They should have brought their cat, instead.
But seriously, I’m on the side of all the people who stayed at home that night and ate a sensible meal.
They were OBVIOUSLY a yuppie family.
My little dog is better socialized than some children are I have seen. At least he sits when told to and does not bark at everything he sees.
A Chicago restaurant full of Chicago democrats.
How could they tell which baby was crying?
Back before people who were brought up in an entitlement mentality....these people would be considerate and take their crying infant to the car...bathroom or if it became beyond their control....they would be considerate and LEAVE...
So other paying customers could enjoy their meal....
I have in the past and would gladly do it again to politely ask people to take their crying, unruly, loud children to their car....if they cannot control them...
I truly don’t care how pissed they get...
A couple of years ago, a local restaurant caused a major flap when it banned children under 6. The usual liberals opposed the ban, but the vast majority of people supported it. In fact, after the ban was instituted, the restaurant experienced a major increase in customers.
I love children, but no one wants to eat with a crying baby or an unruly toddler running amok. Either leave the child with a babysitter or don’t go out.
This maybe the key to the puzzle.
If the babysitter cancelled and the couple axed the rest. for a rain-check and they were turned down, then the couple did the only thing they could.
Could be the fault of the business, don't know.
For standard fare there are many cases for which young children, properly socialized, are expected and welcome.
Otoh for places where people are paying for “the experience” as much as the food itself, this is completely unacceptable if the parents are not making an attempt to consider other patrons.
I have kids, too. We were very careful about bringing them out at first.
If the parents were being inconsiderate, I wonder why management didn’t simply show them the door.
“There is nothing to be ashamed of in enjoying your food: there would be everything to be ashamed of if half the world made food the main interest of their lives and spent their time looking at pictures of food and dribbling and smacking their lips.”
C.S. Lewis
Maybe there’s a market for high end dining for people who want to bring their kids and it would only allow families. Maybe even have a small play room for parents to take cranky children or even a sitter type person?
“I” am entitled to a perfect life!
That said, people who refuse to discipline their kids not only influct their unruliness on society, but actually hate them. Look it up in Proverbs. Proverbs 13:24 (KJV) He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (promptly, diligently). Proverbs 19:18 (KJV) Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
My daughter lives in Australia, Canberra. While there is no posted policy restaurants make it difficult to accommodate children. There are no high chairs or booster seats and no kid’s menu. Evening dining is expected to be for ADULTS only.
Considerate, sane people don’t bring infants or toddlers to upscale restaurants.
ROFLMAO!! Reviews restaurants for Redeye? Do you all know what Redeye is? It's the FREE version of the failed/failing Chicago Sun Times. This guy may get read by all of about 100 people in the entire city.
Restaurant critic? I think not!
“You do not take a baby to Alinea. Unless the babysitter canceled last minute and Alinea would not refund your ticket. No other debate.”
I would agree with this. Perhaps Alinea should reconsider their refund policy or make it clear—no refunds and absolutely no children allowed.
If you’ve paid good money in advance for the seats and there is nothing stating *no children*, then I can’t blame the couple for trying not to lose their investment. The crying... well, I wouldn’t have been comfortable letting my child disturb everybody.
I do think the chef is a vain jackazz for taking the matter to Twitter. What is it? Fine dining or reality TV dining? Vote them off the island or what? He could have offered them another date if they left or just stayed mum and changed his policy. No, he needed to have the whole world join him in his tantrum and frustration.
Vain little twit.
These upscale restaurants don’t have as much common sense as the local Hometown Buffet and Golden Corral. They both have rooms for groups. When those rooms aren’t being used, they put families with loud kids in them.
Have to say....after recently trying to dine with my spouse at a modest Italian restaurant where somebody’s spoiled as hell rugrat would not quit shrieking at supersonic levels the entire time, I sympathize. Can only imagine how mad I’d be if I had paid four-star prices to be there.
I was eating at a barbecue place one day (definitely not upscale) when a couple brought their two young children in and sat down to eat. I watched as the parents said grace.
The little boy, probably four-ish was behaving well but the little girl, probably six-ish, was a little hellian. Her display included tossing her silverware to the floor and other acts of disruption - each met with a stern recital of her name by her parents who otherwise took no action.
So, when her flying fork landed at my feet, I bent over and picked it up before she could grab it and I called the girl by her now well-notorious name, took off my hat to reveal my bald scalp at the top, and told her every time she disobeyed her parents, God would pull a hair out of her father’s head.
Her eyes got big and her head turned to look at her father’s receding hairline, said “oh”, and returned to her chair where she was no problem for the rest of the meal.