https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:42:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1345067 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:43:00 +0000 mrbee 1345067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Sure I'll close it now, and then delete it later in the day! (Otherwise we'll get questions asking what happened to the thread, etc.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1345059 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:42:02 +0000 jedeve 1345059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mr. Bee can you delete this thread? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1345054 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:41:24 +0000 MsLipGloss 1345054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: The price of the meal isn't the issue . . . it's the fact that the couple didn't have any consideration for their fellow diners. The same is true whether you are eating at Outback or Alinea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1345048 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:39:28 +0000 jedeve 1345048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ahhhhhhh I was just making a joke saying some good food might help with a bad night with a fussy baby. </p> <p>I'll never eat a five hundred dollar meal so I guess I just can't relate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1345047 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:39:17 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1345047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be highly upset if I waited six months for reservations and spent $500 to listen to a baby cry. Some places really aren't kid friendly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1345007 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:29:13 +0000 littlebug 1345007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, people save for MONTHS to be able to have a nice night like that....probably away from their own screaming, whining, crying kids. I'd have been suuuuuper pissed if I'd been dining in that restaurant. I have to cut my dinner short sometimes because D is being a PIA....but that shouldn't affect everyone else in the restaurant. No. You want a nice night out? Hire a babysitter. Don't subject everyone else to your kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344995 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:26:40 +0000 mrsjyw 1344995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I completely disagree!</p> <p>I don't think that made a pleasant experience for other diners nor the parents themselves. For a $500 date night out, I would NOT have brought an 8 month old. It's not fair to the child either.</p> <p>I am 100% a child-ban rule if the atmosphere calls for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344992 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:24:54 +0000 LuLu Mom 1344992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is just inconsiderate, for us a meal like that would be something super special &amp; something we saved for. I would be sooo pissed off if I listened to a baby crying the whole time. In my case this meal would probably be us trying to get some alone time away from our crying child at home! I think there are certain places young children do not need to be, a a 250/plate restaurant is one of them. I'm all for certain restaurants banning young children, it is the atmosphere they want to create, more power to them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344987 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:23:46 +0000 BKCaribBaby 1344987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of the reasons DH and I waited so long to have kids was because we knew our life would change. We wouldn't always be able to go to the same places that we used to before (like Alinea or any NYC equivalent that we've been to before). As parents we have to decide and recognize that there are age appropriate situations and places for children. It's not a bad thing to say that children shouldn't be in certain restaurants or venues because there are lots of great options for them elsewhere. Anyway, it's too bad that the restaurant is considering this but at the end of the day, it was the parents' choice to bring the baby and not the baby's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344984 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:22:09 +0000 MsLipGloss 1344984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: "secondhand baby* = awesomesauce. I will be using that in the future! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344978 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:19:18 +0000 pui 1344978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why the heck would someone bring a baby to a restaurant with plates that expensive? Just... why?</p> <p>I do feel sorry for those people. They were probably hoping for a nice, quiet dinner <i>away</i> from screaming kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344975 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:17:27 +0000 kjpugs 1344975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally disagree. I mean yeah, LO crying last night made me cut out half of what I was trying to make myself for dinner. I got a sweet potato. HA! So that sucks. But when you go out to eat you deserve - no matter where you go - a pleasant evening that does not involve baby screams. I chose to have a baby, people in a restaurant perhaps did not.</p> <p>My personal rule is that if I can't wear a casual tee to a restaurant I don't bring bitty. And if she cries, I leave to calm her down. Period, the end. Just like people shouldn't have to deal with secondhand smoke if they don't want to, not everyone wants secondhand baby either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344962 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:13:43 +0000 MsLipGloss 1344962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Really? Adults should be able to go out and enjoy an evening without a screaming baby, or ridiculously loud diners, or an obnoxious cell phone user . . . the list goes on. As a parent, I understand how exhausting and frustrating a fussy baby can be. Jeebus knows I have been there. But that phase doesn't last forever . . . Many other couples in the restaurant lived through that phase--multiple times--with their own children, other couples may have finally been able to manage a night out without their LO(s) to celebrate an anniversary, a promotion, or just finally being able