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I was out to dinner with another person tonight at a casual steakhouse, and the restaurant was empty because we were there early. Across the dining room was a two or three year-old little boy who was screaming and crying so loudly that you could've heard it from outside. I'm not sure why he was acting this way, but the parents were simply ignoring it, shushing him softly every now and then. He was also running around. It was aggravating me to no end and the person I was eating with as well. The tantrum went on for a good twenty to thirty minutes, and an angry man in the booth behind us tried to get the attention of the child's mother, but he was ignored. His waitress came over and politely asked if the man needed something, and he said to her, "I can't eat with this screaming going on, and I was wondering if something could be done to stop it." The waitress really couldn't do anything about it, and the child's mother heard this and yelled, "He's just a baby!" I applauded loudly after the man complained, and the person I was eating with yelled at me, saying that the complainer was a jerk and that I am too if I agree with him. That didn't change my opinion at all, and nothing will. If I wasn't eating with anybody else, I would've said something also, and I'm glad this guy stepped up. The parents did eventually take the child outside and he calmed down. Opinions?
I would've done the same thing. I am paying good money + tip to eat there. if I wanted to hear screaming children, I would go to a pediatricians office during flu season. if I ever acted up like that in a public place, my parents would take me outta the establishment to the car and give me a real reason to cry.
if you cant get your child under control in a restaurant, then you have no business being in there. either learn how to discipline your child or stop being a cheapskate and get a babysitter.
I was out to dinner with another person tonight at a casual steakhouse, and the restaurant was empty because we were there early. Across the dining room was a two or three year-old little boy who was screaming and crying so loudly that you could've heard it from outside. I'm not sure why he was acting this way, but the parents were simply ignoring it, shushing him softly every now and then. He was also running around. It was aggravating me to no end and the person I was eating with as well. The tantrum went on for a good twenty to thirty minutes, and an angry man in the booth behind us tried to get the attention of the child's mother, but he was ignored. His waitress came over and politely asked if the man needed something, and he said to her, "I can't eat with this screaming going on, and I was wondering if something could be done to stop it." The waitress really couldn't do anything about it, and the child's mother heard this and yelled, "He's just a baby!" I applauded loudly after the man complained, and the person I was eating with yelled at me, saying that the complainer was a jerk and that I am too if I agree with him. That didn't change my opinion at all, and nothing will. If I wasn't eating with anybody else, I would've said something also, and I'm glad this guy stepped up. The parents did eventually take the child outside and he calmed down. Opinions?
I would complain to the server. And yes....the staff CAN do something about disruptive customers.
Being a baby is no excuse. Everyone in the restaurant deserves to eat in peace without a serious nuisance or disturbance. Most parents would, and should, take the baby out to quiet him/her, and then return.
In movie theaters, the staff will ask the people with a crying baby to leave, if it goes on too long. And the other theater viewers will certainly say something!
But it's a matter of degree. How loud and how long. If most people weren't bothered by it, maybe it wasn't that bad.
I should add that I understand that the server cannot do anything, nor would I expect them to. It would be up to the manager. But I think that the guy had a right to complain in general so that the parents would get the hint or the server would get the manager to step in.
Yes...the staff CAN do something about it. By telling the manager.
Utterly sickeningly that you not only relish assaulting an 18 month old under your care, but that you BRAG about it.
Who said anything about relishing? Heck, our children are now 6 and 8, and I tell them--and I mean it--I MUCH prefer being the "goofy" or "spoiling" daddy, the one who runs around the house chasing them with fits of laughter and the one spoiling them with Christmas cookies, than I do being the "tough" daddy, and I do so by a long ways.
It's simply a matter of this--misbehavior and bratty behavior can't be tolerated. It must be dealt with. A 3 month old child isn't developed enough to be accountable for and disciplined for being noisy in a restaurant, but I think an 18 month old is, and the 2-3 year old in question most certainly is. You handle it. You don't allow it to continue and spoil other people's experiences and excuse it with the "he's just a baby" response. No, no, no. You deal with it, period, no excuses. If that entails something other than physical discipline, that's fine, so long as it works, and works quickly. You can say what you want to about my spanking my 1½ year-old--it worked, and worked quickly. If threatening the removal of certain toys or a time-out etc works, and works quickly, I'm fine with that.
