Is sharing food in a restaurant unfair.

dubstarr · 13-09-2017 04:16PM

pilly wrote: »

Who ends up locked? The kids?

The reason is the norm on the continent is because the kids behave. Big difference.

And how will kids earn to behave,if they are not brought out to places to eat.In the first place.

pilly · 13-09-2017 04:18PM

dubstarr wrote: »

And how will kids earn to behave,if they are not brought out to places to eat.In the first place.

By their parents teaching them that it's not okay to run around public places, kicking peoples chairs, nosying in on their conversations, taking food from their plates etc etc.

BTW I have 3 grown children and did bring them to restaurants when they were young, just didn't let them run feral.

dr.fuzzenstein · 13-09-2017 04:22PM

pilly wrote: »

Who ends up locked? The kids?

The reason is the norm on the continent is because the kids behave. Big difference.

I would say the whole "Irish children ALWAYS run around screaming" is a myth.
There are a lot of people who will just throw a fit when they see kids, before the kids have done anything.
It seems to be a thing in the UK and certainly in Ireland.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/family/why-do-us-brits-hate-children-so-much/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/12/why-do-so-many-adults-seem-to-hate-children_n_7384394.html

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 13-09-2017 04:22PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Go to Italy, there are no places that advertise themselves as family friendly.
It would simply be unthinkable that they wouldn't be.
This whole "I hate kids and don't want them around me" attitude seems to be very specific to the English speaking world. You can just tell how heated they get and most end up getting locked.

I don't hate kids at all. However a restaurant that's geared towards families with kids is far less likely to be a place where I can have a quiet meal in peace. A workplace that's full of kids is one that's going to be more difficult. Big difference between those very reasonable statements and "I hate kids".

I've been to Italy a few times, so I'm grand for patronising explanations of fancy foreign places.

Caliden · 13-09-2017 04:25PM

Just order 2 pizzas for yourself and the children will have a glass of tap water.

Only time I've seen something like that was at Bunsen when a group of teens (8+) were sitting at a table. She asked who was/wasn't having food and for those not having food to wait outside as there was a queue of people waiting to be seated and there was just too many of them around the one table.

Now that's a different story to a mother with her 2 kids.

pilly · 13-09-2017 04:26PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I would say the whole "Irish children ALWAYS run around screaming" is a myth.
There are a lot of people who will just throw a fit when they see kids, before the kids have done anything.
It seems to be a thing in the UK and certainly in Ireland.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/family/why-do-us-brits-hate-children-so-much/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/12/why-do-so-many-adults-seem-to-hate-children_n_7384394.html

I don't need to read those articles, at 47 years of age I've been in restaurants in Ireland, England and probably 20 other countries.

I use my own experience and never throw a fit when I see kids (that would be just weird). I do however get extremely pissed off when they do all the behaviours I've mentioned without a word being said by their parents, which I'm full entitled to do.

meeeeh · 13-09-2017 04:32PM

I would say there is very little difference between kids in Ireland or anywhere else. The difference is mostly how drunk adults get going out, parents or other guests.

dr.fuzzenstein · 13-09-2017 04:34PM

Just goes to show how easily a thread about sharing food, which happens to be about kids and didn't in any way mention their behavior, turns into a heated argument on kids in restaurants.

neonsofa · 13-09-2017 04:35PM

pilly wrote: »

I don't need to read those articles, at 47 years of age I've been in restaurants in Ireland, England and probably 20 other countries.

I use my own experience and never throw a fit when I see kids (that would be just weird). I do however get extremely pissed off when they do all the behaviours I've mentioned without a word being said by their parents, which I'm full entitled to do.

Yea I remember once being in a self service cafe place and the lady offered me a high chair as we got to the table, I said no thanks its not necessary. She kind of seemed pissed off. Then later as I was leaving she came up and explained that she expected the little one to be running around or climbing and she had offered the high chair to make sure that it didn't happen but credit where its due and an apology for assuming. It was really nice of her to say that cause she didnt have to. But she obviously regularly had to deal with kids misbehaving, so much so she just expected it.

And I myself would be the same as You, kids will be kids and they can be noisy or hyper but I expect the parents to parent and control their kids. Its the lack of discipline moreso than the kids themselves.

pilly · 13-09-2017 04:37PM

meeeeh wrote: »

I would say there is very little difference between kids in Ireland or anywhere else. The difference is mostly how drunk adults get going out, parents or other guests.

