Harlem Pizzeria Refuses Service To Large Groups Of Kids

[mota bhai 2,675]

A fancy pizza restaurant in Harlem has put the kibosh on kids, instituting a partial ban on greasy-fingered groups of youngsters. Bad Horse Pizza, a three-year-old spot dishing out upscale pies on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, has angered local parents by not allowing groups with multiple children to dine in the restaurant. A reservation for 12 was unceremoniously canceled by the restaurant after owner John Kandel discovered it would include nine children, according to DNAInfo.

"They basically said that they don't want a lot of kids or parties in their restaurant," says disgruntled customer April Patrick-Rabiu. "When I asked them how many was too many they wouldn't be specific, but just said that their customers didn't like it, kids are noisy and bothersome and that it was a definite 'no.'" Kandel stands by his decision, citing bad behavior by wild children in the restaurant on previous occasions. "Over time I've had to tailor what I do because some people let their kids treat my store really disrespectfully by standing on stuff, pulling on curtains and wiping bloody noses with my napkins." At least they're not pooping on the seats?

Besides the naughty antics, Kandel says it comes down to economics, explaining that large groups of kids don't reap the same financial baseline needed to make ends meet. "Having a group with kids at 5 p.m. is fine, I just can't have it during adult meal time," he concedes. Plus, diners seeking out the quiet, candlelit tables and cloth napkin service aren't thrilled by the potential antics of a big group of rowdy youngsters. "I felt it was affecting my business," he said. "I can't lose customers who spend $30 to $40."

http://gothamist.com/2014/02/18/harlem_pizzeria_kicks_out_the_kiddi.php

[Teddy B 17,252]

A fancy pizza restaurant in Harlem has put the kibosh on kids, instituting a partial ban on greasy-fingered groups of youngsters. Bad Horse Pizza, a three-year-old spot dishing out upscale pies on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, has angered local parents by not allowing groups with multiple children to dine in the restaurant. A reservation for 12 was unceremoniously canceled by the restaurant after owner John Kandel discovered it would include nine children, according to DNAInfo.

"They basically said that they don't want a lot of kids or parties in their restaurant," says disgruntled customer April Patrick-Rabiu. "When I asked them how many was too many they wouldn't be specific, but just said that their customers didn't like it, kids are noisy and bothersome and that it was a definite 'no.'" Kandel stands by his decision, citing bad behavior by wild children in the restaurant on previous occasions. "Over time I've had to tailor what I do because some people let their kids treat my store really disrespectfully by standing on stuff, pulling on curtains and wiping bloody noses with my napkins." At least they're not pooping on the seats?

Besides the naughty antics, Kandel says it comes down to economics, explaining that large groups of kids don't reap the same financial baseline needed to make ends meet. "Having a group with kids at 5 p.m. is fine, I just can't have it during adult meal time," he concedes. Plus, diners seeking out the quiet, candlelit tables and cloth napkin service aren't thrilled by the potential antics of a big group of rowdy youngsters. "I felt it was affecting my business," he said. "I can't lose customers who spend $30 to $40."

http://gothamist.com/2014/02/18/harlem_pizzeria_kicks_out_the_kiddi.php

I agree, the little brats can go to Chuckee Cheese!

On a side note, who eats at a place called Bad Horse Pizza? Not me.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Sounds like a pizza brothel.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Some parents just won't or couldn't control their screaming kids running around the restaurants.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Some parents just won't or couldn't control their screaming kids running around the restaurants.

In those cases someone should smack the parents.

[sandinista! 1,816]

I usually eat take out at home, which is totally sub par, to avoid any potential rambunctiousness from my 5 yr old that other restaurant patrons might not be in the damn mood for. My son was great in restaurants, from baby onward, but my daughter's a wild card, so I adjusted accordingly. thiswasnotrocketscience

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

I was a monster at 5 and no one ever knew if one of my tantrums was going to make an outing a nightmare. I am now a reasonably well-adjusted, well-behaved woman of unspecified age.

Baby moose grow up to be adult moose. Ditto ducks, chickens, dogs, and cows. I can only warrant a guess that the same holds true for baby monsters... Especially if they are of an "unspecified age".

But I agree with controlling the problem early on. Not all kids are hard to deal with, but each child is for certain an individual. I WISH my daughter was as easy to raise as my son. Rarely have I I ever had to raise my voice to him, let alone spank him (though it did happen when needed, judicioulsy I'd like to think).

Sparing the rod and spoiling the child is, I think, the primary reason kids don't behave well these days. When children know there are consequences for their untoward actions, they tend not to act out. I got my ####### whooped when I acted up, and I ended up doing fairly well in older life, treating others respectfully until they prove they don't deserve such.

[mota bhai 2,675]

My daughter is annoying in restaurants. When we're in a booth, she feels the need to stand up and turn around and stare at the people behind us and point at their bread and say BREAD and point at their beer and say WATER, and then go "yeah? yeah? yeah?" until someone looks at her and nods approval or I grab her knees and sit her down (for the millionth time). Then she does it again.

We've adapted by always going to the same place (an Indian place) where the booths are all against the walls, so she has no one to bother.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

My dad did a trick with me. He said I was being really bad at a restaurant. So he told me if I did not behave we would leave. I did not listen. So we left. This was after we ordered, but the food had not arrived. I don't think he paid, either (though he might have secretly). He told me that the look on my face was pure amazement, confusion, sadness. And then next time and every time thereafter I was well-behaved. He was so happy with the results that he did this to my brother too a few years later. I remember this, being older then, and it was really embarrassing.

I will try this.

[Darnell 8,479]

Kandel stands by his decision, citing bad behavior by wild children in the restaurant on previous occasions

Yup, Yup, more moral decay. These parents need either retraining or restraining orders against them.

[mota bhai 2,675]

How old were you? I don't think my 2 year old would get the significance of me not paying. She'd just be upset we're going home. There is no punishment greater than the threat of going home because at home she has to do scary things like take showers and get totally bored by naps.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Oh, VJ.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Oh, VJ.

I think the range of responses here has been typical of any site with a bunch of parents. The azzhole authoritarian types still live among us.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

How old were you? I don't think my 2 year old would get the significance of me not paying. She'd just be upset we're going home. There is no punishment greater than the threat of going home because at home she has to do scary things like take showers and get totally bored by naps.

Not sure. I will ask him. I don't remember the not paying part when he did it to me. But I remember it when he did it to my brother. So this story is a combo of him telling me and me remembering my brother's version, which was based on the success of mine. This was one of his proudest parenting moments, I think, because he likes to eat at restaurants.

Your daughter sounds cute

[mota bhai 2,675]

... because he likes to eat at restaurants.