At McDain's Restaurant, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, kids don't eat free. And starting next week, they don't get to eat at all. Mike Vuick, owner of the Pittsburgh area eatery has just announced a ban on children under 6 at his casual dining establishment.

After receiving noise complaints from customers about crying kids at neighboring tables, Vuick decided to institute the policy, which will go into effect July 16.

In an email to customers, Vuick explained: "We feel that McDain's is not a place for young children. Their volume can't be controlled and many, many times, they have disturbed other customers."

The owner of the "upscale, casual and quiet" restaurant explains to WTAE Local News, he's got nothing against kids in general, but their endless screams at public dinner tables are "the height of being impolite and selfish."

Last year, North Carolina's Olde Salty restaurant made a similar decision. Owner Brenda Armes posted a sign that read "Screaming children will not be tolerated", making it clear to parents when their kids scream, they'll be asked to take it outside. Armes said the move has boosted business, and Vuick is confident his ban will benefit McDain's as well.

But not everyone is on board. Some Monroeville locals are offended that they're being singled out for having young kids, and pointing fingers at noisy adults.

"If they're so concerned about noise, what do they plan to do about the loud people at the bar?" asks one local resident.

It's not illegal to ban kids from eating establishments, but some parents consider the move discriminatory, and potentially a violation of rights for certain special needs kids. What do you think: are kid-free restaurants a great idea or flat-out wrong?

I always only take my kids to family oriented places where they are free to be themselves. I don't do the fancy joints unless its a special occasion and the kids are TRAINED NOT TO ACT OUT.

See, kids will be kids, so why torture a kid at some fancy place? Wait til they are old enough to eat an entire meal pleasantly.

that being said....

if I were a mom in that area, they would NEVER see my money! I'd rather eat at home than support an ass that didn't service all the needs of its community.

paintedlady said:

I always only take my kids to family oriented places where they are free to be themselves. I don't do the fancy joints unless its a special occasion and the kids are TRAINED NOT TO ACT OUT.

See, kids will be kids, so why torture a kid at some fancy place? Wait til they are old enough to eat an entire meal pleasantly.

that being said....

if I were a mom in that area, they would NEVER see my money! I'd rather eat at home than support an ass that didn't service all the needs of its community.

Everywhere ain't for everybody. I think it's logical to say that kids under 6 shouldn't be at an upscale eatery.

A few years ago I went to a really nice restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner and the people at the table next to me had a 2 year old who was absolutely miserable and screamed non-stop for two hours. It was almost midnight and these asshole parents had this baby out obviously past his bed time and subjected the other patrons, who were paying at least $100 per person for the meal, to the baby's tantrum on what's supposed to be a romantic or adults-only occasion. I felt sorry for that kid and couldn't believe the parents would do that to him and to the other patrons.

As for servicing the needs of the community, it's obvious this business is choosing to service a certain demographic, just like Chuck E Cheese appeals to a certain type of customer, and there's nothing wrong with that IMO.

[Edited 7/12/11 14:58pm]

If you can't keep your children quiet, they shouldn't be there.

There are quiet children under 6 (I was one of them, voluntarily AND by force) just like there are loud adults.

If noise is the problem, there should be a volume limit. Just because a child is in public doesn't mean that they'll act up.

I wonder if some of the parents complaining about this rule have loud children. I'm sure there are other places to eat.

Kids should be seen, not heard.

I don't see anything wrong with a private business owner doing this with his business. Not everyone likes children. Some people choose to not have them cause they don't like them. Having a place to eat without kids crying and being brats is fine by me.

I'm not saying everywhere should be like that. Just that there should be alternatives that do offer it.

SCNDLS said:

paintedlady said:

I always only take my kids to family oriented places where they are free to be themselves. I don't do the fancy joints unless its a special occasion and the kids are TRAINED NOT TO ACT OUT.

See, kids will be kids, so why torture a kid at some fancy place? Wait til they are old enough to eat an entire meal pleasantly.

that being said....

if I were a mom in that area, they would NEVER see my money! I'd rather eat at home than support an ass that didn't service all the needs of its community.

Everywhere ain't for everybody. I think it's logical to say that kids under 6 shouldn't be at an upscale eatery.

A few years ago I went to a really nice restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner and the people at the table next to me had a 2 year old who was absolutely miserable and screamed non-stop for two hours. It was almost midnight and these asshole parents had this baby out obviously past his bed time and subjected the other patrons, who were paying at least $100 per person for the meal, to the baby's tantrum on what's supposed to be a romantic or adults-only occasion. I felt sorry for that kid and couldn't believe the parents would do that to him and to the other patrons.