to have an evening alone. To not have compassion or at least understanding about that is, well, pretty shallow actually. </p> <p>@blackbird: I totally agree. It is inconsiderate regardless of the cost of the meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344958 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:12:07 +0000 Mae 1344958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is the story the OP is referencing: <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/chicago_news&#038;id=9392210" rel="nofollow">http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/chicago_news&#038;id=9392210</a></p> <p>Basically it's a $250/person super fancy schmancy restaurant people wait MONTHS to get into. Table brought an 8 month old and let it scream, ruining everyone's dinner. The Chef is considering banning children now. </p> <p>Totally 10000% in favor of banning babies in nice restaurants. Why on EARTH would you take a baby there? Not caring if your kid ruins other people's days is just self centered and selfish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344939 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:05:58 +0000 honeybear 1344939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Alinea is a major foodie destination. Achatz is one of the kings of molecular gastronomy. </p> <p>I feel like the protocol for fancy restaurants, as well as some theatre, ballet, and opera performances, is that you get a babysitter or you wait to go until the child is older. I've given really expensive ballet tickets away to friends because I didn't want to leave my baby. I'm looking forward to taking my child to nice restaurants and the theatre, symphony, and ballet*, but now isn't quite the right time.</p> <p>*I suppose I should clarify "theatre, symphony, and ballet performances that are not specifically child-oriented." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344937 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:05:20 +0000 Greentea 1344937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Might be an unpopular opinion ...but I think this whole thing is kinda sad. To be honest I don't know the whole story and I do not want to debate but I don't agree with banning babies or children. I can't go out to eat with my lo but I don't like the sentiment of banning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344917 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:54:21 +0000 sotofamilia 1344917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I totally agree. I would never subject other people trying to eat their dinner to my kid screaming, no matter what kind of restaurant. My little guy had a hard time at Red Robin last week of all places, and my husband and I took turns walking him around. In my opinion, I signed up to take care of my child and deal with him when he's cranky...other people did not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344903 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:48:13 +0000 Mamaof2 1344903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's why I usually stick with chic-fil-a for my kids - LOL!</p> <p>Once my DD was around 14 months and we were at a fairly nice restaurant - we went at 5pm thinking since it was early food would come out quickly - but nope - after 45 mins DD had enough - I took her outside and my mom waited for them to pack all our food to go - we ended up eating in the hotel room while DD happily ran around and played - I would have never sat there and let her, us and everyone else be miserable </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344864 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:22:03 +0000 Dandelion 1344864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd feel bad, too. I wouldn't be bringing my kid to a place like that, if he/she wasn't good in restaurants. I wouldn't be able to enjoy MY $500 meal, knowing my kid was right there, screaming. That's the type of place to leave the kid with grandma. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344852 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:15:17 +0000 yellowbird 1344852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hahahaha!!! My LO threw a tantrum at a Mexican restaurant the other day and we had to leave. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344806 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 07:47:24 +0000 blackbird 1344806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This attitude is why screaming children occur in restaurants and ruin it for everyone else. They act out or scream and the parents don't remove them from the situation because they have little sympathy for everyone else since it's just a part of their daily lives. $100 dinner or $500 dinner, doesn't matter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344785 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 07:33:29 +0000 looch 1344785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am assuming this is a rather high end restaurant?</p> <p>I would be annoyed, absolutely. As a parent, it is important to realize that not every place in the world is child friendly, not should it be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344692 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 05:52:02 +0000 mrbee 1344692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Huh? Not following...</p> <p>In any case, I would be pretty horrified if my kids ruined an expensive meal/experience for someone... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344673 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 04:37:34 +0000 erinpye 1344673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344550 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:17:34 +0000 MrsSCB 1344550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not gonna lie, I would not be pleased. I've been to some fabulous restaurants like Alinea before and they are just not kid-friendly. Some people save for months and make reservations far in advance. I know I would feel AWFUL if my crying child made their experience unpleasant. I love kids, but there are certain places I would never bring a child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/you-know-how-sorry-i-feel-for-the-diners-at-alinea#post-1344531 Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:57:38 +0000 jedeve 1344531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Who had to listen to a screaming baby while eating a $500 mea l ?</p> <p>Not sorry. I get to do that every night and only have a can of soup to comfort me. Duck five ways would help, I think. </p>