You could have a point, I don't drink so I don't know but I suppose if the parents are getting drunk and hanging around for ages then the kids get bored and out of control.

pilly · 13-09-2017 04:38PM

neonsofa wrote: »

Yea I remember once being in a self service cafe place and the lady offered me a high chair as we got to the table, I said no thanks its not necessary. She kind of seemed pissed off. Then later as I was leaving she came up and explained that she expected the little one to be running around or climbing and she had offered the high chair to make sure that it didn't happen but credit where its due and an apology for assuming. It was really nice of her to say that cause she didnt have to. But she obviously regularly had to deal with kids misbehaving, so much so she just expected it.

And I myself would be the same as You, kids will be kids and they can be noisy or hyper but I expect the parents to parent and control their kids. Its the lack of discipline moreso than the kids themselves.

I feel so sorry for waitresses in that situation because I worked in pubs when I was younger and it's no mean feat to get across a lounge with a tray full of drinks and kids running everywhere. Then if you drop the drink on the kids it's your fault.

neonsofa · 13-09-2017 04:48PM

pilly wrote: »

I feel so sorry for waitresses in that situation because I worked in pubs when I was younger and it's no mean feat to get across a lounge with a tray full of drinks and kids running everywhere. Then if you drop the drink on the kids it's your fault.

I've never done the job but still know that I shouldn't allow kids to run around while people are doing their job. I honestly cant see how/why other people think it's ok. Even for their own childs safety if nothing else.

13-09-2017 05:29PM

In Spain, Italy, France there is a culture of long family dinners so even before they go out to a restaurant children are use to the idea of siting for a long time having food. The primary reason for going out for a meal in those cultures is to eat food not drink alcohol they do drink but not in Irish or English context.

OldMrBrennan83 · 13-09-2017 05:46PM

This post has been deleted.

dubstarr · 13-09-2017 06:37PM

I remember being away with the kids in a hotel.My 2 other kids where in the kids club.So it was only me and the other child.Well some elder people where sat beside us,and she asked to be moved.

Now i didnt hear her asking but the the look of disgust on her face,whilst talking through her fingers to the waitress.I knew.

The other 2 had come down in the mean time and where eating.There was not a word out of them.Some people just look for something to moan about,

animaal · 14-09-2017 09:49AM

Adrienne Lively Warlock wrote: »

Places can afford to choose their market a bit more now than a few years ago.

The state confiscated money from my pension fund to support the reduced VAT rate for restaurants. Because they were struggling, apparently.

If this is what they're doing with it (being more picky about the customers they're not bothered serving) then let's bring the normal VAT rates back.

Guy Sajer · 14-09-2017 10:03AM

"Restaurant owner posts epic comeback against customer who complained about having to order extra" will be circulating facebook soon.

dr.fuzzenstein · 14-09-2017 12:44PM

The answer could be to introduce a minimum charge. €10 per child and €20 per adult. This is a reasonable amount for eating out.
If you order below that, the charge applies. But this is not all you can eat, if you order more, you pay the difference.
Also, restaurants need to achieve a good turnaround per table, so a time limit should apply, let's say 90 minutes maximum, after that the minimum charge would apply again.
For the restaurants this will get rid of inefficient and cheapskate guests whilst maximizing profits.
A win-win as I see it.
Seriously, I can see this happening.

LirW · 14-09-2017 12:52PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

The answer could be to introduce a minimum charge. €10 per child and €20 per adult. This is a reasonable amount for eating out.
If you order below that, the charge applies. But this is not all you can eat, if you order more, you pay the difference.
Also, restaurants need to achieve a good turnaround per table, so a time limit should apply, let's say 90 minutes maximum, after that the minimum charge would apply again.
For the restaurants this will get rid of inefficient and cheapskate guests whilst maximizing profits.
A win-win as I see it.
Seriously, I can see this happening.

Countless places having kids meals for like 7 or 8 quid where they sometimes throw a drink and a scoop of ice cream in.

Also these time limits are ridiculous, I mean I see where you're coming from with all the piss-taking that's happening but if you want to have a nice meal with a few friends or family with 3 courses, a few glasses and some nice chit-chat it can easily take you like 3 hours.

Foxhound38 · 14-09-2017 01:01PM

It depends on how it's done - sometimes me and my OH, would share a starter and get separate mains. Or share a desert if we had a big meal.