As for servicing the needs of the community, it's obvious this business is choosing to service a certain demographic, just like Chuck E Cheese appeals to a certain type of customer, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[Edited 7/12/11 14:58pm]

I agree, that's why they wouldn't see my money. Parents with small children shouldn't be looking to dine at a place like that. Especially if the establishment is in a location where there are few places were patrons can get a decent meal, then any smart business person should know that in the end its best to have a place that meets the needs of its customers as a whole.

If those needs are more for romantic evenings for grown folks then that should be it. You can't take kids to a bar, and a romatic upscale restaurant should be treated the same.

Save your money, keep the kids at home/or and patronize family oriented establishments only.

Why would any parent take their kid to a "fancy" restaurant? They wanna go to McDonalds at six for chrissakes!!!

Timmy84 said:

Why would any parent take their kid to a "fancy" restaurant? They wanna go to McDonalds at six for chrissakes!!!

Just because you have kids, doesn't mean you all the sudden get all this common sense if you are a natural idiot.

paintedlady said:

Timmy84 said:

Why would any parent take their kid to a "fancy" restaurant? They wanna go to McDonalds at six for chrissakes!!!

Just because you have kids, doesn't mean you all the sudden get all this common sense if you are a natural idiot.

I know but still, why would parents think that they can take their kids ANYWHERE?! Least my parents had the sense to not take me to a "fancy place" until I was at a certain age where I was supposed to BEHAVE myself. Like imagine them taking me to some Chinese restaurant at four, it wouldn't have worked.

JerseyKRS said:

I don't see anything wrong with a private business owner doing this with his business. Not everyone likes children. Some people choose to not have them cause they don't like them. Having a place to eat without kids crying and being brats is fine by me.

I'm not saying everywhere should be like that. Just that there should be alternatives that do offer it.

Exactly

I love kids ...

BUT I also LOVE times/places without them as well

Timmy84 said:

paintedlady said:

Just because you have kids, doesn't mean you all the sudden get all this common sense if you are a natural idiot.

I know but still, why would parents think that they can take their kids ANYWHERE?! Least my parents had the sense to not take me to a "fancy place" until I was at a certain age where I was supposed to BEHAVE myself. Like imagine them taking me to some Chinese restaurant at four, it wouldn't have worked.

It happened to me... I was pressured by my boughie ass sister to take my kids to this Mongolian joint where they steam cooked your food at the table. Needless to say my Matthew broke out in hives when he bit down on something spicy. I didn't even know about the food at all, I was all scared and thank GOD I had an epi-pen in my purse, boy's lips swolled up like balloons. He was crying too.

My sister was all like

I was like "Bitch, why you make me go here with my kids? I told you they wouldn't like it!"

I left and she was mad I didn't stay.... why would I? Who the hell wants a screaming swolled up kid at any restaurant, the waitress even called an ambulance.

A nightmare!!! I learned my lesson well that night!

paintedlady said:

Timmy84 said:

I know but still, why would parents think that they can take their kids ANYWHERE?! Least my parents had the sense to not take me to a "fancy place" until I was at a certain age where I was supposed to BEHAVE myself. Like imagine them taking me to some Chinese restaurant at four, it wouldn't have worked.

It happened to me... I was pressured by my boughie ass sister to take my kids to this Mongolian joint where they steam cooked your food at the table. Needless to say my Matthew broke out in hives when he bit down on something spicy. I didn't even know about the food at all, I was all scared and thank GOD I had an epi-pen in my purse, boy's lips swolled up like balloons. He was crying too.

My sister was all like

I was like "Bitch, why you make me go here with my kids? I told you they wouldn't like it!"

I left and she was mad I didn't stay.... why would I? Who the hell wants a screaming swolled up kid at any restaurant, the waitress even called an ambulance.

A nightmare!!! I learned my lesson well that night!

Damn your sister was all ignorant. I'm always wary of my own siblings doing that with their own kids on their own merit but some of them often pressure the other: "hey bring XXX with ya".

Timmy84 said:

paintedlady said:

It happened to me... I was pressured by my boughie ass sister to take my kids to this Mongolian joint where they steam cooked your food at the table. Needless to say my Matthew broke out in hives when he bit down on something spicy. I didn't even know about the food at all, I was all scared and thank GOD I had an epi-pen in my purse, boy's lips swolled up like balloons. He was crying too.

My sister was all like

I was like "Bitch, why you make me go here with my kids? I told you they wouldn't like it!"

I left and she was mad I didn't stay.... why would I? Who the hell wants a screaming swolled up kid at any restaurant, the waitress even called an ambulance.

A nightmare!!! I learned my lesson well that night!

Damn your sister was all ignorant. I'm always wary of my own siblings doing that with their own kids on their own merit but some of them often pressure the other: "hey bring XXX with ya".

