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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that pubs/cafes with a kids' menu should include a plain cheese sandwich? (light-hearted... ish)

96 replies

FranklinDelano · 21/04/2018 23:20

So many times I have stopped for lunch at a pub/cafe with my toddler and even those with kids' menus are all 'fish and chips' 'macaroni cheese' etc which he'll just pick at. My son eats well and a wide variety of foods but some lunchtimes he just wants his favourite - a cheese sandwich.
Not one in fancy bread with artisan chutney and chips for £6.95.
Not a flatbread pizza.
Not a 3-course kids' meal with ice-cream.

Just sliced bread with butter and sliced cheese. Carrot sticks a bonus. And preferably no more than £2.50.

Who's with me?!

OP posts:

TawnyPort · 22/04/2018 13:23

What the fuck?! If I'd known it had mustard on it, and that it wasn't on bread, I wouldn't have bloody ordered it

What do you think a panini is principly made of if its not bread?

CurlyBlueberry · 22/04/2018 13:43

Totally agree. I do usually make and bring our own but sometimes if it's hot I'd rather not have sweaty sandwiches or just want to take as little as possible, and to sit somewhere a bit nicer. Having plain sandwiches would be brilliant. Some National Trust places and museums are great at this and it's just so much better for me and the kids.

differentnameforthis · 22/04/2018 13:46

If you don't want him to have what is available on the menu of the cafe/pub you are going to, you could just as easily take a sandwich with you.

We do this sometimes with dd (9). She has sensory issues around food and some days we just do not know if she will eat what is on offer, so we always have a back-up.

I have not had one place query it yet, and when (if) they ever do, I'll just explain about her sensory issues.

differentnameforthis · 22/04/2018 13:50

Add to which she has trypophobia (don't google it if you don't like holes) and often won't want bread in these places as they use "posh" bread with holes in...

differentnameforthis · 22/04/2018 13:59

One sandwich is hardly a picnic though, is it?

lynmilne65 · 22/04/2018 17:32

bettyfood

Mammasmitten · 22/04/2018 17:57

Yes, I found getting a plain cheese sandwich for my dd a bit more challenging than I anticipated. I asked at one cafe we went to for lunch if they could make a plain cheese sandwich for my dd and when we got it the bread was hugely thick (would not fit in her mouth) with an unusual texture. So of course she wouldn't eat it. And children's menus could be improved. They are pretty limited. DD loves cheese sandwiches too. I always pack two cheese sandwiches and take them with us (not into a cafe tho) We eat them in park and go to cafe for cake.

DairyisClosed · 22/04/2018 17:58

Neither of mine would eat that.

mommybear1 · 22/04/2018 18:08

Oh OP yes yes yes - frankly I'd like a simple menu option for adults no sauces/butter/fancysmanchy bread just simple and straightforward please

sharkirasharkira · 22/04/2018 18:13

I work in catering and above all else, unlike some, I just want to make the customer happy. If that means making them a plain cheese sandwich on regular hovis bread with no flourishes then that's fine by me.

Obviously the fancier/more expensive the place the less likely this is to be an option but I do think that most chefs want to give the customers what they actually want rather than something poncy that will just be thrown away.

There is usually quite a few things that are possible but are not listed purely due to the amount of available space on a menu, etc. Ask and you (hopefully) shall receive!

I have a fairly regular customer who always brings in her own items (due to multiple allergies) and has very specific, off menu requests. I cook them for her, no problem.

I also have a disabled DS who is very fussy about food and sometimes I have to just ask as there is nothing suitable on a menu, 9 1/2 times out of 10 they don't mind

SouthernComforts · 22/04/2018 18:15

I agree OP.

I remember ordering dd a kids sausage and mash once, it was a spicy Cumberland sausage, the mash was made from unpeeled potatoes so was full of brown bits, and they served it with a spicy onion gravy with huge slices of onion in.

Ok for an adult.. a fussy 6 year old not so much.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 22/04/2018 18:20

TBh my son has such major sensory issues related to his dcd and suspected asd that there are days I am glad there is anything that he can eat.

Ghanagirl · 22/04/2018 18:21

Isn't part of the point of eating out trying new foods, my kids will sometimes have the kids menu but my daughter loves trying different things.

trueblueari · 22/04/2018 18:47

@SouthernComfort I feel your pain, why do they have to make sausage and mash spicy?! My DD (suspected ASD) has huge sensory issues with food and will only eat a few certain things. One of those things was sausage and mash.. until the local bloody Wetherspoons decided sausages should be spicy and the main ingredient of mash should be not potatoes but PEPPER. The manager (who came to see why DD was making a fuss) tried to tell us they don't use pepper, until I asked him to look closely at the mash which clearly had copious amounts in it. She's never touched sausages or mash since.

greathat · 22/04/2018 18:57

If you've got a dunelm near you the cafe in my local one is fab and they are very nice at making sarnies on request

differentnameforthis · 23/04/2018 11:29

Isn't part of the point of eating out trying new foods, my kids will sometimes have the kids menu but my daughter loves trying different things. Good for her. My 14yr old is the same. My younger (asd) daughter would NEVER try new foods in a cafe or restaurant. Her anxiety around food prevents this as it is just too challenging for her.

AlexaAmbidextra · 24/04/2018 16:17

When I eat out I don’t always want to try new foods. Sometimes yes, but others I like a favourite that I’ve had before. So no, it’s not the whole point of eating out at all.

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/04/2018 16:28

My DD wouldn't eat a white bread cheese sandwich. The little food snob won't eat cheese strings or white bread but she will eat curry.

So you just can't please everyone all of the time.

hedgebackwards · 24/04/2018 16:38

I have issue with the peas / baked beans veg choice. Look at the children's menu and they seem to be literally the only options on offer with a hot meal. Yes, a lot of kids like one or the other of them, but there are many who cant stand either.

flubdub · 24/04/2018 16:41

I agree. My 10 year old is fussy and doesn't eat a lot. He also doesn't eat meat. If there was just a plain and simple 'cheese sandwich' on the menu, it would be so easy.
Some places are happy to make one up. Some aren't.
I work in a restaurant and a customer asked for a kids sandwich. I asked the chef and he said no!

Sirzy · 24/04/2018 16:43

Tbh it’s a case of you can’t please all the people all the time really isn’t it.

I have to pick where I take ds carefully (and that’s after we are past time of day and noise barriers) because if they don’t do skinny fries and garlic bread then he ain’t eating!

When he did eat more I found generally places where very good and adapting things (please don’t put sauce anywhere near even in a pot!) but they can’t possiblg have a menu which caters to everyone.

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