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LadyS
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/11 382 total posts
Name:
Vicki S
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kids and restaurants
Curious how other moms tackle this..
How do you determine if it's ok to go to a specific restaurant with your kids or not? Do you automatically not take your kids if on Yelp it says it's not suitable for kids? Does it depend on the age of the child? When is it ok to start bringing kids to fancier places?
I'd love to try some new restaurants out for LI Restaurant Week (steakhouses) but most of the ones I want to go to, the Yelp reviews say they're not for kids.
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Posted 4/17/13 11:09 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
ThreeforTea
Girls just want to have fun..
Member since 5/12 7482 total posts
Name:
Mama
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kids and restaurants
so far I've only been taking my kids (3 and 1) to kid friendly restaurants. I will take them to more fancier places when they are older.
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:12 AM |
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Pray4Baby2010
<3 Cutest Giants Fan
Member since 10/09 5796 total posts
Name:
MB
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Re: kids and restaurants
I have a 2.5 year old so we tend to stick to diners, friendlys, etc
but if your kids are older and will sit and eat and behave, its probably ok. I would probably go on the earlier side just in case so its not too crowded
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:12 AM |
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kerrycec03
Mom of 2 beautiful boys!!
Member since 6/06 13519 total posts
Name:
Kerry
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Re: kids and restaurants
we rarely go to adult resturants with our kids. Generally we go to chain places (Applebees, Fridays, etc), local mexican casual places, pizza style resturants, etc.
If I wanted a steakhouse and was bringing my boys (4 and 1) Outback or J&Rs is where we'd go.
Message edited 4/17/2013 11:23:10 AM.
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:22 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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kids and restaurants
I will take him to any place that will have a high chair and be on the noisier side of places. My DS is almost 16 months and has been generally well behaved but if we want a "nice" night out he will stay home. I would not take him to a steakhouse other than outback...lol.
I also would not take him to a sushi place. I always look for a kids menu. I took him to one place that did nto have highchair or a kids menu and it was not fun for any of us.
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:27 AM |
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LadyS
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/11 382 total posts
Name:
Vicki S
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Re: kids and restaurants
DD is 9mo so I guess I will have to wait quite awhile before taking her?
How do you determine if a restaurant is ok or not to take your kids thought?
We take DD to Waterzooi in GC all the time and Yelp has it listed as "not good for kids" and I've seen older children there too.
Is it weird to call up restaurants individually and ask them if kids are ok?
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:31 AM |
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skinny
3 boys and a princess!
Member since 11/08 8178 total posts
Name:
Momma
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Re: kids and restaurants
Most 9mo babies are easy in restaurants.
It's crazy toddlers that are not fun to take to restaurants. In fact, my kids were so bad at Outback last night that we had to leave. 
I'd definitely take an infant to a steakhouse.
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:52 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by LadyS
DD is 9mo so I guess I will have to wait quite awhile before taking her?
How do you determine if a restaurant is ok or not to take your kids thought?
We take DD to Waterzooi in GC all the time and Yelp has it listed as "not good for kids" and I've seen older children there too.
Is it weird to call up restaurants individually and ask them if kids are ok?
I call and ask if they have highchairs. That is a big test. If they say no then I don't take DS.
Also, kids menu is a big sign to me.
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:52 AM |
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Strawberry2468
It's summatime
Member since 3/09 4739 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: kids and restaurants
They arent going to say you cant bring your kids. Some places are just a classier/more mature/expensive atmosphere where other guests arent going to appreciate a secreaming baby (whereas its kinda expected at friendlys once in awhile). If she is generally well behaved while out then take her, bring distractions, her snacks, etc. Just be prepared to take her outside if she gets cranky. You run the risk of not being able to enjoy yourself fully but thats the breaks as a parent.
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| Posted 4/17/13 11:55 AM |
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LadyS
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/11 382 total posts
Name:
Vicki S
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by alli3131
I call and ask if they have highchairs. That is a big test. If they say no then I don't take DS.
Also, kids menu is a big sign to me.
Thanks, I think I'm going to call and ask if they have highchairs. DD is usually quiet for the most part and we obviously realize we'd take her out if she starts to fuss. She's done great at several quiet restaurants too (including sushi restaurants) but we tend to go earlier in the day or during the week so as to not ruin someone else's evening too much.
