|
Seems to me that kids should always be welcome at family style restaurants and always be welcome at any restaurant so long as they behave themselves. When I was a kid I was expected to conduct myself well in any place where it was appropriate. My Mom and Dad let us blow off steam at home or in places where kids naturally cut up. However, we were taught from our very earliest years that bad manners would not be tolerated. Going to good restaurants was seen by us as a privelege where we got to try interesting new dishes and be included with adults. It was a really big deal to us to go to grown up places and eat grown up food. We were allowed to go when we were about five and we were "on best behavior". By the time all three were going it was Mom and Dad, and then three of us aged 5,7, and 9.
We spent a lot of time in New Orleans and a trip to Antoine's, Arnaud's, or Gallatoire's was a real incentive to be polite. We got to know good restaurants in St Louis, Chicago, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, not to mention when Dad was assigned overseas in Europe. Everything was so good we looked forward to dressing and acting the part. Years later Dad told us that it was a simple way of helping us to learn how to conduct ourselves by offering the reward of being included if we played the game and being left with a sitter if we screwed up. Dad told us that these restaurants were expensive but really excellent and that all who dined there were entitled to relax and enjoy their meals without disruptive action on our parts. We thought it was cool that we got in on the good stuff and learned that good food, good conversation, and good ambiance were hard to beat.
When I have a kids of my own I plan to apply much the same approach.
|