LilSugar

Does Your Tot Behave in Restaurants?

babysugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:00:39 -0700

Going to a restaurant with the tots in tow can leave parents feeling fretful. Nobody wants to be that mom with the screaming child running around the eatery. Crayons, snacks, books, and toys can be distraction tools, but they aren't a sure bet.

Thankfully pizzerias and family-friendly restaurants are places where shrieks and flying food are not only acceptable, but expected. How does your child do dining out?

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Walt Disney Banning Children?

babysugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:00:24 -0800

Children dream of going to the wonderful world of Disney to meet their heroes, wear mouse ears, ride the Dumbo ride, and eat cotton candy. And, most parents love taking their kids to Disney to fulfill those childhood fantasies while relaxing a little bit themselves. Apparently, some adults, in the midst of all things Disney, will be able to relax kid free according to a Tampa Bay news report.

Victoria and Albert's, an upscale restaurant at Walt Disney World, has closed its doors to children eleven and under. At first, I flinched thinking, isn't Disney World a place where two large rodents by the names Minnie and Mickey Mouse roam free? And Bambi and Donald the Duck are revered and not hunted? But after reading up on the swank eatery, I realized that maybe this was the right call. To see why I think the restaurant made a good decision, read more.

As I learned from Frommer's, Victoria and Albert's is a "jackets required" romantic hot spot with limited seating – only room for 65 people to dine at a time. While a harpist serenades patrons, they can browse the menu, set at $95 prix fixe minimum. The fare, which is offered across seven courses, includes duck, pheasant, abalone, veal, or tuna. At the end of the meal, the diners are presented with a personalized menu and a rose.

Call me crazy but this doesn't sound like the kind of place that has chicken tenders or French fries for emergency tantrum solutions. But just in general, it seems like an oasis for adults and older children, those who can appreciate silverware and the lack of sippy cups, to enjoy a nice night without a pair of oversized round ears poking out from every table.

Does a Children's Menu Affect Your Restaurant Choice?

LilSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:19 -0700

Do smaller, wallet-friendly portions make a difference when your family goes out to dine? Both The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang's recently announced their new children's menus which will feature smaller plates at reduced rates for small-frys. Many restaurant chains are popular with parents because they do cater to kiddos. But lots of independent eateries without kiddie menus are happy to serve a dish sans the spicy sauce or split an entree between two children if patrons inquire. Do you take tot menus into consideration before deciding where to dine?

5 Family Friendly Eateries

babysugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:30:55 -0700

Who wants a greasy pack of minced white meat and a germ-infested ball pit when mama can have a civilized healthy dinner with her tiny diners instead? Ditch the drive thru and go to these fun family hot spots for affordable and easy together time. Other patrons won't mind a lil ruckus, and the menus actually cater to wee ones. Check out the eateries and tell me which one suits your fancy best.

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Lil Tip: Pizza Parlor Privileges

babysugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:00:21 -0700

Italian restaurants are usually family-friendly eateries that cater to children and their marinara-eating ways. Most kids can find something simple to eat while their parents chow down on pasta and sip wine.

Next time you find yourself dining at such an establishment, check with your waiter to see if you can get a few balls of pizza dough for the table. While your family waits for their spaghetti with butter sauce, your kids will get a kick out of tossing, poking, and kneading the yummy pizza fixings at the table!
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Mommy Dearest: Restaurant Battle Over Spilled Rice

babysugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:00:08 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

I recently took my two children (ages 1 and 3 years old) to a local sushi restaurant for lunch. As one might guess, my lil one managed to drop some rice on the floor during the meal. At the end of our meal, I took them to the restroom to clean up. Before leaving, I paid the bill, left a generous tip, and tried to rush out to the car with my exhausted tots. As I tried to exit the eatery, two of the employees blocked my path. One yelled, "You are a pig and you are raising a pig. You are worse than a pig. American children don't do this. You must be from some other place. I will call the police on you. You have to clean up. You are not leaving till you clean up. You are ruining my business. It was the cleanest place until you came. You are not welcome in this restaurant ever again. You are worse than a pig. You already made too much noise." Horrified and scared by her reaction, I apologized again and squeezed by the women. Still angry, one of the servers took a handful of salt and threw it at me but missed and hit my 3 year old in the back of the head.

I am sorry my children made a mess, but I left a lofty tip and apologized profusely. I would have cleaned up better, but my babies were reaching meltdown status. What else could I have done?

