Talk to Organix about taking your child out for a meal: you could win £100 restaurant voucher - NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Organix are interested in your views on the standards of food served to children and experiences of families when eating out in the UK.

Organix say "We're working in partnership with the Soil Association to inspire restaurants and pubs to provide real food, real choices and a great experience for children. We have created a league table of the top 21 restaurant chains in the UK and their offering for children. Now we'd like to know what you think about this topic".

Please share on this thread what you think about the below:

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?
~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?
~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?
~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?
~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

Add your comment and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win £100 of Love2Shop Restaurant vouchers (valid at hundreds of restaurants across the UK). The prize draw will happen on Monday 30 September.

You can read all about Organix, the Out to Lunch campaign and how you can get involved on their special pages on MN.

thanks and good luck.
MNHQ

Ok..questions in order.
Yes, it needs to improve. I am a massive foodie (excuse the pun) and am always overjoyed when I see a restaurant that feeds children the same way i do. That said it is rare and both the food and environment need to change.

Good examples..a local indian that made our 3yo a mild creamy curry, a restaurant in ipswich which serves organic salmon, cheesy mash and crunchy veg for under a fiver, a french bistro that was happy to remove the unwanted ingredients (nothing like food on the plate you don't like to offend a 6 year old!!). Not many bad examples from independent chains, obviously those that will not deviate from a highly faffed around with and large portion menu, but I'm never a returning customer at those!
Chain restaurants have the bits on the side sorted..colouring, play areas, cutlery..but usually at the expense of the food..if i want chips and over loud entertainment thats great..if i want good good its usually independent and take my own child amusement.
The only bad B/F experience was at an independent cafe in Frinton where they pretended I wasn't there!! Wouldn't even serve me. Everywhere else has been positive though i've always been discreet.
If everyone could get over the awkwardness it would be fine. B/f mothers have no need to bare their breasts amazonian style and restaurants have no need to try and wish an invisibility forcefield on them. An automatic glass of water would be nice!
Out of interest, if families ate out together more, taught their children basic manners and were prepared to talk to and entertain each other ..and if restaurants welcomed even the little ones with open arms and provided them with good plain food and a smile maybe it would all get better?

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

Agree, most childrens food is still nugget/chips sadly. Things are improving slowly.
However there is a big difference in what my 11yo DS will eat compared to a toddler, and childrens menus do not reflect this. Could there not be half portions of every meal on the menu available (why would this be so difficult?)

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?
A local pub does small meals which are perfect for children. They can have the option of choosing from a wider range of food.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?
Chains have menus, crayons, colouring sheets ready to hand usually however the last thing my 11yo DS wants to do is colour! I don't believe that either are better/worse than each other.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?
N/A

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?
A huge sign to ensure that there is no doubt about breastfeeding being welcomed here.

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

It needs to be improved. There tends to be either a bog standard rubbish choice of nuggets and fries/ spaghetti in tomato sauce or the food goes in the opposite direction and tries to show how inspired it is for children, then laces the meat with strange sauces and the veg with herb butters. Restaurants need to learn to make simple unadorned but healthy food for children with adventurous stuff on the side - sauces to dip not drenched over the veg etc.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?
To be honest, we so rarely went to independent restaurants when the boys were small. One exception was the local Chinese which is better than most places in china town. The food is really fresh and simple and the owners have pre-school kids who are always up at table eating when we go there (early evening.) So they know how to create good food for children. The DC love crispy duck pancakes and satay chicken (sauce on the side)

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?
Independent restaurants are certainly better at catering for adult needs. Much as I love Pizza Express for being so genuinely welcoming to children, I did get mighty tired of it by the time they were 8 or 9.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?
Can't remember doing it in restaurants but used to meet with a bunch of mums at a local pub that did morning coffees and we'd all feed in there. I think the manager loathed it, he was always very rude to us and over charged us but never dared say anything as we were the only people in there.

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?
Ignore them. Treat them identically to the way they treat bottle feeding mums. And tell customers who object that babies eating is normal.

I think it's a shame that, even pretty good, restaurants tend to go down the nuggets/fish fingers/burger/pizza/pasta with tomato sauce route on their children's menus. DS is quite adventurous in what he eats but given a menu with pizza on it he would go for the pizza every time. There's definitely room for improvement.

Our local Indian restaurant is fantastic. The children are treated well, they get poppadums on arrival so that they have something to nibble and they do a 1/2 portion of anything on the menu. For a chain, Holiday Inn are also good with a variety of food on their room service menu in different portion sizes.