This is why I am so glad I have reached the point in my life where I can afford to fly first class and dine only in fine dining establishments. I chuckle when a mother with her 3 offspring board a plane I am on and little Johnny says, " Mommy let's sit here. These seats are so big!!!"
No, No little Johnny. Back of the plane for you . Run along now!
I think you were right ! I would have done the same. Parents need to care for children , Yes you can have all the kids you want but others should not have to listen to fits, crying, etc,( at any place other than maybe a screaming Chuckie Cheese type place) Be the adult Take them out , clam them down or leave, Yes I am a parent of 4 and Grand parent of 6 ,Yes we have taken them out and or left , .Just My Op !
I was out to dinner with another person tonight at a casual steakhouse, and the restaurant was empty because we were there early. Across the dining room was a two or three year-old little boy who was screaming and crying so loudly that you could've heard it from outside. I'm not sure why he was acting this way, but the parents were simply ignoring it, shushing him softly every now and then. He was also running around. It was aggravating me to no end and the person I was eating with as well. The tantrum went on for a good twenty to thirty minutes, and an angry man in the booth behind us tried to get the attention of the child's mother, but he was ignored. His waitress came over and politely asked if the man needed something, and he said to her, "I can't eat with this screaming going on, and I was wondering if something could be done to stop it." The waitress really couldn't do anything about it, and the child's mother heard this and yelled, "He's just a baby!" I applauded loudly after the man complained, and the person I was eating with yelled at me, saying that the complainer was a jerk and that I am too if I agree with him. That didn't change my opinion at all, and nothing will. If I wasn't eating with anybody else, I would've said something also, and I'm glad this guy stepped up. The parents did eventually take the child outside and he calmed down. Opinions?
Nope. I do not think it's wrong. You deserve a peaceful dinner.
I'd ask to speak to the manager. This is WRONG and this problem seems to be on the increase.
I have been in a restaurant where a family was provided their meal in a doggie containers, with the bill aka, GO. Other diners complained to staff, staff requested children be seated and settled (gave a few chances for this to be accomplished) parents ignored then they were served in to go's and had to leave. More people then you would think applauded as this couple was escorted out arguing with the manager. The kids were screaming, jumping, running. if actually on the chair they were standing and jumping on the chairs. hiding under other patrons tables. it really was unreal. Wasn't a cheap chain, but an authentic sit down Italian place.
Spouse had this happen with a bunch who had come in to eat too drunk, rowdy/rude and disturbing everyone. they didn't settle so management escorted them out.
So in a nice restaurant it's perfectly fine to address a concern with the staff. I wouldn't go tell off another patron myself, and certainly not scream at other peoples kids. that's the managements job to provide a quality experience to their customers- and why rile someone rude up and make them even worse for the people in charge to deal with? Snide remarks, glares and clapping do not calm the situation for them.
The person you were eating with must be a freakin' saint, to put up with that nonsense.
The parents were wrong. Period. To allow a child to disrupt an entire restaurant is beyond rude. I could tolerate a spat, a few moments of whine or cry -- but 20 minutes?! Omigod, I'd be slitting my wrists. No, actually, I'd be LEAVING. He may be "just a baby", but if that's the case, he's TOO YOUNG FOR THE SITUATION and the parents are too damn selfish to take that into account and simply wanted to eat at that restaurant more than they cared about inflicting their tired/cranky/badly-behaved child on other patrons.
If other patrons had simply gotten up and said, "**********, we're out of here", then management would have to decide if they wanted to cater and clean up after one family, or if they would rather than a room full of paying patrons. I suspect that management figured that if you were staying, you couldn't have been TOO upset. The server may have not been able to deal with the situation -- but the manager on duty certainly could have, and the server should have offered to bring the manager. The manager might have offered to comp the meal or offered a free dessert for the annoyance, or agreed to speak to the parents and ask them to remove the child until the child had calmed down.
In a perfect world, when it became apparently after 30 seconds that the kid was a screamer, one parent should have removed the child, and the other should have settled the bill and asked for the rest of the meal "to go". To do anything else is self-absorbed and rude. For your companion to chastise you for supporting the patron who DID have the cajones to complain reeks of "blaming the victim".
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