Posted on 01/15/2014 4:05:37 AM PST by JoeProBono
CHICAGO, A couple dining at an upscale Chicago restaurant were sharply criticized online when their infant spent the evening crying at the eatery.
Chef Grant Achatz of the Alinea restaurant took to Twitter with a question about crying baby etiquette after the infant cried though the dinner service Saturday night at the three-star restaurant, where meals can cost hundreds of dollars, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.
"Tbl brings 8mo.Old. It cries. Diners mad. Tell ppl no kids? Subject diners 2crying? Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no, but ...," Achatz tweeted.
The tweet sparked sharp criticism online for the parents, who many said should have known better than to bring an infant to an upscale restaurant.
"IT IS ABSURD TO BRING YOUR BABY TO ALINEA," tweeted Michael Nagrant, who reviews restaurants for RedEye. "You do not take a baby to Alinea. Unless the babysitter canceled last minute and Alinea would not refund your ticket. No other debate."
The restaurant takes reservations by allowing customers to purchase tickets, sometimes months in advance. The tickets are not refundable.
Achatz posted a picture to Twitter Sunday featuring two fish heads on a plate.
"Definitely not baby food," he tweeted.
The furor over the incident led to the creation of a Twitter parody account, @AlineaBaby, which bears a user bio saying, "I'm a baby who likes fine food, fine drinks, and crying."
They should have brought their cat, instead.
But seriously, I’m on the side of all the people who stayed at home that night and ate a sensible meal.
They were OBVIOUSLY a yuppie family.
My little dog is better socialized than some children are I have seen. At least he sits when told to and does not bark at everything he sees.
A Chicago restaurant full of Chicago democrats.
How could they tell which baby was crying?
Back before people who were brought up in an entitlement mentality....these people would be considerate and take their crying infant to the car...bathroom or if it became beyond their control....they would be considerate and LEAVE...
So other paying customers could enjoy their meal....
I have in the past and would gladly do it again to politely ask people to take their crying, unruly, loud children to their car....if they cannot control them...
I truly don’t care how pissed they get...
A couple of years ago, a local restaurant caused a major flap when it banned children under 6. The usual liberals opposed the ban, but the vast majority of people supported it. In fact, after the ban was instituted, the restaurant experienced a major increase in customers.
I love children, but no one wants to eat with a crying baby or an unruly toddler running amok. Either leave the child with a babysitter or don’t go out.
You’re a good mom, mom.
This maybe the key to the puzzle.
If the babysitter cancelled and the couple axed the rest. for a rain-check and they were turned down, then the couple did the only thing they could.
Could be the fault of the business, don't know.
Doing my best!
I wonder if they could have scalped the tickets at the door.
Lol!!!
My wife an I raised three daughters, which included twins, and on th rare times when we were able to go out to eat our children were with family members until they were at an age to understand what it meant to be respectful to others.
Babies are not able to understand this, but you would expect that their parents would unless they really could care less and only want what they want when they want it and if means annoying others that’s not their problem.
If these parent can afford this expensive diner they they can afford to hire a baby sitter.
For standard fare there are many cases for which young children, properly socialized, are expected and welcome.
Otoh for places where people are paying for “the experience” as much as the food itself, this is completely unacceptable if the parents are not making an attempt to consider other patrons.
I have kids, too. We were very careful about bringing them out at first.
Of course, babysitting wasn't highway robbery Waaaaaay back then.
If the parents were being inconsiderate, I wonder why management didn’t simply show them the door.
Lol...apparently some child got the message...
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