What are your thoughts? Should guests expect it to be all okay to bring along very young children to a $$$$ restaurant? Ask for chicken nuggets and chips in The French Laundry?
Complain loudly when their prams don't fit in the dining room at Per Se?
Personally, I have a great memory of looking after a family at a fine diner. The children were perhaps 7 and 10, and had better etiquette and food knowledge than some customers four times their age.
I am conflicted sometimes, because I don't think having young children should prevent parents from enjoying a top class dining experience, but when their younglings become distressed it makes other diners enjoy theirs less. And I don't really have time to become the surrogate babysitter for them, and don't appreciate being expected to lose a two top to accomodate their Off Road 4WD pram.
What say you?
Complain loudly when their prams don't fit in the dining room at Per Se?
Personally, I have a great memory of looking after a family at a fine diner. The children were perhaps 7 and 10, and had better etiquette and food knowledge than some customers four times their age.
I am conflicted sometimes, because I don't think having young children should prevent parents from enjoying a top class dining experience, but when their younglings become distressed it makes other diners enjoy theirs less. And I don't really have time to become the surrogate babysitter for them, and don't appreciate being expected to lose a two top to accomodate their Off Road 4WD pram.
What say you?