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| Posted 4/17/13 12:09 PM |
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sleepie76
enjoying every minute
Member since 12/07 3881 total posts
Name:
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Re: kids and restaurants
I go to any restaurant I want & bring my kids. You know your kids & what they can handle.
For me, the key is timing. Go between 5-6:30 when they will be less crowded & service will be quicker. Make sure they are hungry.
In & out within 1 hour and we are good.
Anything over 1 hour is questionable.
Give it a shot & see how it goes! We have been going to restaurants since they were babies, so they know the deal.
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| Posted 4/17/13 12:36 PM |
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2boys1girl
and one more girl on the way!
Member since 5/10 2954 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by sleepie76
I go to any restaurant I want & bring my kids. You know your kids & what they can handle.
For me, the key is timing. Go between 5-6:30 when they will be less crowded & service will be quicker. Make sure they are hungry.
In & out within 1 hour and we are good.
Anything over 1 hour is questionable.
Give it a shot & see how it goes! We have been going to restaurants since they were babies, so they know the deal.
This
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| Posted 4/17/13 12:49 PM |
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VikingChick
LIF Adult
Member since 5/11 1024 total posts
Name:
Anna
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kids and restaurants
Personally, I shy away from anywhere with white tablecloths and cloth napkins! I also look for noisy places that have fast service. I would prefer that they not eat off a kid's menu, so I don't look for that.
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| Posted 4/18/13 9:37 AM |
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babymakes3
Almost there!
Member since 7/06 7376 total posts
Name:
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Re: kids and restaurants
We've taken our kids to nicer restaurants for special occasions but we are there at opening.
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| Posted 4/18/13 10:12 AM |
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DandS
We are so blessed!!
Member since 1/07 1951 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by 2boys1girl
Posted by sleepie76
I go to any restaurant I want & bring my kids. You know your kids & what they can handle.
For me, the key is timing. Go between 5-6:30 when they will be less crowded & service will be quicker. Make sure they are hungry.
In & out within 1 hour and we are good.
Anything over 1 hour is questionable.
Give it a shot & see how it goes! We have been going to restaurants since they were babies, so they know the deal.
This
This for us too.
Our DD is 22 months old and since she was a baby we have taken her to many different restaurants (kid friendly restaurants, diners, Applebee/Chilis, nice steakhouses, sushi restaurant, etc.). She is very good when we are out, but we too, like the posts above, try to keep our stay to no more then 1.5 hours.
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| Posted 4/18/13 10:30 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: kids and restaurants
We only go to noisy, casual restaurants where people expect to see/hear kids. I wouldn't bring any child who couldn't be expected to sit quietly for at least 2 hours to a nicer restaurant. An upscale steakhouse? Forget it. I know when I'm out for a nice dinner I don't want to hear kids acting up and I would never want to impose my children on others.
DH actually stayed home with DD and missed my brother's graduation dinner becuase it was at a $$$ steakhouse and we didn't have a sitter. If we want to go out for a good dinner, we leave the kids at home.
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| Posted 4/18/13 11:21 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: kids and restaurants
I have two kids and they are 5 and 3. I still would not bring them to a super upscale restaurant. A nicer restaurant, yes at an off time. A casual restaurant, yes at any time. In my opinion, I would get a sitter. I don't think a super upscale restaurant is the place for a young child. If I am spending that much money on a fancy night out I want to enjoy it. I would hope that another parent would have the same respect for the other guests. DH and I went out for our anniversary at a place that was 100 per person without drinks. We barely go out. We go out maybe twice a year as just a couple so when we do we want it to be special. There was a couple that brought a screaming child. They were asked to leave. I would never want to be in that position.
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| Posted 4/18/13 11:35 AM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by sleepie76
I go to any restaurant I want & bring my kids. You know your kids & what they can handle.
For me, the key is timing. Go between 5-6:30 when they will be less crowded & service will be quicker. Make sure they are hungry.
In & out within 1 hour and we are good.
Anything over 1 hour is questionable.
Give it a shot & see how it goes! We have been going to restaurants since they were babies, so they know the deal.
I had to check to make sure I didn't write this.
Over an hour, I whip out the iPhone.
We routinely go for sushi, steak, fancy seafood, etc.
Restaurants give us free stuff all the time and welcome the kids warmly!
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| Posted 4/18/13 11:49 AM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by DandS
Posted by 2boys1girl
Posted by sleepie76
I go to any restaurant I want & bring my kids. You know your kids & what they can handle.
