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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you dont want children to interrupt your meal

40 replies

Vagaceratops · 14/07/2012 08:20

You dont go to a restaurant with a massive playbarn in it, because that is where children will be?

Went last night and there were a couple there, looked like mid-50's. You choose your table so they sat right next to the entrance of the soft play bit. We sat next to them so we could keep an eye on DS2.

The woman kept eye rolling every time a chil made a noise, or ran out of the area. When the waitress came to clear their table and asked them if everything was okay, the man said they hadnt been able to hear themselves think, and the 'unruly' children had been too noisy.

AIBU?

OP posts:
fizzyapples · 14/07/2012 08:23

Well I think they've learnt by their mistake & won't be doing that again, eh?!

scarletforya · 14/07/2012 08:23

Yanbu!

Arseholes!

JeezyPeeps · 14/07/2012 08:23

YANBU - but I think you know that!

I would have sniggered.

TheCountessOlenska · 14/07/2012 08:27

I wouldn't go to a restaurant with a massive playbarn in it even if my DC were with me!

Sirzy · 14/07/2012 08:27

Serves them right! Even as a parent somewhere like that is my idea of hell!

pumpkinsweetie · 14/07/2012 08:33

YADNBU-me & my friends had a simular situation last week-we went to a new coffee shop in town, we sat down with all our young dcs at the back of shop where childs play area was and this 50yo walked up to us and shouted "omg im not sitting near those children", we were all shellshocked at her attitude considering there were plenty of empty seats away from playarea!
Some people are very rude and cant remember being child or ever remember having them themselves!

MayaAngelCool · 14/07/2012 08:35

The dicks. Pfft.

Arf at Olenska!

Marymaryalittlecontrary · 14/07/2012 09:02

Weeeelllll, there is a restaurant in my hometown that was quite similar. Had a play area at one side. We used to go when it first opened and it wasn't too bad - you would just sit well away from the play area if you didn't have kids. But it got to the stage when kids used to be running all over the restaurant, not just in the play area, they would come to their table, grab a handful of chips and run off dropping food all over. They'd squeeze in between tables and crawl underneath. They would yell at the tops of their voices from the play are to their parents at the other end of the restaurant and the parents would yell back! It was noisy and chaotic and horrible. Very soon anyone without kids stopped going, as did those with well behaved children as they didn't want their kids to think they could behave like that. After about a year the restaurant took the play area out, and totally overhauled their image!

But, in your scenario it was a bit daft of the couple to sit right by the entrance to the play area when they could have sat elsewhere.

3ismylot · 14/07/2012 09:07

Haha I get this all the time as I work in a family friendly chain restaurant and the amount of times we get a middle aged couple come in and request a table "away from children" is astonishing! Shock
If you dont want to be near kids in a restaurant then dont go to a family restaurant!

My Manager is very good at politely pointing out this fact to them and saying she cannot guarantee childfree dining.

Last night I had a couple with a 2yo come in and ask for "a quiet table" and then proceeded to let the 2yo wander round screeching on her own for over an hour much to my amusement Grin

MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea · 14/07/2012 09:09

I do not go near "family friendly" restaurants or cafes for that reason.
I am getting increasingly intolerant of small children/noise as I get older!!!!

MammaTJ · 14/07/2012 09:11

Ha ha, this reminds me of the old biddys who get on the bus, the only one that goes to all the schools in this town at 8.25 am or get on the bus from town at 4.10 pm, then moan about the children on it.

Get the bus at another time of day then, you have all day. The kids have to get the bus at those times!!

squeakytoy · 14/07/2012 09:22

I do find it weird that just because a place is "family friendly", parents seem to think that means their children are fine to just wander around making as much noise as possible. A small child is not likely to be able to differentiate between that place and any other restaurant, so why dont the parents try and teach the child that when you go out to eat, you sit at the table quietly and eat, and can go and play after you have eaten your food.

2rebecca · 14/07/2012 09:24

I loved restaurants with playbarns when my kids were small, meant we could have a liesurely meal, particularly if out with others. The food was often indifferent and the area was often stuffy though so I wouldn't go to one now the kids are older unless with other folk with small kids.

