After patrons noticed a sign at the entryway, a well-known restaurant is under fire. Parents were informed clearly by the owner, which upset many of them.
Situated near the busy Fisherman’s Wharf of Monterey, California, Old Fisherman’s Grotto has frequently been the subject of national discussion and attention. One specific sign has caused discussion for years. Owner Chris Shake has maintained his “anti-children” sign since it was first spotted in 2014, and it has lately triggered the ire of a fresh batch of disgruntled parents.
Although regulations are prevalent in restaurants, Chris Shake’s demands may seem a little out of the ordinary. “No high chairs, strollers, or booster seats. The large sign outside Old Fisherman’s Grotto states, “Children who cry or make loud noises are not allowed in the dining room as they are a distraction to other diners.”
“This is absurd. The notice worries me, Teresa Colombani, a traveler. “Children need to learn how to behave in restaurants, and if you don’t take them, they will never learn,” she said. “Restaurants should be able to serve children.”
Kelly Lozano continued, “I would probably not go there to avoid that sort of atmosphere.” “This is a family destination where you go on vacation with your kids, so it’s unexpected.”
A client reported that she requested a high-chair for her 6-month-old child, but was denied access. She said, “I was in shock because I had never experienced that before.” Restaurants typically offer high seats and catering. However, they were against having children here. They turned us away because they claimed the child couldn’t make any noise.
Recently, in a Facebook community for mothers in the Bay Area, Pittsburg resident Angela Espinoza discussed her opinions on the restaurant’s policy. After her husband and she had decided to celebrate their anniversary in Old Fisherman’s Grotto, she made a comment. “Whoa. The mother of a 19-month-old son wrote, “I’m canceling my reservation after seeing this picture on Yelp – and I won’t even have my toddler with me.”
Old Fisherman’s Grotto’s owner isn’t going to back down.
The couple didn’t care about bringing a youngster because they intended to spend the weekend apart from their son. Even though Angela loves seafood, she believes the restaurant’s attitude toward kids now turns her off. She clarified, “The sign discriminates against any children who are younger or require a booster seat.” “I take issue with the language. Perhaps “adults only” would make more sense.
The claims of “discrimination” made by Angela are not entirely true. In order to prevent accusations of prejudice, the owner made sure the sign’s wording was reviewed by a lawyer. Chris Shake made it clear that parents may eat somewhere else if they didn’t like it. “You follow the rules if there are any, or find another appropriate location,” he stated.
Shake claims that the restaurant, which has been open since 1950, is well known for its calm dining area. It’s interesting to note that this approach has helped their company grow. He said, “A lot of families come here to dine, and they are aware of our rules and courteous of other patrons. “People who haven’t eaten here but are offended by the sign and our rules frequently leave negative reviews.”
Like Shake, a lot of customers come here for the quiet, kid-free dining experience. “No highchairs, no booster seats, and no strollers.” “This is the reason I went in,” expressed approval from San Francisco Yelp customer Alondra J. Sometimes you just need to eat in privacy. This shouldn’t bother people so much. When we ate, there were children inside.
Yelp user Robin M. from Oakland claims that although some people review this restaurant with their kids, it may not be a pleasant experience. “A waiter urged our kids to be quiet after informing us that other patrons were complained about their loudness. I’ve never before been advised to keep my children quiet. She pointed out the child-rules sign when I made a comment. They were serious. She was impolite and unrepentant,” the author stated.
Is the restaurant only intended to provide a calm, adult-friendly environment, or is it not kid-friendly at all? Not every location needs to have child care. Parents occasionally look for activities without children. Why is it offensive for a restaurant to provide this? While there are plenty of locations for families to eat, fewer spaces provide a calm, kid-free atmosphere. To find tranquility, head to Old Fisherman’s Grotto. Go elsewhere if a more kid-friendly environment is more your style. Sounds easy, doesn’t it?
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