We tend to be 50:50 between chains and independents and it's generally based on local experience. Pizza Express, La Tasca and Yo Sushi are all pretty good where we live but equally, the local hotel (that doesn't have a children's menu at all) is great.

I never experienced any problems bf in restaurants so can't really comment. Saying that I used to feed DS first so that he'd sleep and let DH and I enjoy a meal in peace!

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

I do find that children's menus seem to be a bit crap, chicken nuggets and chips, cheap sausages and chips, anything and chips! Maybe I'm just going to the wrong places!

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

Bills in brighton is always a good experience with dd, they are always friendly and accomodying and the food is yum.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

I think they are, maybe it's because one bad review of an independent restaurant makes more difference than one bad review of a chain restaurant.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

All my breastfeeding experiences have been fine, not negative, not positive.

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

Have breastfeeding welcome window stickers.

Eating out for my family can be a nightmare! My youngest ds has cows milk protein intolerance. This makes it virtually impossible to eat at small independent restaurants and cafes as they are not required by law to provide allergy lists etc. large chains are ok but we generally find we end up ordering plain chicken breast and a jacket potatoe for ds. The kids range on the menu tends to be chips chips and chips. My eldest now orders from the adult section. My children love their vegetables but from a kids menu are generally offered just peas or beans as a choice!

Generally speaking I don't struggle to find good food for the dc when we're out. I'm lucky to live in a town with lots of small, independent places both them and the chains all cater well for children. Lots of chains now do decent roast dinner/pasta/meatballs type options so we don't really need to resort to nuggets and chips - although the dc have other ideas!

I suppose the only point I'd make is that dc of different ages have different needs/portion size. One cafe we used to go to a lot is brilliant with food for toddlers but doesn't cater for older dc at all. The options are basically toast fingers and carrot sticks or an adult dish, nothing in between.

imho, to cater well for children or bfing mothers the key is the attitude of the staff rather than special menus or facilities. It's little things like our chinese restaurant bringing out cutlery for the dc rather than chopsticks, avoiding drinks in tall cups that they knock over easily, happily leaving the beansprouts out of the plain noodle dish etc.

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

I don't think it's too bad, lots of choice where I live but we don't go to MacDonalds etc.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

DD loves the kids menu in Wagamama.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

Definitely independent restaurants where they are usually happy to tailor the meal to the child's requirements whereas chains are more confined to a fixed menu.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

Breastfed two children for 3 years, never been noted or commented on either way.

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

Chairs with backs would be fab, stools and benches (I'm looking at you Wagamama) are a nightmare. The lady who once brought me a glass of water unasked for was very sweet.

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

Agree. Chicken nuggets and chips everywhere you look.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

I can't think of a single restaurant where the kids menu has stuck out as being good/better/different. I think generally you are better off choosing a smaller adult portion when eating out with kids because the kids choices are generally pretty grim - chicken nuggets, fish fingers, beans, chips, microwaved pasta etc.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

Independent restaurants are more like the way we eat together at home. There are no bog-standard meal deal type things which incentivise you to buy Fruit Shoots and pudding so I prefer independents.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

I've never experienced any negative reactions when breastfeeding in restaurants.

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

Well I would hate to be ushered into an 'area' to breastfeed. I suppose ideally you just want no reaction at all to breastfeeding. It's none of anyone else's business and so no one should be commenting on it wherever I choose to do it.

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

Yes, but I think it is heading the right way. A few years ago, it was literally just sausage and chips, now restaurant owners seem to be waking up to the fact that parents will spend money if they do something suitable for their kids!

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

A local independent gourmet burger restaurant is trying quite hard to get its children's menu right, ditto a local café. It's not quite there yet but they are listening and modifying, and it is getting closer to what families want.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

I think, as with many things, there are some independents that do it really well, with friendly staff, children's activities and a varied and interesting menu and sensible portion sizes (and prices). However, some don't seem to get it at all. Whereas you know what you are getting with the chains. Pizza Express is a example of a chain responding to its market by overhauling the children's menu to include dietary restrictions and just be a bit more flexible. Wagamamas is also good.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

No.

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

I am not an expert in this area, so wouldn't like to say.