IKR??? Atleast warn a heffa... don't make me go out of my way to some place I've never been to before and when I get up there its not a place I would NEVER take my kids to.

My son at the time was 5, underweight from bad asthma and sucking on an inhaler every 1/2 hour to keep his little lungs in check. Yeah, let's bring the sick kid to a spicy food joint... great idea aunty!!

paintedlady said:

Timmy84 said:

Damn your sister was all ignorant. I'm always wary of my own siblings doing that with their own kids on their own merit but some of them often pressure the other: "hey bring XXX with ya".

IKR??? Atleast warn a heffa... don't make me go out of my way to some place I've never been to before and when I get up there its not a place I would NEVER take my kids to.

My son at the time was 5, underweight from bad asthma and sucking on an inhaler every 1/2 hour to keep his little lungs in check. Yeah, let's bring the sick kid to a spicy food joint... great idea aunty!!

I bet you told her all of that and she's all like "PSH, he'd be alright, he's strong".

Timmy84 said:

paintedlady said:

IKR??? Atleast warn a heffa... don't make me go out of my way to some place I've never been to before and when I get up there its not a place I would NEVER take my kids to.

My son at the time was 5, underweight from bad asthma and sucking on an inhaler every 1/2 hour to keep his little lungs in check. Yeah, let's bring the sick kid to a spicy food joint... great idea aunty!!

I bet you told her all of that and she's all like "PSH, he'd be alright, he's strong".

OMG!! You were there that night huh?! You musta been the dude at the next table saying...

"Is he gonna be OK?"

SMH!!!

paintedlady said:

Timmy84 said:

I bet you told her all of that and she's all like "PSH, he'd be alright, he's strong".

OMG!! You were there that night huh?! You musta been the dude at the next table saying...

"Is he gonna be OK?"

SMH!!!

I'd probably been at some far table shaking my head like "that poor kid".

It's interesting that the one group of people that seems to be a-ok discriminating against is children.

Personally I don't care about some lame restaurant decides but it is fucked up that we have an attitude that everyone deserves equal treatment....except kids, of course. We can ban them from eateries, hit them as punishment, etc...but think of ever doing that to an adult and all shit breaks loose.

Why start the ban at 6 and under? Just make it an 18 and over establishment.

It'll be best to ask kids what they wanna do. If they don't wanna go, don't take them. It's all in how you view it lol

JustErin said:

It's interesting that the one group of people that seems to be a-ok discriminating against is children.

Personally I don't care about some lame restaurant decides but it is fucked up that we have an attitude that everyone deserves equal treatment....except kids, of course. We can ban them from eateries, hit them as punishment, etc...but think of ever doing that to an adult and all shit breaks loose.

Why start the ban at 6 and under? Just make it an 18 and over establishment.

because of the ones that are a pain in the ass to others, most of them are probably six and under.

paintedlady said:

I always only take my kids to family oriented places where they are free to be themselves. I don't do the fancy joints unless its a special occasion and the kids are TRAINED NOT TO ACT OUT.

See, kids will be kids, so why torture a kid at some fancy place? Wait til they are old enough to eat an entire meal pleasantly.

that being said....

if I were a mom in that area, they would NEVER see my money! I'd rather eat at home than support an ass that didn't service all the needs of its community.

Is anyone in business to service all the needs of the community?

Even government doesn't.

You admit that kids will be kids, so why punish the business for trying to create an enhanced dining experience?

Timmy84 said:

paintedlady said:

Just because you have kids, doesn't mean you all the sudden get all this common sense if you are a natural idiot.

I know but still, why would parents think that they can take their kids ANYWHERE?! Least my parents had the sense to not take me to a "fancy place" until I was at a certain age where I was supposed to BEHAVE myself. Like imagine them taking me to some Chinese restaurant at four, it wouldn't have worked.

Movies are what really bother me.

I go to an R rated movie after 9 pm and I still have to put up with crying children and infants?!!!

JustErin said:

It's interesting that the one group of people that seems to be a-ok discriminating against is children.

Personally I don't care about some lame restaurant decides but it is fucked up that we have an attitude that everyone deserves equal treatment....except kids, of course. We can ban them from eateries, hit them as punishment, etc...but think of ever doing that to an adult and all shit breaks loose.

Why start the ban at 6 and under? Just make it an 18 and over establishment.

Even better

I know many teens that are more rude than a lot of 6 year olds for sure

Hitting children for any reason is wrong in my book

JustErin said:

It's interesting that the one group of people that seems to be a-ok discriminating against is children.

