Well, I was referring to the overall tone of most of the "anti-kids in restaurant" posts, but I'll ask you, why do you need to eat in a child free environment? And what the hell is "upscale" anyway, and why would anyone want to be a part of it? Pretentious nonsense.
Kids make it fun.
In my opinion, it is important to bring kids to a variety of places to introduce them to environments to help them to expand their environment, and restaurants are one of those places.
As for the child-free environment, my wife and I go to an upscale restaurant once or twice a year, and it is a special occasion for us. We want to enjoy the quiet ambiance of an establishment that understands why people might pay a lot of money to enjoy a meal and quiet music.
Kids make it fun for you, and that is fine. However, there are a lot of people for whom it doesn’t make it better, simply because there are kids. There could be a lot of people who go to an environment to be alone and take a break from their kids for an evening.
You think it is pretentious for someone to go to an “upscale” environment that is quiet, has dim lighting, quiet music, and a subdued atmosphere, but I think is is very presumptuous of you to think that because you think having kids around in all situations, everyone would feel as you do.
If people would control their kids that would be okay. If restaurants could ask people to leave because their kids are running around the dining room, making noise, or otherwise misbehaving, that would be fine.
But there are people who won’t control their kids, and restaurants that won’t either ask them to or won’t ask them to leave. That is the reality of it.
And for a couple that might want to spend a special evening together on a special anniversary, eating a meal that is more expensive than they would normally pay for, or drinking a bottle of wine that would normally not be in their price range, to have it ruined because kids are playing tag, running around tables, or yelling or crying, do they have to suck it because a parent somehow feels that their kids are really cute, and everyone should just have to suck it up?
Sorry. I think there would be a party involved that would be extremely self centered and selfish, and it wouldn’t be adult diners trying to enjoy a quiet dinner.
You think a place that that is pretentious? That’s great. Why would you wan’t to bring your kids there?
Don't hate kids, but I don't always find them fun either.
Badly behaved children don’t make ANYTHING fun. There are lots of middle and low priced restaurants where families can enjoy dinner with their kids. Restaurant owners (of any price range) should be able to run an “adults only” business. Adults should be able to enjoy a nice, quiet dinner out, without having to deal with someone’s kids.
I was always able to take my kids (and now my grandkids) to a restaurant, as they were properly behaved. I still, however, enjoy a nice dinner out, while the kids stay home.
This discussion reminds me of the flaky parents who take offense when they’re invited to a wedding, but no children, please. As if the world revolves around their kids....and they don’t attend, because their kids weren’t invited.