| Author |
Message |
    
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1189
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 12:28 pm: |     |
It's bad manners to smoke in a restaurant. It imposes the smoker's choice on the other diners.
one discussion was about law this one is about manners. you know that. shame on you for lowering yourself to such a trite level. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1190
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 12:30 pm: | |
. it is usually some combination of an abundance of pointy objects, jello shots and the presence of pornography.
can i get an address, please? |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11815
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 3:10 pm: | |
one discussion was about law this one is about manners. you know that. shame on you for lowering yourself to such a trite level.
It was a joke, my friend. Laugh a little.
|
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1195
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 3:11 pm: | |
my bad.
your sexy avatar pic has me distracted |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10198
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 3:45 pm: | |
Kids are fine in most restaurants, however there are a few rules that we learned raising two very antsy kids:
1. If they start screaming or yelling one of us took them outside for a time out.
2. We never let them walk around by themselves. Of course our kids were adorable, charming and well behaved, but not everyone wants a strange three year old at their table. Our exsperience with wandering kids is that they usually wander because the parents aren't paying any attention to them.
3. Bring crayons and paper or a coloring book. In fact a good sign, maybe the best sign, of a kid friendly restaurant is if they put crayons and a coloring placemat out when kids arrive.
4. Most reasonable people have more tolerance for kids at a place like the Tratorria than at the Gate or especially someplace like Verjus.
5. If all else fails there is always sedation. Two baby Tylenol settle most kids down pretty quickly.
|
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1200
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 3:52 pm: | |
so, other than my abrupt manner of presenting my opinions, it seems that most everyone agrees with me.
i feel like we are building bridges here. lets hug!
|
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2574
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 3:56 pm: | |
Funny, I didn't notice anybody agreeing with you Loonitarian. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1203
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 3:59 pm: | |
always with the personal insults. shame on you. it shows a lack of ability to back up an opinion when one has to resort to personal remarks.
also, you ruined the mood. we were just getting ready for the lovin'. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11817
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 4:02 pm: | |
We agree that people should control their kids (within reason) in restaurants. We don't agree that references to our reproductive choices are appropriate to the discussion.
|
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1204
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 4:05 pm: | |
i made mention of my abrupt manner. it was meant as a pseudo apology. you all are way too serious. loosen up. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11818
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 4:09 pm: | |
Oh, I thought you were asking for confirmation so I gave it where you deserved it.
Maybe we really should hug.
|
RR
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 494
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 4:10 pm: | |
sounds like lib wants more than a hug from you, tommy baby. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1206
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 4:11 pm: | |
i worry that i wouldnt be able to control myself. |
aquaman
Supporter
Username: Aquaman
Post Number: 645
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 8:57 pm: | |
Loonatarian?
Not so open-minded Meandthe...
You sicken me.
|
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 8:58 pm: | |
ouch! |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 968
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006 - 10:02 pm: | |
That hardly seems to be in keeping with AquaReligion. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5474
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 4:21 pm: | |
Waiter?
Check Please. |
Mr. Big Poppa
Citizen
Username: Big_poppa
Post Number: 484
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 6:05 pm: | |
I'm getting some popcorn. This might turn out better than that "Babysitter" thread a few months back that Dave had to pull off the board. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1229
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 6:28 pm: | |
i think you missed the first show and doesnt seem like there is going to be another one. |
maplescorp
Citizen
Username: Maplescorp
Post Number: 79
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 10:37 am: | |
I agree with the tactics of Smarty (!) and Bob K. Red -- I can't believe a kid took a french fry from your table and the parent didn't comment. If a kid came up to me and asked for a french fy, that's fine. That's the equivelent of an adult asking for your ketchup bottle. But kids shouldn't scream or run around. That's on the parents. As a father of three young'uns, I purposely sit far away from other families with such kids when I go to eat with other grownups, but the onus is on the parents to keep them under control.
