Is it acceptable to order a kids meal as an adult ?

[ThePunnyPeachDuck]

DH went out for lunch with his father to a pub his mate runs
He proudly came home and told me he ordered a junior pork meal and only drank tap water—because, you know, it was free.
I just stared at him and asked if he was being serious, because that is some next-level CF energy right there. He shrugged and said the kids meal was massive and why pay adult prices when you can get a solid meal for half the cost?
And to top it off, he actually phoned his friend afterwards to check if it was okay. As if the guy running the pub is going to say, "Actually mate, could you not fleece me next time?"
This isn’t about money—they’re both doing fine. So AIBU to think DH was being a proper cheeky f*?

It's a shit thing to do to a mate. He should have bought a drink, at least. I wouldn't be with, or mix with someone who does this.

Ick

Yes quite possibly. But the restaurant makes more money overall from families (with adults paying full price, having drinks etc) who would otherwise not eat there. Lots of places specify the age range of the kids menu (eg below 12) for this reason.

When DS was about 6, if we went out for breakfast, he'd order a kids fryup, and I'd order a stack of blueberry pancakes. We'd then swap plates.

As I have a hiatal hernia I can only eat a small meal, as I feel full up quickly. I haven’t ordered a child’s meal but sometimes I order two starters.

Wow, top tier CF

it's very relaisitic to think that 3 x kids meal, 1 x adult meal, and 4 x tap water would result in a loss. Many pubs are banking on most kids meals also have order of with multiple adult meals, drinks (soft drinks and alcohol), and desserts to balance out many kids + one adult.

I occasionally buy a kids takeaway meal, I did last week - and I couldn’t even finish that! Adults meals are waaay too big for me, and before anyone suspects me of being a size 6 with the appetite of a bird I’m actually a size 22 and overweight so a win win for me!

I think it’s fine to have a kids meal but would have ordered a proper drink

If it's his mate then I think it's fine, sounds like a bit of a joke. If his mate's not bothered why should you be?

I flip between kids and adults and starters. I have a gastic bypass and can't over eat but some days Icn eat more than others and some food sit better than others. I'd prefer a system or small or large plates than adults and kids. There are occasions I order adult meals because it is not the type of place to ask for a kids meal! However I would never just order tap water. That's just damn rude

I don't think it's terrible, but I do think that probably the owner will be making the children's portions a bit smaller, based on your partner's feedback.

Just wondering. If they run at a loss then it made me wonder how they cope with a parent coming in with 3 kids or two friends coming in with a 4-5 kids between them. That could mean the restaurant would lose money. What is the adult to child meal ratio required to not lose money on a table?

You beat me to it!

It doesn’t work at that level. A table of adults make up for the loss.

yes if their only customers were adults bringing 3 children each they’d go bankrupt pretty quickly

Sometimes when I am out with grandons who have hearty appetites I order a child's meal but give them my adult's. Staff don't know that it is me who is going to eat the child's one. Having a child present is quite useful!

They should do away with kids meals and have small and large portions. Give everyone a choice. A 7 stone 70 year old may very well want less than a 15 stone 30 year old, so why do they need to order the same portion.

I guess I was picturing say a family of 5. Two adult parents. A grandparent who ate very little and two young children for example.

5 seats are being taken up regardless of who orders what. If granny eats a kids meal I assumed it was still worth the restaurant’s while but if the kids meals are actually a loss to the restaurant and the restaurant would be better off with granny just not ordering it not being there at all then that’s interesting.

I did when I was going through chemo and couldn’t eat adult portions.

It’s the tap water that made it unreasonable for me. By all means order a kids meal if you don’t think you can eat a full portion but to then not even pay for a drink is really taking the piss. How does this man expect a business to survive?

A bit odd - totally understand if you just can't eat much but to do it to be cheap is not great. Don't go if you can't afford an adult meal!

Out of interest, what's a junior pork meal? Is it sausages?!

I don't think restaurants offer kids' meals cheaply in order to do parents a favour! If the adult portions are too big, it's just wasteful so it's better to order a meal you can eat. I think more places ought to offer smaller portions. Just call them 'smaller meals' rather than 'kids' meals' too. Children don't have to have different food from adults.

My tween has a big appetite. If we eat out as a family, he will have an adult meal and I eat the kids meal. However, if he isn't with us, most places won't let me order kids meal for myself.

Often meal sizes are huge and for men with beer bellies. I don't always want that, but ordering a kids meal is better than not buying any food or sharing with a friend which often works out cheaper but restricts choice.

I think it's fine.

It's less money because there's less food. No-one is getting fleeced.

If you want to eat and pay for a kids size meal, crack on.

Tap water also fine if that what he wanted.

It's weird to do it just because it's cheaper though, particularly if you don't need to count the pennies. Penny pinching is not an attractive quality.