I am finding that like myself, my friends are also building families, and like myself they also find the prospect of worrying after children while at a restaurant unappetizing. When a bunch of my friends and myself want to meet up, we can have around 10 children in tow, aging form 6 months up to 6 years old, I think we strike fear into the heart of many a restaurateur.
Don’t get me wrong, My kids are well behaved, sure they could be better, but they are kids and listening to a bunch of adults prattle on must be boring. That said on a recent visit to Australia I was astounded to not find one restaurant with any child friendly facilities. I am not sure if this is a South African thing, but to be child friendly a restaurant needs to have a kiddies menu, a separate play space, climbing frames, crayons … stuff kids like. In reality where I live, children have an expectation to at least be able to order food that they are familiar with if they want to.
We struggled to find anywhere apart from the local McDonald’s that even considered little children, and there is only so much McDonald’s you can eat. I did notice however how well behaved the older Australian children were at the table, but there where a very few young children around, and those that I saw where just as rambunctious as mine. My wife and I joked that there must be an eight year training course for Australian children on table etiquette before they are allowed out.
I understand that the entertainment of your children is not the responsibility of the restaurant, but in reality I find that we all tend to favor the places that make our lives easier, and the clever restaurateur will leverage this to attract customers. I also understand that not all restaurants are child friendly, but make it known that you do not cater for children upfront so my children do not ruin your romantic dinner, and I will expect the same when I go to a place like that.
So in order to make it onto my list of top child friendly restaurants an establishment needs to really understand that children and their parents can both have a pleasant experience at their establishment.
Necessities include:
* Good food and a menu for all ages (even gran..) * A safe place for children to play. * Crayons, paper, coloring in, Jungle Jim’s, climbing frames, slides and swings, some selection of stuff to keep little hands and minds occupied.
Extra marks for:
* Child minders to keep a tab on the chaos. * Activities, like face painting, Pizza making * Dedicated play area for children of different ages to play, the three year olds tend to get knocked about by the seven year olds.
So here is my list so far, these are all places that I have been to and can personally add the child friendly stamp to.
Choosing to stay at one of the Dorset holiday cottages with your family during your vacations in Dorset is a great idea. This is because you will enjoy all the convenience you desire during a holiday here. The spacious holiday cottages can hold small as well as big families. Even though the holiday cottages are self-catering units, you might not always feel like cooking during your holidays. At times like this, you can dine out at some fabulous restaurants and cafes that serve everything from continental meals to exotic cuisines like Chinese, Japanese and Indian. You might also want to stay at a pet-friendly Dorset holiday cottages in case you are travelling with your pet. The holiday cottages are plush and offer a high degree of luxury. Here are two must-visit places during your stay at the clean Dorset holiday cottages.
When you have a family its hard to find a great family restaurant that will offer you great quality food at a reasonable price. Although you could just call ahead to see if they offer highchairs or kids menus you could also check out these great family friendly restaurants. All of these will offer a great meal at reasonable prices.