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I agree with deke.
Starting around age 4, my parents took all of us regularly out for formal dinner (2-3 times per month) plus the Symphony, Opera and Theater. When we traveled, a formal dinner or two would be arranged- and all kids would attend.
I cannot recall that we ever acted up in these settings. In my house that just wasn't done. Looking back I think my parents led by example. Adults misbehave in restaurants too- and kids pick up on that.
At restaurants we frequented, my parents would know the waitstaff and usually chat with them before we ordered. Politeness and regard for all is what we observed and what we practiced as a result.
In 6th grade at my school, we had mandatory Junior League training every Monday night for a few weeks. This included ballroom dancing, dining etiquette and parlor room etiquette. At the time most of us guys did not pay it too much mind, but it had an impact.
These things are important for all kids to learn. To this day, a BIG test of mine when it comes to relationships, hiring people or going into business deals with others is to watch how they behave at a restaurant.
I am not talking about table manners- I don't expect everyone to know what to do with 4 different forks at different times- but how they treat waiters, how comfortable they are, and even how they order. I still cringe every I hear someone in a restaurant say "I want" instead of "May I please have" (this has become passable in the US, but is considered extremely rude in many other nations and will offend waiter and host alike.)
But all that said, there are other diners too. And if the parents cannot control their child, they need to go to Macaroni Grill or something and suffer through mediocre food and the bad behavior of all the other kids.
There is a very clear pattern in restaurants for places to make themselves kid-friendly and cut back on food quality- yet still do tremendous volume since that many people care enough to not want to look bad with their kids in a nice restaurant but don't care enough to teach their kids how to behave in a nice restaurant.
Personally, when dining out I will not tolerate repeated hideous behavior from small children- especially at one of our wine dinners which take a lot of prior planning and expense.
I dine in places where I am a regular and I have had people with excessively bratty children ejected before- would do it again too.
If you want to let your kids run wild or watch TV at the table- fine. But don't do it at my expense.
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