As I read the article, the newest restaurant to jump on the band wagon is one that is only about an hour from me. I could have possibly stopped their on a drive to Pittsburgh. The one near me is McDain's Restaurant in Monroeville.
I often try to remain neutral on my blog but I actually find this article a bit offensive as a parent with small children. I can understand how a screaming child would ruin a mood for a couple eating dinner next to us but only once did I have an incident where my toddler started a tantrum. We asked the waiter to box up our food and we left. But that was the only time we had an issue eating out as a family.
I have a 2 yr old, 7 yr old, and 9 yr old. I don't think it's fair that more and more restaurants are starting this policy. It seems that the restaurants in these articles feel that families with small children should just be content to eat at McDonalds until all their children have reached the age of 6. Well I'm sorry but once in a great while we like to splurge and go out for a nice sit down family dinner. Why should families be banished to restaurants with bright colors and cardboard boxes?
Think of the economy. I think it's safe to say that family dinner bills are a bit more than couples.
I've been in restaurants where I've heard adults with inappropriate or obnoxious conversations. I've seen adults yell at waiters/waitresses over something trivial like forgetting the ketchup. I've seen adults in a place like Applebee's have one too many drinks and make a spectacle of themselves. I used to work as a waitress and these things happen more than some people realize.
How is a small child going to learn how to act in a nice restaurant if the years they soak up the most knowledge are spent strictly in restaurants that have a playground in it? I realize that not every restaurant is doing this BUT, I was shocked to read the comments in the article and see how many were in support of it.
I don't have a babysitter at the snap of my fingers. My family works and lead busy lives. I am a mother who enjoys spending dinner together as a family. We don't go out to a nice dinner but a few times a year. I want to splurge and enjoy our time, not be turned away at the door. I'm a paying customer.
Ok I'm going to get off my soapbox. Anyone else have an angle on this?
I sent an email off to McDain's voicing my opinion: mcdains@gmail.com
McDain's Restaurant
4440 Broadway Boulevard
Monroeville, PA 15146
If you want to write them too, either email or letter.
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