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?
I think it depends where you go. We like Pizza Express and Bella Italia and find these both quite welcoming for young children, if a bit pricey. DD would say her favourite place is Harvester.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them? We have a local small pub which does very nice meals for children, not just the sausage and chips option you get at many chains. I think it helps that its in a 'nice' area? We also have a very nice cafe near s called Copper, which DD and I like to go to for croissants and jam as a treat. There isn't a childrens menu there as such, but I dont think it needs it. Sometimes children would just like smaller portions of what adults have.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why? I think Independent ones are more likely to be adventurous with menu choices, but also more flexible too.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants? Never had a problem and have BF for 3 years overall (3 children)

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome? I don't think they need to.

Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

Yes, beyond fried meat & chips!

Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

Not really any highlights, I find the independents rely on fish and chips/chicken nuggets & chips just as much as the chains.

My preference is for Italian restaurants as the meals seem a bit healthier than fried/fried/fried.

In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

No different in my experienc.

Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

I haven't done it much as I generally have a bottle of expressed milk with me. The times I have done it I have found the seats very uncomfortable.

What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

Well cushioned seats! Wider seats with arms. A comfortable screened area as I prefer not to be feeding at a table laden with food and drink and cutlery.

Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

Some restaurants have got it right. It is nice to see other things on the menu, such as a choice of veg, and pasta, lasagne, mini roast dinners etc. Not every child wants to eat chicken nuggets and chips.

There will always be some restaurants that don't cater for children and that should remain, as some adults do go out to have a childfree meal in peace.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

I don't like places that don't serve pasta, or spaghetti. We have a local Marsdens pub, that serves a good choice of childrens meals and also allow them to have adult meals. Table Table also offer a good choice for children. Local places round here, pubs etc, do a very good option, small roast dinners, pasta with fresh tomato sauce, handmade pizzas. I think we are quite lucky there.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

Independent chains are better setup for it, but the food is not as nice or as fresh

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants? N/A

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome? If there is enough space, they could provide a comfortable room to sit in, away from the public eating area, where they can be served drinks while they breastfeed. I never breastfed in public because I didn't want to, so a room like that would have been great

I have never understood separate children's menus of fish finger/burger/nuggets with chips. At the very least there should be a selection of smaller servings of the adult meals - more and more children eat the same as their parents so this should be taken into consideration.

I was very impressed with the children's men in a pub (sorry, can't recall the name) in the Lakes which had the usual nuggets and chips choices but also half portions of a good variety of the main menu including that day's specials.

Chains are more child friendly wrt facilities but the food is rarely if ever as good as a lot of independent restaurants.

I didn't breastfeed but a quiet corner to be set aside to feed babies (ff or bf) without distraction and offering privacy if required would be a nice idea, though obviously not always practical for a restaurant.

I think that the children's menus in restaurants are a lot better these days, they tend to have a simpler version of the adults menu. This is far better than the chicken nuggets and chips option. Both independant and chain places are generally good.
My children are fussy, and their favourite food is fish and chips!
I had no problems when I breastfed both our DCs, I was always discrete and had any negative comments.

I have had good and bad experiences at chains and at independent places, can't say that one is better than the other.

I've been to some lovely independent places which were really child friendly, had plenty of menu options, and provided toys to play with, or colouring sheets etc.

I've been to places that didn't have children's menus at all, but where they went out of their way to make up a plate of food DC would like.

And I've also been to places where the children's menu sounded great, but turned out to be cheap, frozen rubbish (cafe rouge, I am looking at you)

I've never had a bad breastfeeding experience, but I've had plenty of good ones, where the staff have just smiled at me and acted like it is completely normal. Some have offered me different cutlery, so I could eat with one hand, once I was brought a complimentary coffee - that was in a Starbucks, who don't have the greatest corporate reputation.
Goes to show that, chain or independent, much of whether the experience is good or bad is down to the individual manager and staff. I suppose those in independent places have more autonomy to be flexible and helpful if they want to.

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

I would certainly eat out more with children if it were

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

Hate the assumption that kids can only eat boring junk food. We're a vegetarian family and often there isn't a vegetarian option on the kids menu

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

I'm not keen on chain restaurants- I imagine they are sucessfully catering to a certain type of family. I prefer small places where kids can have a small adult portion

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

Haven't eaten out much with a tiny child

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

Comfy armchairs it's hard to feed in a dining chair

Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

Absolutely-totally unadventurous and full of fried or easy oven type food.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

A local cafe in a soft play near here is great. Not a chicken nugget or erroneous chip in sight. All healthier yet appealing options like small jackets, pasta with veg and sauce etc

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

I think there isn't much difference overall. Though when ds was around 5 months old we took him to a restaurant (Prezzo) and he needed to be completely changed. Having negotiated the precarious ending steps downstair it became apparent there was nowhere to change him, not even a disabled/accessible loo. So he had to be changed on the sinks. We've never been back as the staff just shrugged when I expressed surprise.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

By the time I was ready to go to restaurants with DS I was no longer breast feeding.

