Should fine dining establishments go out of their way to accomodate toddlers?

[agzg]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Yeah, but those are not the same restaurants we're talking about with this article. L'Atelier, Daniel, Per Se, etc are French restaurants specializing in rich foods with lovely sauces and fattening meats. The healthy options are minimal. Not to mention, the usual 13 course meal has enough food to make you wish there was a vomitorium close by so you could make room for more!

One more edit...There's a restaurant like the ones you're mentioning in Baltimore called Woodbury Kitchen that is to die for. I got mentioned as one of the top 10 restaurants in the DC/Baltimore area about a year ago, now you can barely get a table!

I'd categorize the restaurants I'm thinking of on the same level as L'Atelier, Daniel, Per Se, etc., they may not serve French food specifically, but they're certainly "haute cuisine."

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by agzg

I'd categorize the restaurants I'm thinking of on the same level as L'Atelier, Daniel, Per Se, etc., they may not serve French food specifically, but they're certainly "haute cuisine."

What restaurants? I wouldn't mind trying them.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

What restaurants? I wouldn't mind trying them.

Lately we've been super in love with Rick Bayless, who does sustainable organic Mexican food and hosts a cooking show in addition to owning and operating several restaurants in Chicago. They range in "fancy" from fairly casual (although I was shocked to see people there in jeans, but we also went to a show last Friday and people were wearing jeans there, too) Frontera Grill to slightly fancy Topolobampo, to the Library Room at Topolobampo which features five course meals complete with wine tasting.

All in Chicago, all connected. I know of other "haute" organic places elsewhere but I hestiate to make recommendations as I really only know first or second-hand accounts of places in Chicago.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by agzg

Lately we've been super in love with Rick Bayless, who does sustainable organic Mexican food and hosts a cooking show in addition to owning and operating several restaurants in Chicago. They range in "fancy" from fairly casual (although I was shocked to see people there in jeans, but we also went to a show last Friday and people were wearing jeans there, too) Frontera Grill to slightly fancy Topolobampo, to the Library Room at Topolobampo which features five course meals complete with wine tasting.

All in Chicago, all connected. I know of other "haute" organic places elsewhere but I hestiate to make recommendations as I really only know first or second-hand accounts of places in Chicago.

I've been dying to go to one of Rick Bayless' restaurants, but the last time I was in Chicago, he had taken his whole staff for both places (Frontera Grill and Topolobampo) to Mexico for a retreat! My husband swears we'll go back to Chicago for a culinary tour of the city instead of the usual Cubs weekend with his cheap eats friends.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I've been dying to go to one of Rick Bayless' restaurants, but the last time I was in Chicago, he had taken his whole staff for both places (Frontera Grill and Topolobampo) to Mexico for a retreat! My husband swears we'll go back to Chicago for a culinary tour of the city instead of the usual Cubs weekend with his cheap eats friends.

I recommend all of his restaurants. If you want a quick (but good) and less expensive meal, XOCO is great - Mexican street food. Frontera's good for more casual dining. You can be jealous now - the last time we went to Frontera Maple was in season so they had Maple Flan. Best. Desert. Ever.

Sad thing is, you can't recommend a certain dish, because the menu changes every season!

[honeychile]

In each case, it's the parenting that failed. If a child flips out in a restaurant, IMHO, the parent should scoop up said child and take them outside until they can behave. It happens, I've seen it happen. One wonderful father even had his son apologize to the people seated next to them - in a family restaurant. And there is no excuse for children to be running and screaming in ANY restaurant - even McDonald's! If a parent gives in to the behavior in one place, the kids only get confused as to when they may act up.

My favorite restaurant technique, though, belongs to a dear friend of mine. She has a friend who teaches "etiquette for young ladies and gentlemen". When a child becomes out of control, she whips out the friend's business card, gives it to the parent(s), and says, "Hope this helps!" in a friendly way. They get the idea very quickly.

As for flying, I always tease about "the mandatory crying baby" on each flight. I try very hard to realize that tiny ears may be hurting due to the take off and landing, yet when older children are bratty, and the parents refuse to do something about it, I will tell the flight attendant and tell her that she can point out the complaintant (me). That way, the airline isn't blamed, I am - and I couldn't care less about what undisciplined people think of me.

Seriously, the only decent flight anymore is the chartered airplane!