Taking the toddler into resturants/bars

I just want to know if you can take your toddler or young one%26#39;s into a bar when you have lunch or dinner? Here in Oz we can take them pretty much anywhere but within certain times, like a pub/bar where they serve lunch and dinner your child can stay until the service is finished. Is that the same in NY or they just dont allow them around alcohol?

I hope that makes sense.

Thanks

Hayley

Taking the toddler into resturants/bars

Check with the restaurants you are considering. Lunch should be easy. Dinner may be more difficult unless you are not seeking high-end restaurants . Some offer child menus but child outbursts of one kind or another can make other diners uncomfortable.

Taking the toddler into resturants/bars

No problems there. We wont be looking for anything too nice or fancy when we dine with the little one, just typical pub meal. We will save the good nights out for when Grandma wants to babysit.

Thank you for your reply.

Ever since smoking was banned from bars and restaurants, I see more babies and toddlers in pubs.

Make sure you pick a larger place that is more ';restaurant'; than ';bar.'; For example, there are a few Irish pubs near my office that have tables and post menus, but I doubt any of the waitresses can find the forks and plates if their jobs depended on it.

Go to Menupages.com and you can search ';pubs';. Read reviews to see if the food is worth it.

www.menupages.com

I beleive that Citysearch also has ';bar food'; categories.

www.newyork.citysearch.com

Hayley,

There shouldn%26#39;t be any problem. There is a magazine here in NY that I actually subscribe to for ideas with my kids. Time Out for Kids.

They have recommendations for restaurants and other things to do in the city.

www.tonykids.com/ViewSection.do鈥?/a>

Gideon.

Restaurants almost always serve alcohol, and so that makes them ';licensed premises'; too -- so it makes no difference legally whether it is a pub or not. That being said, you might find it more comfortable and convenient going into a coffee shop (using the NY sense of ';inexpensive restaurant, usually with a counter, that is called a diner in most other places, and nothing like a Starbucks) for lunch, or even dinner, with the tot in tow than you would going into a place that is primarily a drinking establishment, and only secondarily a place that serves food.

I had no problems in any of the restaurants I went to. I didn%26#39;t even consider for one minute that it would be a problem. They all had high chairs in the restaurants but not in the diners we went to.

I don%26#39;t know about the pubs. Many didn%26#39;t look suitable for kids anyway.

I should add that none had kids menus. Thank goodness.

They served half portions from the main menu.

I%26#39;d phone in advance or ask before you settle in. I rarely see toddlers in restaurants, especially after lunch hours. I%26#39;m not sure that most places have high chairs, either.

The Time Out NY For Kids link is a good suggestion.

What a great website... Time Out NY For Kids!!

Thanks so much for all your comments and feedback.