Where do parents take their kids to eat?

USA Today published an article yesterday about how IHOP and other restaurants are trying to lure in parents by letting kids eat free. Now this is not a discussion about the power of free. It's just a look at dining from a parent's perspective.

I have a very vivid memory about one particular lunch in Manhattan two years ago. My wife and my two young daughters (ages 1 & 5) went to one of our favorite Indian places in midtown. As we walked in, the other diners looked at us as if we had the plague. I get it. No one wants a bunch of kids creating a disturbance during their lunch hour, but the issue I had is that this attitude was also on display from the waitstaff and management. They never even gave us a chance. What if my kids were well-behaved and quiet? (Which they were.)

Well I got the message that we were not welcome there and have not returned with or without my family.

That's obviously the extreme. The typical experience is often indifference, but let me point out another experience we had. We ate at another Indian restaurant in upper Manhattan (I guess we eat a lot of Indian food). We had one child at the time. She was about one year old and a little fussy and I think our waiter sensed that my wife and I were a little stressed out. He started to play with our daughter and then offered to pick her up. She gladly went with him and he and the rest of the staff entertained her for about 10 minutes while my wife and I ate a peaceful meal. It was only 10 minutes, but it felt like an hour. Needless to say, I left a very good tip.

We have told that story dozens of times to other people in the neighborhood and went back to that restaurant any chance we got.

The point is that eating out with your kids can be difficult and stressful and if there's a restaurant that is a little nicer to my kids or has some crayons to throw at them they will get my business almost every time. 

In these economic times, it makes sense that some companies are letting kids eat free. How much does a grilled cheese sandwich cost to make anyway? Not only do they get the parents for a meal, but they have a chance to create some loyalty and get them back for more.

I've worked at "nice" restaurants that did not cater to children and always tried to make them feel welcome when they came, because it's just another chance to delight a guest, and I know if I have a delighted child, I definitely have two delighted parents.

Comments

[Lea]

Yeah right! It is much appreciated when restaurants know how to entertain kids.

[Online Casinos]

Very good service!