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It is no secret that children can create food messes that even Oscar the Grouch would admire. I imagine that many servers and bussers dread having tables with small children who seem to love to throw spaghetti and spit out veggies, but I was surprised when I saw this warning on a restaurant menu in northern Arizona.
I will clean up our table and even the floor a bit if my kiddos make a big mess in a restaurant. But I have been stopped by bussers and servers who have told me, “Please do not worry about it, that is my job.” I giggled a little when I saw this warning because it seemed so unusual and ridiculous to me. I snapped this picture with my cellphone and sent it to a few friends whose responses ranged from “That is why I go out – to avoid clean-up” to “No f-ing way!” So it got me thinking, what do most moms think about this policy? Is it a good idea or is it poor customer relations? How would a restaurant go about determining if a mess was fee-worthy? Would a warning like this make you hyper-vigilant about the mess your kiddos were making? I also wonder if they would ever charge a clean-up fee for a messy adult.
So what are your thoughts on this? Do you clean-up after your children in a restaurant? What would you do if you were charged a $5 clean-up fee at a restaurant?
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Honestly, I would have packed up my family and left. While I do attempt to pick up after my children– and like you, I’m usually told “Don’t worry about it!”– I would be too worried that any restaurant ignorant enough to make such a statement would be mean enough to find fault no matter what and assess the extra charge. I prefer to do business with people who are family friendly.
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I agree with Annette…I would leave. We also pick up after our child (even if it means getting under the table sometimes). unfortunately, my husband nor myself have ever been stopped by staff and told us to not worry about it. Around here they just smile and walk by. If our daughter is tired/cranky/fussy/etc I have no problem leaving (if I’m by myself) and leaving the mess, however, I always leave extra for a tip. I guess I factor in my own “clean up” fee.
I would not eat at a place like that. Restaurants have employees for a reason. What job are the bus boys doing if not cleaning up after us? NO I do not allow my kids to leave a mess, and I DO think it’s rude to do so.. but that restaurant is out of their mind lol.
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I usually clean up after my kiddo but have had the same experience as you where they stop me and say don’t worry about it… and we “tip” them more because of it!!But if I were charged for the mess I probably wouldn’t eat there…
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I don’t know what mess would “cross the line” and force a fee to be charged. We probably left some messes in our day (kids now 12 and 15) and I am not sure I was as diligent as the other commenters here but in general the $5 shows a non-customer-centric approach I think. That would be my last and only meal there, kids or no.
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I would leave. It’s rude to state that on a menu. The idea of going out is to get a break. I assume it was created due to ignorant parents who probably don’t teach their children manners and act like complete pigs when in public which shouldn’t be ok either. Personally though I would leave.
OMG really? I would make an ever bigger mess and see if they could get the $5.00 clean up fee from me, then never go back! But of course when my kids were little I did clean up a little, I still do it now when I frequent a restaurant with my hubby!
I actually won’t and rather to leave because it’s a restaurant so meaning waitresses are responsible to clean the mess because eating outside is a break and why would consider cleaning up?
I used to bus tables in high school so I’ve dealt with my share of messes, and I’m always careful to clean up after my kid. That being said, this is WAY out of line. I’d let them know that they just lost my business.
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I wouldn’t eat there. I go out so I don’t have to clean up. Their loss because I consider the increase in the tip as part of the cost of being a parent. Guess I will leave my bigger tip elsewhere.
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I tip a lot to make up for the mess my kids make. And, my husband usually picks up while I”m getting everyone ready to go. I’d be super upset if I saw something like that. It would be the last time I set foot in that place.
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I would have just let them know that as long as they charge it they do not have my business, this coming from a mother who also feels bad leaving messes and will clean up and even straighten up the messy table…As those have said above that is what their job entails and to try and charge extra just seems like a way to try and bring in more income as they decide if the mess is worth charging (which you know it will be no matter how little the mess).
Not too long ago, my friend and I were eating at a family style restaurant where there was a large group seated near us (about 4 or 5 adults and the same amount of kids, 2 being in high chairs). The kids were let to throw tantrums, food etc. At least one couple at the restaurant complained and they wait staff asked them to keep their kids in line more or less… this still went on. After they left the entire table was horrible! There was food all over the floor, stuck under the table (as the one child thought it was funny to smack their mashed potatoes to the underside of the table), in the seats, all over the high chairs. I watched as 3 bussers had to clean up the mess which involved tipping the table upside down and using a scrub brush to get into the cracks on the chairs.. all in all taking them a good 10 minutes. I walked past the table to use the restroom… they left a 10 dollar tip.
So, in a way I think that something like this is a good idea. However, I agree that there is a line- how much of a “mess” is bill worthy? I heard about a restaurant who did something different and put signs up that anyone with screaming kids would be asked to leave. There was an uproar over it with people with kids, however it ended up that they actually gained customers because people who wouldn’t go there because of all of the kids were starting to come in more.
If it is my favourite restaurant I would still eat there. I’m sure the restaurant had a good reason to put that warning on their menu. And hopefully only apply the charge in extreme situations. It’s okay to eat at restaurants to get a break from preparing a meal, but there are people that have terrible restaurant manners and pass these on to their children. I have walked out of places where children were running wild and flinging food while their parents sat and laughed at the behaviour. Being paid to clean up after restaurant customers is one thing, but to be stuck cleaning one table for a long time because parents have allowed children to trash the area on purpose is wrong.
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I own a restaurant and just today had to deal with one of the largest messes we’ve ever had. It was at least 45 minutes of clean up after the family of 3 adults and 2 children left. They had smashed pasta into the carpet, spilled Italian dressing on the floor, spilled crushed up crackers all over, tore up straw papers and threw them down. My servers were super busy with other tables and did not notice the mess until the family got up to leave. Granted, we do charge a gratuity of 18% on parties of 6 or more (including children who are old enough to eat off of the kids menu), this party was short or being able to add the grat. They left my server a $2 tip! My server and I spent a great while cleaning up the tables, chairs and floor and had to hand pick the food up because the vacuum wouldn’t have picked up wet lettuce or the dressing! Now I have to shampoo carpets tonight because if we shampoo them now and someone steps into the wet spot and then onto our tile, more than likely someone is going to get injured and we are on the line for that, too. So YES, I think the restaurant has every right to charge that $5 or even more! Just because you go out to eat doesn’t mean you should let your kids throw food all over! I know kids spill, so do adults, but how many adults do you see putting gum under the tables, throwing smashed up crackers all over the floor? If you don’t allow it in your home, don’t allow it in public!
I completely agree with that last sentence! I am baffled by this sort of behavior. I feel the same about people who leave behind garbage in a movie theater. Clean up after yourself!