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

Offer of discreet place to sit ( if wanted, not made to feel as though they should hide away) sign or something to show they welcome bf'ing mothers.

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?
I would like it to improve. Not sure if it needs to, presumably it's a case of market forces.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?
I Like when they serve children's food quickly, so they don't have to wait for the whole table's meals to be ready.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?
I've not noticed

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?
~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?
staff awareness maybe, don't distract a feeding baby ?

In most of the restaurants I've been to with my children we have asked for kids meals to be brought out first either with starters or just as soon as they are ready. In the majority of cases this doesn't happen so we are left with trying to placate hungry young children or giving snacks and rice cakes etc to prevent them spoiling the meal by crying and moaning.

I've not had issues breastfeeding in restaurants although if tables are very close together I have had to ask for them to be moved a little in order for me to have enough room to have baby on my knee to feed. And also as eating one handed takes longer staff have tried to clear my plate before I have finished as others had finished eating. A little common sense would prevent these issues.

ive not got experience of taking children to eat but have taken our ds out to lunch and tea staff have generslly been lovely moving tables, taking things to tables not minding if I take up all of the room with my giant pram

1. I think things have improved greatly. When I had my first ds 8 years ago, I would often go to places with no high hairs or kids menu. Now, I have a 10 month old ds and I don't think I've been anywhere to eat that doesn't have a kids menu. I do think that the food could be improved. Veggie food in particular is really overlooked for children.

1. One independent cafe that we go to has a brilliant selection of food for children. They have lots of organic food, advertise that there is no deep fat frying of kids meals, and they even offer some natural lollies.

1. Independents are usually better, I've found. They a more willing to go off menu for allergies or special requirements.

1. I've never ever had anything but a positive experience breastfeeding in restaurants, be they chains or independents. Most people, staff and customers, simply want to fuss over the baby!

~ Do you agree or disagree that the general standard of children food and eating experience needs to improve in restaurants in the UK?

Yes definitely, i love it when we get a chance to eat out together, which isn't often and so tends to be a special occasion. Unfortunately the children's offer is sometimes woeful.

~ Do you have any good or bad examples of kids menus in your local independent restaurants, pubs and cafes? What do you like or not like about them?

Bad example in my parents regular haunt. Sausage, chips and beans or nuggets chips and beans is the only choice, and it was very poor quality. Followed by an absolutely gigantic portion of ice cream which was ridiculous in size but probably cheap and easy to offer up.

Good examples are my local pub which does simple pasta dishes for children or a smaller version of the adults menu, which is nice quality and freshly prepared. No need to do low quality cheap menu just for children.

~ In your experience, are independent restaurants worse or better than the chains at catering for your and child’s needs? Why?

Not sure about this really. I try to support local independent shops, cafés and restaurants where possible but sometimes the offer is so poor that it makes me wonder how they survive. I've had good and horrible meals out in both chains and independents. The key thing I need when eating out with small children is efficient friendly service and a good chance that what I'm going to get to eat will be what I've ordered, and I suppose in that respect a chain is more predictable and safe.

~ Have you any good or bad experiences to share about breastfeeding your child in restaurants?

No, I've never done it.

~ What more could restaurants do to make breastfeeding mums feel welcome?

A sticker or sign somewhere showing you are bf friendly. Clued up staff who are friendly and relaxed about it. Perhaps offer up the venue to your local bf group during a quiet time in the day?

I don't eat out much, but think the standard is pretty much the same as when I was a student and eating out loads.

Chains tend to have better children's equipment and set ups, but IMO what makes a child friendly place is the staff.

I've bf everywhere and never had any comments good or bad. I suppose just treating a family with respect and following tgeir lead on timings/where to sit etc would be the best.

Why can't we have a healthy version of mcdonalds, play area, entertainer, decent food, encourage them to eat real food without tempting them with processed rubbish. We also need to accept breast feeding, not make people go into the loos ( you would not eat your dinner there- or in the messy changing/ feeding room in Tescos!). My daughter wants to sit down and eat, my son wants to run around and grab a bite in between now and then. I don't want to go out places because it disturbs other people, soooo why can't restaurants provide an entertainer/ food service for the children- a bit like in very nice hotels, cater for them and what they need in an environment suited to children, adults can stay with them if they want or leave them with trained staff and enjoy a quiet meal while they have fun.