To think parents shouldn’t bring toddlers to fancy restaurants?

[ThatFancyExpert]

It’s not about “hating kids,” but some places should be reserved for adults who want peace and quiet.

You are right if they struggle you can’t inflict it on others. My point was slightly different in that I think most children will do pretty well with it provided they have been going since they were babies.

Potato 😂😂😂

I was anti children before being pregnant but even then couldn't care less as long as the child behaves.

If they are quiet why does it concern you? I'm genuinely curious to know!

I agree with this. The notion that, say, a 6 year old can't learn a new skill is bonkers. In any case, if you enforce good manners at home and in public places generally, it's not even a new skill.

Also quite unpleasant is the notion that Pizza Express etc is a sort of training ground. Plenty of people can't afford more expensive restaurants, don't they deserve a relaxing meal out?

People of any age should only be allowed in restaurants if they can behave themselves.

On multiple occasions, we've had to leave fancyish restaurants or high end gastropubs with our son. Not because he was a problem, but because diners at other tables were drunkenly shouting and laughing at top volume, swearing constantly and often having inappropriate or bigoted conversations. And these were your stereotypical old money posh middle aged people, not young and loaded social media influencer types. And it was either lunchtime or around 5-6pm so not exactly inappropriate for a child to be present.

In contrast, we've never had to leave a restaurant because of our son's behaviour 🤷‍♀️

I think the idea of Pizza Express etc. being a training ground is not because poor behaviour flies there, it isn’t acceptable anywhere (!), but because the menu is child friendly and the service is fast. You can be in and out having had 2 courses that you know the kids will eat in about an hour. So only if you know your kid(s) can comfortably manage that do you want to push it and take them somewhere with a more challenging menu that will require them to sit for 2+ hours. We did loads of ‘fast casual’ dining when the kids were small. Then by the time they were preschoolers nice restaurants weren’t an issue, because they’d built up to it gradually. It’s not really the table manners or trying stuff- that stuff can be taught at home. It’s more the waiting and the sitting for hours that can be an issue for under 5s if they’re not used to it. Hence start with pizza express which you know will be pretty quick, build up to longer meals! And to reiterate any bad behaviour and you leave. Which is less of an issue when you’ve left a couple of slices of your American Hot vs. if you’re only 2 courses into a £200 pp tasting menu…

Owners choice and preference, I would think...