- Little Miss Messy

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Little Miss Messy,

There's no denying that restaurant owners and other patrons often cringe at the sight of children walking through the door. While some tots are perfectly behaved diners, there are others that don't do so well in high chairs. Nevertheless, most every restaurant owner and manager can expect children to be part of their clientele and part of that expectation should include food on the floor, a messy place mat, and chance of spillage on the table. That being said, I believe parents should do their best to clean up after themselves and their tots before leaving the establishment. If it's not an option, the busser has to take on the task and a heavier tip may be appropriate.

However, no restaurant owner or employee should ever assault a customer, let alone a child! Her behavior - from the insults to the salt throwing - was unacceptable. I would never dine there and would tell any mommy friends to boycott the establishment as well. She could have addressed the situation in a more pleasant manner or kept her grievances to herself. The restaurant is lucky to not have lawsuit on its hands.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.
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Lil Tip: Restaurant Story Time

LilSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:00:14 -0800

While much has been said about the importance of the family meal no one ever said that meal had to be at home. My husband and I love to take our lil ones out to dinner to try new foods, but doing so does take some planning.

When building with sugar packets and playing with the paper from our straws grows old, I dive into my bag to pull out some tricks to keep everyone entertained. In addition to crayons and travel-sized games, my latest restaurant necessity is a lift-the-flap book that will keep my son busy while his meal is being prepared. These Fisher Price Little People books ($9) fit perfectly into my diaper bag and provide a good 20 minutes of activity until our server returns with our food. In addition to providing my lil guy with some hands on fun, I've found the books to be a great way to enhance his vocabulary. With eight books in the collection, I foresee many more enjoyable dinners out in our future.

Officer Asks Family With Autistic Child to Leave Restaurant

babysugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:30:00 -0700

Gail Martin was about to order lunch with her two daughters at a cafe in South Carolina when one of them started crying. A police chief who happened to be in the restaurant yelled: "You need to take that screaming child outta here now!" The upset four-year-old is autistic, and Gail is now demanding an apology from the police chief, who she says embarrassed her whole family. According to this video, the officer knew the child was autistic when he asked them to leave. Gail is hoping her story will bring more awareness to autism around the country. This report comes just a month after a mother and her autistic two-year-old were escorted off an American Airlines flight in North Carolina.

Do You Think the World Was Made For Pairs?

LilSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:00:26 -0700

The picture of the all-American family that lives in the house with a picket fence has long included a mom, dad, and two children. Most restaurants have tables for four readily available. When mamas and papas choose to have two offspring, they are never outnumbered. Notable parents of multiples, from Jon Gosselin to Rebecca Romijn, have said that the world is made for pairs. The former was content after having his 8-year-old twin daughters, Cara and Mady, and it appears that the latter parent has a similar sentiment in raising her lil duo, Dolly and Charlie, who are 8 months. The actress recently said:

"I'm pretty sure that this is it. We feel like the world was made for pairs. Four feels like the perfect number."

Whether you chose to have a single child or half a dozen, do you think that society more readily accommodates families of four?

You Know You're a Mother When: Date Night Preparation

babysugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:25:26 -0700

Remember when a "date" used to get a woman all hot and bothered? Before hitting the town, she'd take a long shower, deep condition her hair and shave her legs. Maybe even blow out her hair and flat iron it for a sleek look. After lotioning up and spritzing herself with her favorite perfume, she'd apply makeup like the MAC artist showed her at the mall. Then she'd slip into her tightest pair of denims and a slim fitting top that showed off her best curves. When she walked out the door with her man, she felt like a million bucks.

Fast forward three years and that same dolled up babe has got a different idea for "date" night. Now a mother to an infant, she only has time to strip out of her baby food splatted tee and hop in the shower for a quick rinse. After jumping out of her 60-second blast, she realizes she forgot to shave her pits, which haven't seen the likes of a razor in days. A quick application of soap to the underarms, a swift blade down the flesh and she's ready for deodorant and her wet pony tail. She grabs a comfortable pair of leggings and a billowy blouse that reveals nothing of her muffin top or hairy legs. She slaps on a bit of lip gloss and reaches for her bag, which doubles as a diaper bag and rushes to open the door for the babysitter. Not wanting to waste a second of her precious date night time, she and her man head to their favorite restaurant only now she feels like two million bucks with her beau in tow and her wee one sleeping soundly at home.