbing them - she just didn't want there to be any children there at all as she wanted a childfree night.

Which is fine if that's what you want but then you call the restaurant and check.

But LeQueen that is my point - this baby was doing none of those things - the OP was simply objecting to the physical presence of a baby!

I don't get the whole paying a fortune for meals in swanky restaurants, I know the food is nice but it's just...food! But then DH is a chef

Well that was Mr Silver's post you don't like LeQueen AND this is Mrs Silver

We have eaten at Claridges, Le Manoir, and Le Gavroche to name but a few nice restaurants, and have seen families eating out at all of these restaurants. The children we have seen in these restaurants have never been a problem- although sometimes other grown up diners have been loud rude and obnoxious, it seems some adults can get a bit over excited about being in a nice restaurant too.
As with where you chose to sit in a plane, and our preference does tend to be club, it shouldn't be where the parent can or does chose to spend their money that decides whether the child is welcome, it is how well their child behaves and that is usually down to the parent.Why should poorer people have to put up with badly behaved children and yet under the guise of children should not be seen out and about, wealthier people be preserved from brattish behavior?

Yes I would be startled to see a child out and about on a Friday evening in SOHO, but it is ultimately up to the parents where they want to have their family meals out, and up to the restaurant to decide if it fits with their image to let the child in.
If you don't like the child in the restaurant then it is an issue with the management not the parent.

I too was on the club class thread.
Ob reminds herself that she is the very very small minority of Mn'ers who don't want to be with their children 24/7. I just don't fit in here, you know.
Very rarely do dh and I get to go out and when we do, I often want to go somewehre adult only. I don't want to be around children. I have enough of my own, thanks anyway.
Reminds herself, don't bother coming onto threads saying this. You only get accused of being a child hater.

It is also incredibly painful and triggering for me to see babies (I had to bleed mine down the toilet as I miscarried) - deal with the fact I'll swap seats with my husband so I can avoid being in line of sight of it.

If you don't like that then tough - because that's the line that you guys often take.

Oblomov- It doesn't make you a child hater not to want to spend time with your children 24/7- but not everyone who takes their child out to eat in a swanky restaurant spends 24/7 with their child.
When we go out sometimes it is because DH hasn't seen us for a few days and wants to go out to dinner with his family like many of our friends we want to go to a restaurant where we will enjoy the food and the service- likewise when we last ate at Claridges the Beckhams were there with their three children. They are hardly a couple who spend time with their children 24/7-and they probably often spend their evenings at venues that are child free.

If you want an evening free from children you should chose a child free venue that is all.

Some of the rationalising on this thread is just odd. I'd think that at any time of day if a baby is screaming in a public place it's the responsibility of the parents to take the child somewhere less stimulating and calm them down, for everyone's benefit. But babies like adults, are human beings, non? So to think babies simply don't belong somewhere because it's swanky...even if that child is fast asleep, but you don't have enough self control to avoid talking about your own children?

Seriously, is that bit a wind up? To whinge about something like that is weird.

silver, i would if I could.
As I said before, I think there should be a website that lists all child free restaurants.
It you phoned most places they welcome children. which is fine/right. So how long / how many phone calls would it take to find a non child restaurant. Ages I bet.
I would just like website that lists them. Would save time.

It is tricky to even find a non child holiday these days.
Not everyone on this planet has children or wants to be with children. Just because i have 2 doesn't mean that everyone wants to be subjected to them.

"s I said before, I think there should be a website that lists all child free restaurants."

Start one. Sell a bit of advertising, too, make a few bob. The Good Food Guide used to mention it for places that had a policy, which made it easier for us (long pre-children) to avoid pretentious over-priced restaurants with adjectives on the menu.

Oblomov Sandals- that's what you need.
Child free holiday and child free restaurants.

silver, you are so right. "16 years to go, 16 years, 16 years, 16 years to go"
la-la-la-la-la-la-la
till i can kick them out, and me and dh can go on a lovely child free holiday. best fly club class

tokyo, i shall quit my job today and reap the benefits of a self employed
anti kids, kids free, go on holiday and lock them in the shed, type website.

sounds fun {grin]

thumbwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch! looks like we nearly share the same bday!

a belated happy birthday to you!

Back to the theme of the thread. As mrs silver said, some adults (rich AND not-so-rich) are utterly obnoxious. And lots of children are not.

So perhaps the the real problem is that the 'anti-children-in-posh-restos' brigade have spectacularly ill-mannered children. I blame the parents.