For me, the key is timing. Go between 5-6:30 when they will be less crowded & service will be quicker. Make sure they are hungry.
In & out within 1 hour and we are good.
Anything over 1 hour is questionable.
Give it a shot & see how it goes! We have been going to restaurants since they were babies, so they know the deal.
This
This for us too.
Our DD is 22 months old and since she was a baby we have taken her to many different restaurants (kid friendly restaurants, diners, Applebee/Chilis, nice steakhouses, sushi restaurant, etc.). She is very good when we are out, but we too, like the posts above, try to keep our stay to no more then 1.5 hours.
Same with us too
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| Posted 4/18/13 12:06 PM |
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DiamondGirl
You are my I love you
Member since 7/09 18802 total posts
Name:
DiamondMama
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kids and restaurants
Generally we go where we want. DS used to more well behaved but at 18m sometimes he is great sometimes he is PITA so I probably wouldnt go to an very quiet fancy place at peak time but I do not stick to chains and diners, we do nice places too.
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| Posted 4/18/13 1:09 PM |
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kids and restaurants
DS is usually well behaved. He was going to to restaurants since he was 6 weeks old.
Around 15-18 months I learned his routine. He'd sit at the table and "play/color" until his food came. Then he'd go in the highchair and eat. As soon as he was done, he'd need a walk. Then he'd go back in the highchair until I was done.
I think if you call and they have a kids menu its game on!
Its also timing, I wouldn't take him out at 8:30 at night. If I wanted to try a "nice" place, I'd go around 6:00 on a weeknight.
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| Posted 4/18/13 1:16 PM |
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Vecker12
LIF Infant
Member since 2/13 152 total posts
Name:
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by kerrycec03
we rarely go to adult resturants with our kids. Generally we go to chain places (Applebees, Fridays, etc), local mexican casual places, pizza style resturants, etc.
If I wanted a steakhouse and was bringing my boys (4 and 1) Outback or J&Rs is where we'd go.
This
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| Posted 4/18/13 4:01 PM |
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Momma2Be
Mommy of an angel
Member since 10/09 5911 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by sleepie76
I go to any restaurant I want & bring my kids. You know your kids & what they can handle.
For me, the key is timing. Go between 5-6:30 when they will be less crowded & service will be quicker. Make sure they are hungry.
In & out within 1 hour and we are good.
Anything over 1 hour is questionable.
Give it a shot & see how it goes! We have been going to restaurants since they were babies, so they know the deal.
This is us also. DS is 3 and DD is 15 months and we will take them wherever we go unless it's a really upscale, expensive restaurant. The waitresses and owner of the sushi restaurant we frequent love them and give them free appetizers lol.
We do the same as the poster above...go very early (5 or 5:30 latest), make sure they're hungry, order their food as soon as the waiter comes over, eat quickly, have the waiter leave the check when he brings our entrees out so we can make a quick getaway, bring things to occupy them, and pull up videos on Youtube for them to watch as a last resort. 95% of the time, they're really well-behaved. I say give it a try!
Message edited 4/18/2013 10:18:22 PM.
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| Posted 4/18/13 10:17 PM |
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curiousgeorge
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/10 867 total posts
Name:
MAMA
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Re: kids and restaurants
I brought dd everywhere. Fine dining also. She does very well. If there is a problem we leave. That's only happened once. I learned never to take dd out around nap time.
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| Posted 4/19/13 9:35 AM |
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Mrs-D-Girl
Love my fur baby
Member since 8/07 5183 total posts
Name:
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Re: kids and restaurants
Posted by curiousgeorge
I brought dd everywhere. Fine dining also. She does very well. If there is a problem we leave. That's only happened once. I learned never to take dd out around nap time.
Same here!
I have taken DS out to dinner with us since he was a newborn, there were times when DH had to walk out with him and come back, there were times he left and waited in the car, but we kept doing it to get him used to his environment, how to act in a restaurant, etc..
We take DS everywhere we go unless it's date night....White table cloth places, chain places, you name it. He is great out, we break it up for him also and take him for a walk in between app's and dinner.
It really depends on your DC and not really the place, IMO I would never want to ruin another customers dinner so you have to use your best judgement when it comes to this.
Message edited 4/19/2013 10:02:42 AM.
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| Posted 4/19/13 9:57 AM |
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