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I don't know if it's their right. Generally you are not allowed to discriminate against anyone in a public business engagement, unless there's a legitimate business reason for doing so. Children are not allowed into strip clubs for obvious reasons, but there is no obvious reason that they shouldn't be allowed in restaurants.
Now, it could be that these restaurants are simply making it an unofficial policy of not allowing children. But I imagine that if push came to shove, they would probably have to back off.
If a restaurant wants to exclude families with kids, that's their choice. Depending on the type of establishment, I understand. I think it's a stupid business decision considering there are other, creative alternative that don't alienate a sizable portion of your potential customer base... e.g. having table games and such to occupy kids, or trying to seat couples/adults in one section, and families in another.
Just as bad as families with unruly kids eating at adult restaurants are adults who show up at restaurants that cater to families (e.g. have a full coloring book kids menu) and expect a quiet, kids free dining experience. If that's what you are looking for, maybe you should look for a restaurant that doesn't serve pizza shooters and dinosaur shaped chicken tenders.
I will at least differentiate between kiddies who are merely being kiddies with parents making an effort to control them.
I'll put up with some noise or inconvenience from small tykes while I absolutely abhor the behaviour of some adults who make it their lifes mission to complain about the food or service to feed their bloated ego or avail themselves of a free desert all the while shouting into their cel-phone about the killer deal they've just made on a new set of golf clubs.
Those azzhats make my blood boil.
You all know the type I'm referring to. It's one thing to order your steak well done and have it come rare and quite rightly send it back to the kitchen but some of the stuff I've heard come out of patron's mouths while trying to enjoy my evening meal is tantamount to "abuse" and should be treated as such.
Sit me beside a tyke who might splatter me with his mashed 'taters by mistake any day of the week but some overinflated pompous azz who gets his jollies from busting on the wait staff so he isn't obligated to leave a tip? He can stay in the parking lot, thank you.
Places are called Family Restaurants for a reason. If you want to bring your obnoxious, screaming kids to a restaurant that are under 8 years old bring them to Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Perkins, or Chili's.
There is no way that patrons at high end, trendy, and expensive restaurants should put up with families with screaming kids and deal with everything that comes with them.
If I had a restaurant I'd have a no children under 8 after 6pm policy and I also would NOT offer a kids menu. If kids are too picky with what they eat, they can stay home or go to McDonalds.
Isn't that the truth ? We don't go to those restaurants anymore either because of that.
Looks like they've replaced McDonalds, Burger King, DQ and their playgrounds.
Maybe these restaurants need to put playgrounds in as well.
If a restaurant wants to exclude families with kids, that's their choice. Depending on the type of establishment, I understand. I think it's a stupid business decision considering there are other, creative alternative that don't alienate a sizable portion of your potential customer base... e.g. having table games and such to occupy kids, or trying to seat couples/adults in one section, and families in another.
Just as bad as families with unruly kids eating at adult restaurants are adults who show up at restaurants that cater to families (e.g. have a full coloring book kids menu) and expect a quiet, kids free dining experience. If that's what you are looking for, maybe you should look for a restaurant that doesn't serve pizza shooters and dinosaur shaped chicken tenders.
That's just it--if you go to a restaurant that caters to kids, don't complain if there are kids there acting like kids. On the other hand, if you take your children to restaurants that aren't child friendly, they need to be able to behave appropriately or you shouldn't go to begin with.
That said, some people can be really obnoxious. I was very unexpectedly babysitting a friend's toddler once (it was an emergency), and I HAD to make an in and out trip to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription before my husband left town that evening--he didn't have time to stop himself. If I'd known I was going to babysit, I would have made the trip at another time. The little girl was really unhappy about going, and started screaming in the store. I got dressed down by another shopper in the checkout line about not being able to control "my" child--the other shopper was absolutely hateful. There was no reason for that.
Yes, I don't recall myself or my siblings or other kids for that matter acting up in public back in the day like you do now. I think it has something to do with the fact that parents were actually, you know, parents in my day. Nowadays, parents seem more like friends to their kids. How often have you heard someone say that their mom is their best friend? I hear that a lot from the younger kids/teens/20 somethings. Strange because you NEVER would have heard that from anyone in my age group. It's just not how we view our parents. We love them, sure, but best friend? Uh, no. I have a best friend & it's definitely not my mom. My mom is my mom, my dad is my dad. They parent & discipline, that's what they're there for, lol. Not to sound harsh & like I have no relationship w/my parents, I do. It's just very different from the kids now.
I look at it this way. I have made a promise (unlike some other fathers) that I will always have my son's back! That does not mean he gets a free pass to act a fool in public, and get away with bad behavior. I truly think that it is crucial that if you have children that there should be 2 parents, because not doing so is doing a great disservice to that child, and their upbringing! And the way I see it the biggest role models should be the parents, and not some athlete, or entertainment living in fantasy land! I didn't mean to deviate, and I agree with you that parents need to be parents to their children, and not friends.
Places are called Family Restaurants for a reason. If you want to bring your obnoxious, screaming kids to a restaurant that are under 8 years old bring them to Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Perkins, or Chili's.
There is no way that patrons at high end, trendy, and expensive restaurants should put up with families with screaming kids and deal with everything that comes with them.
If I had a restaurant I'd have a no children under 8 after 6pm policy and I also would NOT offer a kids menu. If kids are too picky with what they eat, they can stay home or go to McDonalds.
I don't think child restrictions need to be limited to expensive restaurants. Adults should have some options to go out to a get a peaceful casual meal too. There are pubs and non high end restaurants that are doing this, it's about time. When I was a kid you couldn't be in a pub under age and most customers in restaurants were adults. Parents took their kids to true family style restaurants in the earlier hours, not Olive Garden at 9:00 pm, that is the more modern concept of family dining. And going out at all was a special occasion, home cooking was the norm and certainly cheaper and healthier for kids.
And just say anything to little darlings as they try to steal the food of your plate and you'll have an angry parent in your face demanding an apology for interfering with their child's need to express themselves.
Ha! I think it's awesome that restaurants have chosen to do this, but it's actually surprising, as this a very child-centric society.
Women with children are ALWAYS granted advantages over men.
You want to get the young millenial parents or the generation x'ers all riled up? Start complaining about their children and their behavior. It's gotten so bad, some restaurants have decided to ban the little rug rats during prime hours.
"NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — One restaurant in Texas has a special order for its patrons: “hold the kids.” The restaurant has joined a growing number of eateries that have closed their doors on the smallest diners."
As a boomer parent I know we were overindulgent with our kids, at least by the standards of our parents, but the latest crop of little monsters can be unbearable. And just say anything to little darlings as they try to steal the food of your plate and you'll have an angry parent in your face demanding an apology for interfering with their child's need to express themselves.
Hopefully we'll see this more often. It will be a pleasure to patronize businesses where breeders with non-existent parenting skills don't let their children run wild. It's unfortunate that responsible parents lose out because of the actions of irresponsible ones.
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I think it's awesome that restaurants have chosen to do this, but it's actually surprising, as this a very child-centric society. 
