Eating out with very young children

[sws97sdg]

If the restaurant you want to go to doesn’t like kids go to another one its their loss, and what a ridiculous idea to say banning buggies and children after a certain time, Pollensa is and has always been a mass market, family orientated resort, its not St Tropez, that’s the reason we all go there, if people don’t like children that much perhaps they could try holidays for that certain type of person, Saga holidays I think they are called.

 

[LK1960]

LOL! Well said SWS!

 

[eleanor]

Totally agree, SWS - well said!

 

[CathB]

we have taken my daughter on holiday since she was 18months old and never once had a problem... most restaurants were more than helpful when you had a little one and a buggy in tow...in fact we were in one restaurant in Alcudia (when she was 18 mnths) and I had put her back in her buggy to take her outside as she had started to perform -one of the waiters insisted I put her back in her high chair,told me that I was "naughty" and brought her a dish of ice cream.Instant smiles and we never could pass that restaurant after that...she could spot it at 100 paces.
its only by taking children with you to restaurants that they learn and it becomes the norm to them.

 

[snowy2007]

No sorry kids should be home and in bed not out late. Yes I love kids but now if I go out to eat late I want peace NO BUGGIES. Why should we also not enjoy our evening out alone, my money is as good as yours.

 

[sws97sdg]

You can snowy, on a saga holiday, have you not noticed the restaurants are also full of Spanish children up past midnight?

 

[med777]

Snowy

do u have kids?

Miriam

 

[snowy2007]

Med777 yes I have two both grown up now, and if you read I do say I love kids but for me there is a time and a place. All I said was when I go out for a nice quiet evening meal I do not want it spoilt by crying kids and parents shouting at them, for that reason I select where I eat.

Sws97sdg you seem to know alot about Saga holidays are you one of there regular bookers. As for Spainish children while there parents are eating where are they out in the street or square playing. Once again you are right and every one else is wrong lets leave it at that.

 

[sws97sdg]

But surely it was said that they should be banned from restaurants, if some choose to discourage kids, then you can go to them, its a family resort so you have to except that there will be families out late.
Thanks for admitting it at last, and anyway it wasn't just me, the general view seems to be that the idea is ridiculous, and as for Saga mate, sorry not old enough yet

 

[JH02JLH]

OK...let's keep this civilised, guys...

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but let's not resort to having a slanging match...

Thanks
Jane

 

[Smiddy]

Kids in restaurants

As i've been going to PP for over 20 yrs ( i know i've told you before i suppose i can join both sides of the debate, i've dined with buggies and now dine as a mature diner.

My wife always made sure the kids were well fed BEFORE we went out, that way they tended to be quite happy in their buggies as long as we gave them a bit of bara now and then, more often than not they would fall asleep ! But, we rarely took them to enclosed upper-end restaurants, as i always felt there were more than enough open-air/facing beach type restaurants which are far more conjusive to family-type dining, kids get bored very easily in enclosed restaurants.

People who prefer to dine without the presence of children are perfectly entitled to voice there opinion, rather than suffer in silence, and should not be chastized for doing so.

 

[sws97sdg]

I cant remember anyone saying that people are not entitled to an opinion, I can remember people saying the idea that all children should be banned from restaurants after 9 was ridiculous though

 

[pollensaparadise]

Please forgive me but I thought this was a holiday resort where strange as it may seem people bring their children with them to enjoy a family holiday.

HOW VERY ODD

 

[Belladonna]

Smiddy, you have hit the nail very squarely on the head with your comments. PP is a resort which caters for ALL the family; young couples, families with children, couples with grown up children and couples who have "been there, done that".
So to have a restaurant that caters for all under one roof would be impossible, hence different restaurants - both inside and out!
Viva la difference and may they all work well beside each other, and we can all experience different types of restaurants as our lives change.

 

[debz1]

Agree entirely with Smiddy that kids get so bored in enclosed restaurants that when you have young children it makes much more sense to eat outdoors so they can play in the square or on the beach, before (hopefully!) falling asleep in their buggies.

I can see both sides as we now go to restaurants we wouldn't have dreamed of taking the children to when they were younger, and thats just how holidays change over the years. It would be wrong though to ban kids from restaurants after a certain time and it has to be left to parents to act responsibly. If I was in a higher end restauarnt and someones kid was kicking off or running riot and spoiling my meal I would definitely complain to the maitre di and expect the parents to be told to keep them in check.

 

[Sparky]

If I was in a higher end restauarnt and someones kid was kicking off or running riot and spoiling my meal I would definitely complain to the maitre di and expect the parents to be told to keep them in check.

Yes Debs,
but surely parents should keep their offspring in check whether it be a "Higher" or lower end restaurant. Either way this debate is really pointless as, children will always be welcome here at any time. I for one say long may that continue.

 

[debz1]

sparky, I said higher end as these are the restaurants that tend to be enclosed ie Clivia, El Cantonet, Font del Gal etc .These places are much more conducive to a meal a deux or with friends. They are very different from places like Little Italy and Tots for example, and those in the square which due to their location are much more geared up for families with young children.

Of course children should be ' kept in check' and not be allowed to run riot, wherever they are, but even the most well behaved child likes to let off steam and therefore some restaurants are more suitable than others.

 

[sws97sdg]

La font del Gall have always excepted children, we have been taking ours there ever since we started going there, although the youngest is now 16, they have seating outside as well suitable for buggies?

 

[snowy2007]

sws97sdg you made the very point OUTSIDE.

 

[sws97sdg]

Actually I said outside as well meaning either, and of coarse they have aircon inside which is better for the babies to sleep in the buggies