Dining Out With Kids: Do's and Don'ts
Dining out with kids doesn’t have to be a horrible experience. (Photo: Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images)
I had a crazy work day in New York City recently. I was out and about — and suddenly starving. I popped into Maison Kayser in Columbus Circle to grab a salad.
“Table for one,” I said. (I love dining alone.)
I was led through the lovely French bakery and cafe by the hostess and seated at a table that had a long cushy bench against the wall. I slid in and yanked my cell out of my purse to check emails.
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“I’m sorry, already,” said a woman around my age, sitting right next to me. I was baffled. But then I noticed her son. He was about one, standing on the bench between mom and dad — sucking on a slice of bread. He was adorable in his tiny jeans and chunky sweater, with wispy blond hair. He was blabbering and kept throwing his mom’s cloth napkin up in the air. “WAA-OH!” he squealed.
“Oh please, I remember those days! My son is 7 and in first grade.”
I inched over my little circle table and made eye contact with the boy. “Hey dude, what’s up?”
He just kept chomping on his bread determined to get a good, soggy bite off.
I wanted to tell this mom who was out dining with her family and friends that she need not apologize to me — or anyone when it comes to dining out with her son. He’s not a dog, or an alien — he’s a tiny human. It was lunchtime. The bakery was overflowing with cookies (a kid’s dream come true!).
The author’s son enjoying brunch: Fresh squeezed OJ, chicken & fries and homemade Mac ‘n Cheese. (Photo: Christine Coppa)
Like that mom, my son, Jack, dines everywhere with me. It started at a very young age — brunch in the city, lunch at the cafe in The Met, nice family dinners at local places we love, some with kids menus and others without. My kid knows how to behave in a restaurant and eats well – antipasto, steak, pasta, calamari, fresh salad — and I strongly believe early exposure to dining situations has really influenced him in the most positive way.
The author’s son having a little fun with his dinner.
Need a few tips before taking your kid out to a sit-down dinner? Joey Catalano, 32, owns an Italian restaurant called Positano, in Wayne, NJ with his father and brother – and is the father of two kids under 4 years old – shares a few do’s and don’ts:
Joey and Kellie Catalano and their children. (Photo: The Catalano family)
DON’T: Ask for the Kids’ Food to Come Out First
“I think it’s important for a child to order their own food. I also believe kids should eat when the parents eat. Some patrons love for the children’s food to come out first, but all that does is cause the child to be done and get bored before mom and dad eat,” Catalano tells Yahoo Parenting.
DO: Pack a Few Toys
Catalano and his wife Kellie, 32, believe in packing things like coloring books and crayons in the diaper bag to keep the kids entertained. As a last resort, “we always make sure that my son’s iPad is charged, but we only use it for backup if he really gets antsy,” says Catalano. But they try to make sure their kids will hold a conversation instead of depending on the tablet.
Mom and dad let Joey, 3 have a little down time with his tablet during a family meal.
“The other day at my restaurant, a family came in with three kids. The mother told them no phones during dinner. I went over and told them we don’t see that often and are used to kids being on their phones the whole meal. I bought them dessert, because I respected their parenting style,” Catalano says.
DO: Take Your Kid to a Sports Bar - for Lunch
“During the day I think it’s completely fine to grab lunch at a sports bar — especially if the bar restaurant has a kids menu [like a lot do],” he says. Catalano has two rules about taking his children to bars: “I always call and ask if they have high chairs. I never bring my children to a bar setting in the evening. Adults deserve to have drinks, fun, get loud and my children shouldn’t be exposed to that.”
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DO: Take A Breather
Catalano, who has taken his family to restaurants where there are wine lists and linen napkins, says it’s important to give your child a little break between the bread basket and appetizers. “Get up and walk around. Some sushi places have really cool fish tanks and our restaurant is situated in a strip mall, so parents can easily go for a stroll outside. Don’t expect kids to sit for a 2-hour soup-to-nuts dinner.”
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DO: Pay attention to the Time
Catalano says you don’t have to go to a fast food joint to have a relaxing meal with your kids if you plan ahead: “Don’t go out too late if you know your children need to be in bed by a certain time, or they will melt down.” He says his restaurant is filled with families at 2 p.m. on Sundays – and that most patrons with small kids are done dining by 6:30 p.m. during the week.
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