In a few restaurants we're forgo the starter and share 2 mains between us - say a pizza and a pasta dish. Double the deliciousness with less of the indigestion.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 14-09-2017 01:14PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Go to Italy, there are no places that advertise themselves as family friendly.
It would simply be unthinkable that they wouldn't be.
This whole "I hate kids and don't want them around me" attitude seems to be very specific to the English speaking world. You can just tell how heated they get and most end up getting locked.

In fairness, anytime I've seen children from other parts of Europe in restaurants they've been quiet, well behaved and eaten whatever was put in front of them.
It seems to be Irish and English children that are allowed to shout, run around, make a mess and generally annoy other customers and staff. Not all of them, of course, but a significant minority.

kurtainsider · 14-09-2017 01:14PM

Foxhound38 wrote: »

It depends on how it's done - sometimes me and my OH, would share a starter and get separate mains. Or share a desert if we had a big meal.

In a few restaurants we're forgo the starter and share 2 mains between us - say a pizza and a pasta dish. Double the deliciousness with less of the indigestion.

Sharing??? There's a school of thought on here that says by rights you should be grabbed and hauled out over the table like that doctor on the overbooked plane in America. Probably a bit of a kicking in the carpark for good measure for having the effrontery to want to eat what you want to and not what the management would like you to eat.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 14-09-2017 01:16PM

dubstarr wrote: »

And how will kids earn to behave,if they are not brought out to places to eat.In the first place.

By being taught table manners at home, and by being made to sit down and keep quiet by their parents in restaurants - and taken out and brought home if they don't. That's how I learnt how to eat out.

pilly · 14-09-2017 05:03PM

kurtainsider wrote: »

Sharing??? There's a school of thought on here that says by rights you should be grabbed and hauled out over the table like that doctor on the overbooked plane in America. Probably a bit of a kicking in the carpark for good measure for having the effrontery to want to eat what you want to and not what the management would like you to eat.

I don't know what thread you're reading but I haven't seen anyone on here suggest anything like that?

the_pen_turner · 14-09-2017 05:17PM

the time limit thing is ridicules .. I can see where it would be needed.
the only way I could work is if you said you had 30minutes after the meal is finished. if the whole meal time and waiting for food was included then your time could be up very soon after finishing. I have been in restaurants for 2 hours just for the food, no talking afterwards. some places are slow

kurtainsider · 14-09-2017 06:05PM

pilly wrote: »

I don't know what thread you're reading but I haven't seen anyone on here suggest anything like that?

It's called hyperbole.

pilly · 15-09-2017 11:03AM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

the time limit thing is ridicules .. I can see where it would be needed.
the only way I could work is if you said you had 30minutes after the meal is finished. if the whole meal time and waiting for food was included then your time could be up very soon after finishing. I have been in restaurants for 2 hours just for the food, no talking afterwards. some places are slow

I've been in busy restaurants in Dublin where when you ring to book you're told that there's 2 sittings, say 7 and 9. If you book a table for 7 you've to be gone by 845. Tbh I don't bother booking unless they have the 9pm slot.

dubstarr · 15-09-2017 12:02PM

pilly wrote: »

I've been in busy restaurants in Dublin where when you ring to book you're told that there's 2 sittings, say 7 and 9. If you book a table for 7 you've to be gone by 845. Tbh I don't bother booking unless they have the 9pm slot.

I know Cosmo has a cut off point for how long you can stay.Loads of places do.

I just think if 2 kids want to share a pizza,wheres the harm.Not like someone buying 1 pint between 4 and sitting there all day.

JohnCleary · 15-09-2017 12:05PM

I've another positive story

A Chinese / Asian-street-food place in Galway City (Beside the hospital) - Went in last week with the GF. Again, we don't eat huge portions and rarely eat this kind of food, so we ordered a mains between us. The waitress gave us a smile, plonked the meal between the 2 of us on a big dish and brought us 2 separate plates for eating on.

It was well worth the few euro tip I threw the staff, the portion was enough to feed both of us (€10!)

Portions in Ireland are too big anyway, but that's a different thread.

If someone demanded that eat person HAD to order, i'd simply smile, walk out and go to the next place.

pilly · 15-09-2017 12:07PM

dubstarr wrote: »

I know Cosmo has a cut off point for how long you can stay.Loads of places do.

I just think if 2 kids want to share a pizza,wheres the harm.Not like someone buying 1 pint between 4 and sitting there all day.

Oh I agree, restaurant totally shooting itself in the foot there.

Is sharing food in a restaurant unfair.

Comments