Personally I don't care about some lame restaurant decides but it is fucked up that we have an attitude that everyone deserves equal treatment....except kids, of course. We can ban them from eateries, hit them as punishment, etc...but think of ever doing that to an adult and all shit breaks loose.

Why start the ban at 6 and under? Just make it an 18 and over establishment.

Yes it's discriminatory but what's the alternative?

All children are not taught manners, respect or how to conduct themselves civilly in public.

But I am supposed to tolerate someone else's ignorant, no home training children's conduct at an upscale restaurant?

Do you really think children deserve equal treatment? So why make the ban 18 and under?

There should be no bans if you favor equal treatment and feel its discriminatory.

Why do adults with children subject others to their infant children?

Timmy84 said:

It'll be best to ask kids what they wanna do. If they don't wanna go, don't take them. It's all in how you view it lol

The children's knowledge is based on what?

SUPRMAN said:

JustErin said:

It's interesting that the one group of people that seems to be a-ok discriminating against is children.

Personally I don't care about some lame restaurant decides but it is fucked up that we have an attitude that everyone deserves equal treatment....except kids, of course. We can ban them from eateries, hit them as punishment, etc...but think of ever doing that to an adult and all shit breaks loose.

Why start the ban at 6 and under? Just make it an 18 and over establishment.

Yes it's discriminatory but what's the alternative?

All children are not taught manners, respect or how to conduct themselves civilly in public.

But I am supposed to tolerate someone else's ignorant, no home training children's conduct at an upscale restaurant?

Do you really think children deserve equal treatment? So why make the ban 18 and under?

There should be no bans if you favor equal treatment and feel its discriminatory.

Why do adults with children subject others to their infant children?

Because they think that kids are the cutest, most precious things in the world.

JerseyKRS said:

JustErin said:

It's interesting that the one group of people that seems to be a-ok discriminating against is children.

Personally I don't care about some lame restaurant decides but it is fucked up that we have an attitude that everyone deserves equal treatment....except kids, of course. We can ban them from eateries, hit them as punishment, etc...but think of ever doing that to an adult and all shit breaks loose.

Why start the ban at 6 and under? Just make it an 18 and over establishment.

because of the ones that are a pain in the ass to others, most of them are probably six and under.

The problem isn't that they don't want pains in the asses at their establishments. I mean, no one wants that - I get that 100%. It's that they want to discriminate against a whole group. Could you imagine them trying to get support for a ban on mentally disabled people? We all know that they can also be very disruptive as well. Actually, we all know that "pains in the asses" can be any age.

My point is, it's messed to fight against discrimination of some but then think it's ok when it descriminates others.

Either leave it as a case by case kick out for disruptive behaviour situation or if you really don't want kids there, make it an adults only establishment.

And there is no way that this situation is comparable to Chuck-E-Cheese. They may cater to kids but they don't flat out BAN anyone.

I definitely think there should be restaurants that are adults only. It should be a USP. If you don't like it, fuck off!

lazycrockett said:

SUPRMAN said:

Yes it's discriminatory but what's the alternative?

All children are not taught manners, respect or how to conduct themselves civilly in public.

But I am supposed to tolerate someone else's ignorant, no home training children's conduct at an upscale restaurant?

Do you really think children deserve equal treatment? So why make the ban 18 and under?

There should be no bans if you favor equal treatment and feel its discriminatory.

Why do adults with children subject others to their infant children?

Because they think that kids are the cutest, most precious things in the world.

Theirs.

SUPRMAN said:

JustErin said:

It's interesting that the one group of people that seems to be a-ok discriminating against is children.

Personally I don't care about some lame restaurant decides but it is fucked up that we have an attitude that everyone deserves equal treatment....except kids, of course. We can ban them from eateries, hit them as punishment, etc...but think of ever doing that to an adult and all shit breaks loose.

Why start the ban at 6 and under? Just make it an 18 and over establishment.

Yes it's discriminatory but what's the alternative?

All children are not taught manners, respect or how to conduct themselves civilly in public.

But I am supposed to tolerate someone else's ignorant, no home training children's conduct at an upscale restaurant?

Do you really think children deserve equal treatment? So why make the ban 18 and under?

There should be no bans if you favor equal treatment and feel its discriminatory.

Why do adults with children subject others to their infant children?

Of course you're not suppose to tolerate someone elses' bad behaviour...but that's no different that you trying to eat and some adult asshole disrupts you.

I don't believe that making up your own rules to discriminate against one group is appropriate. There are laws for adult establishments and laws for those that are not. Stick to those laws and don't start making your own.

What they hell does that last question even mean? Parents should not let their infant children be seen by others in public at all?

Please.

Kids can be annoying as all fuck...I totally agree. But not all of them. I don't understand why this can't be a case by case situation...just like with any other group.