To think charging full child price for a baby at a buffet resturant is bad business sense

[stormforce10]

Since DS has started weaning, we've taken him with DD to a couple of buffet resturants. The first didn't charge for him but where happy to let him have a few bits. The second told us up front that they charged 95p for babies to cover extra cleaning and any food they may eat. Fair enough we didn't mind, they were very good with him and even offered to puree some fruit for him.

Today we went to a Chinese buffet we'd never been to before. DS had quarter of an orange, 2 slices of cucumber and 1 prawn cracker. The bill came and they'd charged the full £6 child price for DS. We queried this and were told as he'd eaten anything at all he had to be paid for.

We paid as he had indeed eaten some of the food and obviously babies eating for free is at the restaurant's discretion but AIBU to think it was bad business sense that they'd be far better to have our good will and repeat custom than a one of payment of £6 or am I just over entitled?

We were really pissed off a few years ago when we went to a New Years Eve bash at a local Indian restaurant - fourteen of us. DD was nine years old and hates indian food so she ate boiled rice. When booking, we asked if she could have something else off their 'normal' menu (they offer omelet and chips), but were told, no, it's a set meal. And it was £30 per person, including a glass of wine with dinner and a glass of champagne at midnight. No reductions for a child at all, despite her not drinking alcohol or eating a full meal.

Yes it was our fault for agreeing to go, and yes, she was taking up the "space" of a customer, but there were empty tables so it was far from fully booked. They could have offered a reduced price and kept our custom rather than sticking to their guns and losing several future bookings from us.

Yanbu! Trouble is though, allyou can eat buffets tend to attract greedy people so the restaurants are probably trying to recoup some of thrir lost profits by charging babies who wont eat very much. Stupid idea though, I wouldnt go back!

we go to a nice independent restaurant that has a kids menu with actual food on it. under 5so pay what they weigh. a penny per pound token gesture really.. but we go in there loads because of it.