2rebecca · 14/07/2012 09:26

The "playing" was before the food arrived and after they had eaten. At home when small you don't make them sit at the table for 20 minutes before any food arrives so i don't see any advantage in doing it at restaurants if you can avoid it.

Sirzy · 14/07/2012 09:28

I agree squeaky, that is part of the reason I tend to avoid such places even though DS is young, I want him to learn how to behave when out for a meal and not get confused as to where he can run off playing and where he cant. That and the fact food at the places with soft play in tends to be awful aswell!

squeakytoy · 14/07/2012 09:29

I agree Rebecca, but I am referring to the ones who get up and down repeatedly during the meal. Although I remember the fun occasions when we were out with grandaughter and trying to get her off the playstuff to come and eat her meal, and then get her to eat it without the tantrums and sulks because she wanted to go back to playing were the days out I prefer to never repeat again.

TheSpokenNerd · 14/07/2012 09:31

They possibly hadn't realised it was a haven for rugrats....maybe they thought it was a "normal" place to eat. Grin

paradisechick · 14/07/2012 09:37

Op you are not being unreasonable.

But... Family friendly places, soft play or no soft play, does not mean that children can be allowed to run riot.

My pet hate is the kids am screenings at the cinema. People seem to think because it's for kids and cheap they don't have to keep their kids in line. I see these sort of things as a good chance to teach what is acceptable.

squeakytoy · 14/07/2012 09:37

Even in a place that is family friendly, there are still going to be staff walking around carrying hot food and drink, so it still shouldnt mean that kids can run around the place freely.

jamdonut · 14/07/2012 09:41

I preferred not to go to restaurants with playbarns even when my kids were small enough!
Why does there have to be "entertainment" for children in a restaurant. You are there for a meal. It is an opportunity for your children to learn how to behave in public.
I can't bear other people's children running around and being annoying when I am eating. My children have never been allowed to do this. I taught them to have respect for other people,even if they are total strangers.
I hate that people allow their kids to be generally annoying to other people...I've had children come and stand and watch us eat, and their parents totally ignored the fact. Or climb on bench seats so that they are pushing you or looking over your shoulder. All cases of "as long as I'm getting on with my meal in peace,sod everyone else". Hmm

BalloonSlayer · 14/07/2012 09:43

Sometimes those sorts of places "eat early" offers to attract the older person. Also maybe the waitress put them in those seats, maybe they didn't choose them.

But YANBU

jamdonut · 14/07/2012 09:46

And before I get flamed for the "respect for total strangers" remark, they have always been taught about "stranger danger" too, but that does not mean you have to stop being polite to all in sundry.

gabsid · 14/07/2012 09:47

We go to family friendly restaurants with play areas/playgrounds because you can just sit and enjoy your meal and have a coffee afterwards as DC (3&7) have something to do.

However, I do expect them to behave appropriately, be considerate and remember that other people may want to eat in piece.

So we eat at the table and walk in the restaurant, in the play area they can run and be noisy.

If a restaurant is pretty empty and hasn't got a playarea then I don't mind them playing around the tables.

And if a busy restaurant hasn't got anything to amuse them or we haven't got anything with us then we probably wouldn't take them in.

youarekidding · 14/07/2012 09:49

YANBU.

A few weeks ago a friend and I went to Macdonalds after swimming with our DC's. It's one of those Leisure Park type places - so pool, bowling etc with eateries.

It was crowded and full of teens enjoying their weekend. Yes they were noisy but they weren't swearing and running around. The Maccy D's has those comfy chairs and WiFi so it expects and kind of invites hangers abouters iyswim?

We sat upstairs with DC's (7,7,8) and they were laughing and eating.

A couple (prob 50's) were complaining about the youth of today and about how "is there anywhere peaceful to go out for a meal nowadays?"

My friend did point out that yes there was, and no MacDonalds was not one of them. Grin

NoComet · 14/07/2012 09:57

YANBU

So long as the children aren't running all over the place, just in the play area.

If you are carrying trays of hot food it's extremely unnerving when someone below tray hight shoots past. You just can't see them.