Thrown out of restaurant for bringing newborn baby

[toddlermom]

Hi all,

Just need to vent and wondering if I should complain and if so who to. We went to one of my (ex) favourite London restaurants (Amaya) last night (wearing 5 week old baby in cloth sling, as I often do).

Walked in, got to our table, I took off my jacket and went to sit down but the waitress stopped me and said I couldn't sit down and had to leave the restaurant as she could now see (that I had taken off jacket) that I had a baby and 'children aren't allowed in the restaurant". I said it was a baby - who was asleep - and unlikely to wakeup - and she said it didn't matter, they don't let any children in the restaurant.

The manager came over, said the same thing, they were really, really rude and unfriendly. Didn't say sorry or sympathise, empathise in any way.

They don't have any social media presence so I can't even tweet them and vent on social. I could write a letter to the owner? Or is there anything else I should do? Or AIBU and just not go there again? Any advice welcome!! Thank you!

Well, I disagree with everyone here. I think such a policy ought to be illegal

Good luck trying to get that through Parliament.

I once took a few months old breast fed baby to Le Manoir au Quat’ Saisons (3 Michelin starred). Not only were they perfectly happy to have my baby, but they arranged a room upstairs for me in case I was not happy to feed the baby in the restaurant. I didn’t use the room - just threw the muslin over my shoulder. Otherwise the baby slept either on me or in her little chair tucked by my seat. She never made a peep.

The French know how to behave.

The policy of the restaurant that you describe is effectively age discrimination... or discrimination against young parents. They apply their policy in advance of any disruption.

Just waiting for someone to come along and say the policy CLEARLY doesn't apply to breastfeeding mums ...

It doesn't. It applies to the baby that they are breastfeeding

I wonder why it was one of the OP's favourite restaurants. Maybe because it was quiet, you were always guaranteed a good meal in sedate and adult surroundings ...

I think such a policy ought to be illegal.

BiggestJulie Don’t be so silly. People have the right to go to child-free places, and most people enjoy child-free time.

There’s no need for children to be welcomed everywhere.

OP, you're probably being a bit unreasonable here. Having been to those restaurants, yes I realise some of the staff can at times be on a power trip. But, and I sat this having a two year old, it really is ok for places to be child free. If I was going to a nice restaurant now, I frankly wouldn't want her to come! I'd want to enjoy my time there given the money I was paying.

This place.

Looks amazing, the prices aren't bad either........think they've got a new customer heading their way.

www.amaya.biz/

BiggestJulie How ridiculous. Educate yourself on what discrimination actually is before embarrassing yourself further.

The child policy is a bit complicated, but it does actually make sense in terms of providing the best possible experience for the majority customer type at each meal service,

Weekend days - everyone welcome, most people dining will be in family groups
Evenings - primary school aged children welcome at child-tea-time only.
Weekday Lunches - mostly business customers so only children old enough to sit still and keep relatively quiet for the duration of the meal.

They should tell you at the time of booking the table though.

There is a distinction between a tiny newborn, hidden in a sling happily asleep...

And older children though isn't there?
If ops baby was crying at the time and loudly and wriggling around.. I can see perhaps why they would say no.
But if the baby was tucked away sleeping... What is the fuss for?

If it was my restaurant I would have in a kind diplomatic way, congratulated you on the baby, pointed out the policy and put you in quiet corner, asking you to take baby outside if noise...
By the time this has happened the experience has already been marred for other diners.
Perhaps people out for a birthday or other special occasion, a one off treat at a fancy restaurant. Or people glad to get a break from children for a while. Or people at a business dinner who specifically booked because it is child-free.

OP said this used to be one of her favourite restaurants so guessing she's been more than once before.

The policy is very clear indeed.

OP has been unreasonable and either a) now realises and feels a bit embarrassed or b) still thinks she's right as her sense of entitlement is hugely inflated and the rules don't apply to her.

But if the baby was tucked away sleeping... What is the fuss for?

I don’t think there was a fuss. It was just that she had a child with her and their policy says they don’t allow children.

The policy of the restaurant that you describe is effectively age discrimination... or discrimination against young parents. They apply their policy in advance of any disruption.

What a load of claptrap. No point applying the policy after the disruption has pissed off a load of other diners is it, the horse has bolted.

I personally would not want to go out into a restaurant on a Sat night and have potentially a baby screaming away whilst trying to have a nice quiet evening. Sure it may be asleep to begin with, but what happens when your food arrives and it starts screaming, there is no way you are going to go outside and calm the baby down whilst your food goes cold, well done to restaurant for enforcing their own rule, as everyone else has said it took them a matter of seconds to find out the child policy.

Otherwise children should be welcomed at all restaurants.

Why?

There website is very clear regarding their children's policy. It took me less than 30 seconds to find the details. Their policy seems very reasonable.

Your child is just the same as everyone elses child OP. As much as you might not like it, rules apply to you too.

The policy of the restaurant that you describe is effectively age discrimination... or discrimination against young parents.

Since babies and young parents aren’t protected groups, good luck with that one.

But if the baby was tucked away sleeping... What is the fuss for?

Because a baby can wake up any time and make a noise?

Breathlessness yes!! I’d be there

Kim, vast world of difference between a rowdy, loud, bashing 2 year old and a snuggled new born??

My DS screamed for an hour or 2 every evening at that age.

@GenuineQuestions babies wake up. I'm sure op would have complained more had she been asked to leave mid meal because the baby woke up and cried.

Their not There

How loud are newborns?

Marriage if ops does, do you think she would attempt any restaurant?

GenuineQuestions

That isn’t really the point. They can’t advertise themselves as no children and then let the quiet children in. My DS is very quiet and well-behaved (he’s 5), probably quieter than the average newborn when he’s at the table. Does that mean they should make an exception for me?

Why should you feel the need to damage a business online via social media for a policy that they clearly advertise but doesn't apply to you?