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If you've ever gone to a middle-of-the-road or high-end restaurant and tried to eat with children screaming in the background then this idea might be worth pursuing. The kids' parents would probably like having it as an option too. When they get the urge to dine out they're usually faced with a choice
- go to some crappy fast food restaurant, find a babysitter (not always easy), or take the kids with them and hope for the best.
A restaurant nanny would give them a fourth choice - take the kids with them and get the best. The parents could keep the kids at the table while they were behaving and then request a 'restaurant nanny' to take charge of them when they got out of hand so they could finish the rest of their meal in peace. The nanny would take the children to a soundproof room where she could deal with them appropriately (webcams on the table would let the parents verify this). Some-high end resorts already do something along these lines (although they take the kids away for the whole meal, and sometimes for the whole day) - it's time normal parents, and those of us who happen to be dining in the same restaurant with them, got a break too.
Before anyone brings it up, I should say that the noise kids make in restaurants doesn't usually bother me. This solution is intended more for the benefit of people I've heard complain who were so bothered by the noise that they couldn't enjoy their meal. (Although I'll admit it can get annoying when straws start flying all around the place.)
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If they're going to a 'high-end' restaurant, I would hope that they are respectful enough (of the other patrons who are paying $200 for a two-top) to leave the kids at home with a babysitter. If they aren't, I would hope they can control their children. |
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If they can't, the parents need the nanny - - not the children. [+-] |
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contracts - This is one of those 'the right thing to do ' vs 'the real thing that gets done' cases. Since the practice of bringing kids to these restaurant is taking place now and isn't likely to stop in the future we should try to deal with it in a win-win way. |
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When we lived in Japan, we found that children were welcome almost anywhere. The Japanese have a much different appreciation for the rug rats than Americans, anyway our oldest was 3 yrs old, blond hair and blue eyes, considered good luck in Japan. The waitress always asked to hold him, would carry him around for most of the time, pass him around to other employees. we never worried once that he would be harmed, kidnapped nor molested. There is just a different attitude about children there. We always were able to relax. I miss Japan. |
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dentworth - Hearing that, I miss Japan and I've never even been there. |
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I think this would be a terrific plan for some restaurants, but as [contracts] says, really high end places such as we have in Georgetown are just not appropriate for kids. Can't change the culture so easily. |
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Are children in Japan less inclined to be noisy, wowly, badly-behaved little horrors than they are in UK (or, apparently, US)? If so, that may explain the difference in attitude. |
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They are spoiled rotten by their families, are noisy, & allowed, even encouraged, to be wild up to age 6. Then when they start school they learn extreme self discipline & respect. Then that whole honor- to- the- family- name thing kicks in; of course that was 20 years ago. Things may be changing. |
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The main problem with taking kids to a high-end restaurant (which I have done, I tend to aim to arrive right after they open so as to be in and out before they have many customers ) is the tendency of some places to serve wonderful food for the adults and yet expect to charge the same money for feeding the kids a couple of soggy fish fingers and a handful of oven chips. |
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I think this is a great idea. Can't see anything bad in having a helping hand to assist couples in dealing with the children in places where all the family (not only the little ones) should be entitled to some time-off. |
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I think this idea is great. My opinion of children is that
even if well behaved they do preclude
a...ahem...romantic atmosphere for the parents. [+] for
injecting a little more love voodoo into marriage. |
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[dentworth] - you will find this attitude in Italy as well, and in many family-run Italian restaurants around the world. |
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The difference [wags] is that in these other countries kids don't learn extreme self discipline and respect. Thank god! |
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I suppose that if/when I have kids, my opinion may change on the matter, but Dentworth hit the nail on the head with "Georgetown." A lot of the restaurants in this area are very expensive, and atmosphere heavy. Part of the inordinant price tag at these places is for the atmosphere - - kids can't appreciate it but they can certainly ruin it for others. I would think that by having such service at these restaurants, it would encourage the destruction of their carefully crafted ambience, and in doing so lower the restaurant to TGIFriday's level - - where I would not be upset to see screaming children running around. I would expect it at a place like that. I remain neutral. |
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