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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Eating at a restaurant

26 replies

DorothyL · 28/05/2015 23:02

At what age would you say a teenager could have a birthday meal with a group of friends at somewhere like Prezzo without an adult there?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 28/05/2015 23:10

13/14?

Original poster
DorothyL · 28/05/2015 23:18

That's what I thought, but the waitress seemed a bit annoyed

OP posts:
YesThisIsMe · 28/05/2015 23:20

My DD used to go to Pizza Express with mates when she was 11/12. But usually after school when they were pretty much empty.

LaurieFairyCake · 28/05/2015 23:20

Did you assure her they wouldn't act up?

A bit weird she was off with you.

BackforGood · 28/05/2015 23:20

I'd probably be there, but at another table, where they could get me if they needed me, sort of thing, but I wasn't in their conversation.

It can get complicated unless it's a fixed price menu - like a Chinese Buffet Meal or something. You know the trouble adults have, I wouldn't expect my 13 yr old to be able to be relaxed in that situation.

Like most of these questions - depends on the stages they've gone through first.

Generally though, mine have been 16 before setting off entirely on their own.

BackforGood · 28/05/2015 23:21

x-posted.
Can see their point.
You may know they are responsible / well behaved enough, but I suspect her experience tells her that can't be relied upon.

AtiaoftheJulii · 28/05/2015 23:22

I think my eldest was 13 - I spoke to the people when I booked the table, there weren't loads of them, and I was there at the beginning and the end.

ArcheryAnnie · 28/05/2015 23:22

I left mine at 13 in Nandos...

Was the waiter annoyed before or after? Before = she was being a bit unreasonable. After = there was probably a reason she was annoyed.

Behooven · 28/05/2015 23:22

Why is it the waitresses business? Unless there is some misbehaviour or mess it's nothing to do with her.

Original poster
DorothyL · 28/05/2015 23:22

Not so much off with me but with the teenagers. I came back in time to help sort out the bill.

OP posts:
AlpacaMyBags · 28/05/2015 23:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elephantoverthehill · 28/05/2015 23:37

Gosh, I assume all these children manage to go to Mc Ds, subway etc and don't get thrown out. What really is the difference? These youngsters are their future market. They need to work at it, encourage young people to go out and eat. Otherwise it will be ' I'll be home Mam for me steak 'n kidney pud' til they are 40

Original poster
DorothyL · 29/05/2015 07:38

That's what I thought, okay so maybe they didn't spend as much as adults but they are the customers of the future...

OP posts:
Original poster
DorothyL · 29/05/2015 07:39

That's what I thought, okay so maybe they didn't spend as much as adults but they are the customers of the future...

OP posts:
cdtaylornats · 29/05/2015 09:19

I suspect the waitress was a bit off because teenagers don't tip.

Rascalls3 · 29/05/2015 10:22

Agree with cdtaylornats. No tip and additional aggregation for the waitress with regard to general noise and larking around.

Rascalls3 · 29/05/2015 10:26

Opps... aggravation

Original poster
DorothyL · 29/05/2015 10:36

I did tip at the end though.

OP posts:
ppeatfruit · 29/05/2015 10:45

Maybe the waitress was in bad mood, she was being unreasonable because you could get a load of drunk suits who'd be much more trouble , they might tip or they might not ! Maybe she was just a meany anyway Grin.

ppeatfruit · 29/05/2015 10:48

We took our 13 yr old to that movie restaurant in the Troc. for her b\day and although we didn't leave her and her friends it was great.

bigTillyMint · 29/05/2015 10:49

DD and her mates used to go to Pizza Express on their own (no adults to pay - they booked and paid) from the start of secondary. No idea whether they annoyed the waitressesGrin

I wonder if the problem might have been that teen girls can get quite excited and raucous?Wink

ppeatfruit · 29/05/2015 11:53

Planet Hollywood !! That ages me Grin The waiters were fine,

ArcheryAnnie · 29/05/2015 11:54

Possibly mine didn't get trouble at Nandos because you pay (and tip) upfront, so there's no possibility of narky teens running up a huge bill and then running off or kicking up a fuss. (Which isn't to say that yours would have done that, obviously, OP, just that the waiter may have had experience of that.)

ChillySundays · 02/06/2015 20:52

Not sure I would have tipped if the waitress has an attitude

mrsdavidbowie · 02/06/2015 20:55

My Dd did this for her 12th birthday.
Six of them at local independent Italian, went there about 6pm, had main course and 2 drinks then home for pudding.
They texted me when it was time to pay.