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!

I think it sounds an excellent policy, plenty of time available for all to pick if they want child-free dining or not.

OP?

@UhareFouxisci um are you joking?! That’s the most batshit thing I’ve ever read.

No one has a right to go to restaurants, no one is being discriminated against, the owner quite clearly states their child policy and op ignored it. What’s she going to do? Take them to court for discrimination 😂

I don't think the OP will be back somehow!

This reminds me of the thread where a mum thought pizza hut was highly unreasonable fir not allowing their child to use the loo, as was against restaurant policy.

I don't really see how people think waiters can make exceptions for some without pissing off everyone.

If I'd been in this restaurant I would have been irritated with the op interrupting my child free meal but also annoyed that I've paid to organise childcare for my child and they haven't. It's like when you go to a wedding that says no children do you pay for a babysitter and then you see a (non related) child right there.

And yes I bet they wasn’t rude

More like you was protesting that your baby was only going to be sleeping so why not, and they had to be firmer

"A restaurant is quite at liberty to have a no children policy. But extending that to include even tiny newborn babies is almost the same as having a "no pregnant women" policy. The restaurant therefore discriminated against you illegally by ensuring that you as the mother of a newborn baby had less access to their services than someone who isn't the mother of a newborn baby."

🤣🤣🤣 ffs are these poor oppressed mothers of newborn babies somehow obliged to go to these restaurants rather than the countless others they could go to?

Age discrimination is illegal. What utter tosh. We don't let two year olds fly planes or five year olds get married; we don't even let 16 year olds vote! Age rules exist all over the place. It's a very upmarket place and they know their clientele, doubtless.
I can see you were upset OP, but you can't entirely carry on with a baby in the same way you could without one. And to say you were 'thrown out' is rather drama-llama.

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

Because there’s no guarantee that the baby would have stayed tucked away and sleeping for the duration of OP’s dinner maybe?

How is it ,'almost the same' as discriminating against a pregnant woman, @UhareFouxisci

Surely, a foetus doesn't yell down the expectant mother's fango?

They can't make an exception for your child but kudos to you for going to a restaurant with a 5 week old!

They probably have had problems with parents letting children run around screaming and had complaints so have a no child policy. It is not uncommon, especially with the more expensive places

If I specifically went to a child free restaurant I'd expect adults only and I'd be very peed off if a baby was there. My life up to now has been 99% kids, screaming, crying, fighting, whinging, demanding (as well as all the good stuff obviously). It's extremely important for a lot of adults to have time out from kids or we'll go bloody insane.

We booked over the phone I didn't check the website. Obviously wouldn't have brought her if I knew!!

Curiosity got the better of me so I looked on their website.

Children over 4 allowed weekday lunch, children any age Sunday and Saturday lunch, dinner children over 6 allowed to early sittings.

Looks like a perfectly reasonable policy for a Michelin starred restaurant which wants to strike a balance between allowing families with children some of the time and allowing adults to enjoy child free time later in the evening.

YABU OP, but I see you haven't been back to find out.

I went for a lunch for a birthday to a 2 stared restaurant (not in London).

Enjoying our aperitif looking at the menu when a couple came in with a 2/3 year old child , who was put into a high chair.

Then said child was handed a ipad with cartoons playing, not loud but loud enough to be an distraction/annoyance to other diners who were clearly not happy with the noise.

We did mention this to the server, but nothing was said to the parents who merrily ate and ignored the child whilst everyone was not happy with little 'Johnny' and his cartoons.

We were not aware of the child policy as it was our first and last visit, but upon checking very soon after they have changed it to no under 12's and only during the day.

So OP yes they were right in not allowing you in as there policy clearly states no children, and good for them, I dont want to be spending £££'s whilst listening to a newborn waking or child with an Ipad to keep it quiet, the world does not revolve around your little darling. But as you said it was once one of your fav places to go, is that because it is child free with no disruptions?

But if you’ve been lots before as your op states surely you would have known? Chinny reckon.

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?

LMAO. Perfect example of shitty shitty social mediain 2019. Waaah I want to moan on Twitter in search of validation but they don't have a social media presence wah wah wah

for you, Op.

We booked over the phone I didn't check the website. Obviously wouldn't have brought her if I knew!!

So why the outrage?

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

Do babies stay like that for 2 /3 hours ?

Good point @UhareFouxisci

And thank you @Bowerbird5 and those understanding I don't check websites before I go to restaurants usually!!

TBF, they probably should inform people when they book. Otherwise surely this kind of situation ends up happening a lot?

We booked over the phone I didn't check the website. Obviously wouldn't have brought her if I knew!!

So why in God's name are you talking about complaining and 'tweeting and venting on social media'?

It was your fault so own it.

If they allowed your tiny sleeping baby, how could they then refuse to allow someone's rowdy, disruptive toddler?

They couldn't.

When I go for a meal somewhere special, I hate it if there are noisy children about. I don't mind if we go to a "family" place, but when it is a special occasion, or a lot of money being spent, I was to be able to enjoy it (and my conversation) in peace.

I don't know this particular restaurant, but I assume that most of their clientele choose it because they can rely on not having their meal disrupted.