That said, laughing, giggling, talking loudly, smacking siblings, crawling under the table -- not things I'd let my kids do but it's within their rights as customers.
The airplane argument is true -- where can you go? But it doesn't apply to movie theaters. Crying in a movie theater (or talking by anyone) should not have to be tolerated. The onus is on a parent to give up their own enjoyment and take the kid out...before I do! I once had a kid who obviously didn't know what a tissue is used for sniffle/zip it up constantly during the course of an entire movie. No shame on the kid; shame on the parents. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2160
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 10:56 am: | |
No laughing or giggling? Really? |
maplescorp
Citizen
Username: Maplescorp
Post Number: 81
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 11:08 am: | |
Whoops. Obviously I allow my kids to laugh and giggle outdoors...on THURSDAYS.
I actually don't like when they crawl on the floor under the table, but that shouldn't bother other people. |
Carrie Avery
Citizen
Username: Carrie33
Post Number: 1273
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 11:18 am: | |
1)Respect the fact that it isn't your kitchen or living room.
2) Respect the fact that not everyone will agree with your idea of acceptable behaviour.
3)Respect the fact that there are other diners who, whether they have children or not, went out to eat for the pleasure of being served, not to be treated as if they are serving you.
4) Finally, respect the fact that there is fun to be had ~if for one moment~ the time spent at someone's else establishment wasn't all about your family.
We, as a family of 5, make sure we follow our own rules. If something goes astray we are back to McDonalds, and Dad doesn't come, he hates their food. |
mck
Supporter
Username: Mck
Post Number: 755
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 11:19 am: | |
I feel very sorry for the classroom teachers who will inherit kids whose parents couldn't be bothered to teach them self control in public places. |
msg
Citizen
Username: Msg
Post Number: 176
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 11:39 pm: | |
Thursday night was a bad night in the Mapleleaf also. I have never experienced a worse bunch of horribly acting children before. There were two women with 6 children sitting in a booth near us. The women were talking and the kids were bouncing on the seats, crying, hitting each other. throwing food, trying to get their mothers' attention in every way. The moms were ignoring the kids. We could not. There were several other booths filled with kids, some behaving, some not. Since when do tiny tots (under 6) eat dinner at 8pm? My kids were home reading or being read to at that age.
mck-yes, classroom teachers do inherit children like these. It takes perserverance and patience to deal with them and their parents. |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 208
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 8:56 am: | |
Everyone has a bad behavior story. I don't. Instead, I want to recognize the couples and their children who were finishing their meal around 6:10pm on Friday night at The Gate. There were about 3 couples each with about 2 children -- all under the age of 5 or so including babes in arms. They were sitting in the tables right in the front window away from the bar, so actually behind a railing than the rest of us. Probably not by accident.
The children were wiggly and made several potty trips but everyone but well-behaved relative to their ages. While waiting for my husband to arrive for dinner, I got a kick out of watching a dad hold one baby girl (barely!) while patiently helping a preschooler put on her coat. It was cute.
Despite my prior comments, sometimes families eat out together and I enjoy their company. Of course, they were leaving . . . . But, there wasn't a ton of shushing and correcting in this group, just easy going child management. Bravo! |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 1849
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 9:04 am: | |
I would rather hear a few children fussing a bit (with reasonable trips outside if they get too out of hand), than a bunch of loud obnoxious adults.
You know the kind I mean, & that goes for all those who insist on yapping way to loud on their phones, etc., etc...
Now if you are eating in any establishment that includes a "bar", than one has no reason to complain about noise at all, it's a bar after all.... |
Brett Weir
Citizen
Username: Brett_weir
Post Number: 1166
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 12:42 pm: | |
We are extremely aware of how the kids behave in restaurants, and when they were little we avoided dining out if we thought they weren't up to it. There were occasions when all was well and one kid would have a spontaneous meltdown; this resulted in one of us taking the child outside to either calm down or continue screaming.
