Quote:
Originally Posted by WakeboardMom
Funniest thing ever...(or not)....I was in El Mariachi in Moultonborough on Friday night with my husband. We walked in at 8:40...kinda late if you have kids. We sat at the bar, and I could see two tables in the corner that he couldn't see.
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Little boy was not falling asleep at 8:45. Instead he was standing on his chair, making friends with the folks at the next table, who were four adults between the ages of thirty and fifty-ish. I thought those folks were being good sports, smiling at the little boy and not getting visibly annoyed.
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This little vignette kind of illustrates why some restaurants might impose a ban on kids. I love kids; I had 4 and now I'm on to grandchildren. But at 8:30 - 9:00 on a Friday night, I'm looking to wind down from my crazy week. LOL...you'll find me at the bar.
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The Mariachi has a children's menu? If not, I'm a little surprised at what the parents were willing to spend on the childrens' dinners. Then again, most restaurants in that part of the lake are closed by 8pm, except the Mariachi... which turns into a bit of a "pub" after dark. Might not have been the wisest choice, but not many choices if they just got into town.
I don't believe in banning children, but some parents seem to have a problem with judgement. If the lakes region had a strip joint, I believe there are some folks who would try to bring their kids in there as well! (And then holler "constitutional right" when they're told to leave.)
I see children whose parents are oblivious to the child causing problems with service, becoming a hazard and getting into things they shouldn't be touching. (Liability!!) Unless it is a restaurant which caters to families, believe me, restaurants don't want these customers -- they order the least expensive items, the waitstaff have to double as babysitters, it's extra work to bus their tables (since these kids tend to make a huge mess) and the children ruin the evening for the other guests with their screaming and rampaging. (Hey! They went there to get away from that kind of stuff!)
You'd think this would be a worst-case scenario, but unfortunately I see it a lot. So is it any wonder that some restaurants want to ban children? If you don't work in a restaurant, you probably don't see it enough for it to bother you... unless you are trying to propose to your girlfriend and the kid at the next table is having a meltdown... maybe you'd think twice.