I think the responsibility is completely on the parents. It's just common courtesy to allow others to dine without disruption. That doesn't mean you have to keep kids completely quiet, but at least under reasonable control.
We stopped dining out with my sister and her family because her kids were obnoxious and she and her husband did nothing. And their kids are older than ours.
I also don't understand why some parents would want to go out to dinner and hear their own kids act up. We can't enjoy a minute of such an evening and it certainly isn't cheap. Maybe they just hate to cook THAT much. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3530
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 9, 2006 - 9:43 pm: | |
Is this the place on Route 10 by the Sony Theater? |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3013
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 6:59 am: | |
It is Village Trattoria, on Maplewood Avenue in the Maplewood Village - across the side street (Highland?) from the bank. |
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 241
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 12:49 pm: | |
Here's a clue - if your adorable toddler starts to scream like a banshee (what is a banshee?) as soon as you put him in the high chair it might be a good idea to get your meal to go.
I've never seen parents who seemed so completely oblivious of what to do when their kid screeches to the point that everyone is craning their necks to see what the heck is going on.
UGGGHHH - just had to vent!
* * *
Eliz-
WOW! Anyone who has ever raised kids knows that you can't always control how they behave. I believe in bringing young kids to informal restaurants to teach them how to behave. I've had my 4 and one year olds in the Tratt many times and they've made noise every time. I didn't see anyone craning their necks because the behavior is quite routine in that place. Here's a clue for you, if I'm there when you are, and if my kids should happen to make noise, don't crane your neck, don't complain to the waiter, and by all means, don't hold your breath waiting for me to leave before I'm ready. The place is a pizzeria and a very nice one at that! It's loud, friendly, chaotic and a Maplewood Family Institution. A perfect place to teach kids how to behave in restaurants. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 2887
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 1:03 pm: | |
Ummm, Joe? The part about teaching kids to behave in a restaurant? That should include addressing a screaming kid and removing them. One of those "if you can't (fill in the blank), then we won't (fill in the blank)" as you're walking out the door. Concsequences for bad behavior is often inconvenient for parents ("don't hold your breath waiting for me to leave before I'm ready")- but a necessary part of good parenting.
That said.. you're right, the Tratorria is a very family friendly place. I expect to encounter a certain level of "noise" and fun loving kids if we choose to eat there. However, if, as posted above, someone's child is screaming thoroughout the meal, something is terribly wrong. |
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 243
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 2:46 pm: | |
People have different tolerances for this kind of thing. If you sit a 2 year old down in a restaurant for 45 minutes, he'll spend at least 10% of that time engaged in 2 year old behavior. Eliz didn't say the kids screamed throughout the meal, she said the kid screamed when the parent tried to put him/her in the highchair. It would take a hell of a lot more than that to get me to leave. We have always taken our kids to the "down neck" resturants from the earliest ages. Many people in there have kids with them. It's normal! We went to Spain this summer with two other couples. We each had 2 kids. The youngest was 1 the oldest was 4. Six kids between 1 and 4. We stuck with the informal places, but we were in tapas bars, cafes and sidrerias everyday for 12 days. The Spaniards weren't craning their necks because they involve their kids in their daily routines, including dining out! So, if I go to a restaurant with the kids and one of them screams at the top of his lungs for 45 minutes (or even 20) I'll leave, but it won't be to eat my dinner home, it will be to take the kid to the doctor. |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1544
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:30 am: | |
"The Spaniards weren't craning their necks because they involve their kids in their daily routines, including dining out!"
Why not move to Spain? I think you should teach your bratty kids how to behave AT HOME! Why torture others. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 2893
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 9:20 am: | |
Joe - my perception of Eliz's post "..starts to scream like a banshee (what is a banshee?) as soon as you put him in the high chair.." is that the child continued to scream throughout the meal. "Starts to" being the tip off. If, as you suggest, the child mearly screached while being lowered into the chair (or even 10% of the time spent there), I'd say she over-reacted.
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page