This will be helpful, now I know where not to go on any given evening

They should include crayons.

Sweet, delicious crayons.

We actually try to keep track of kids eats free nights just so that we can avoid them. I have been in a restaurant during kids eat free nights and it's always a nightmare.

@Applekid: When TheExitKids were little and I carried a huge mommybag, we counted up all the free crayons we'd accumulated from kids' meals and there were 42. We bagged them up and gave them to the afterschool program.

They're not so delicious anymore btw. Crayola maybe, but a lot of places have the off brands that break the second the crayon hits paper.

@davere: @edwardso:

Sounds like a win-win for everyone. You don't have to deal with kids and I don't have to deal with whiny kid haters in a restaurant that targets families with young kids.

@xay: How are people whiny kid haters for just choosing not to go on nights that will have a lot of children? Going there just to piss and moan about children might fit that.

@xay: Just one set of parents who haven't bothered to teach their kids manners can ruin the dining experience for many.

@darthsodomizer: Screw you. Children make huge messes, tend to be loud, run around, or are otherwise not quiet and well behaved.
If your child is quiet, well spoken, and doesn't drop food on the floor, then I'd be happy to sit in the same restaurant. Otherwise, leave your little skin bag of disease and noise at home.

@xay: I don't hate kids, I work with kids, but when I go out to dinner I'd rather it not be super crowded and loud

@oneswellfoop: People with ill-behaved children often heap ad-hominem attacks upon anyone who doesn't want to be around them. They are jealous of others' freedom and/or parenting success and embarrassed of their own failure.

@Ratty: Sadly, I know too many childfree people who think normal behavior is unbearable.

@edwardso:

Thank you! As soon as I saw this I was thinking the exact same thing. I once went to an Island's restaurant on a Tuesday not realizing it was the "kids eat free night." I had already had a stressful day and after eating dinner with a restaurant full of kids, I wanted to die.

@xay: I looked at the website. When I go to a place called Buffalo wings and beer I don't exactly expect it to be aiming towards families bringing their kids in

@oneswellfoop:

Children make huge messes, tend to be loud, run around, or are otherwise not quiet and well behaved.

Exactly how I feel about dogs.

Of course, the truth is that the parents/owners are the ones who permit these actions. A child with a proper upbringing and supervision, without mental difficulties, will rarely do these sorts of things.

Example: I spent an entire meal asking the kids in the booth next to me to ask their mom their questions, rather than me. Why were they being so difficult? Because their mom/caregiver/whatever spent the entire meal glued to her cellphone.

No child normally does that. Only children who are "dragged up" do that.

@edwardso: Most restaurants clearly advertise their kids' nights. If they have a kids' night, that's the demographic they are trying to reach.

I understand people being frustrated with kids in adult geared restaurants - I'm not taking my son to one until he gets his table manners together. But if the restaurant has a kids' night, a kids' menu, and gaming area/playground, you really shouldn't expect a quiet meal.

@oneswellfoop: Douche.

@xay: I don't expect a quiet meal when I see a swingset etc. If I see an obvious banner or sign I make note. When I looked on the site a lot of the places didn't seem child oriented, which makes it all the more useful for people like me.

@xay: And if he had acted like one of the childfree (or heaven forbid, childfree hardcores) that MAY have been warranted. Some of us just prefer a less crowded restaurant.

Thanks for the link. This could be handy for a lot of people.

PS: The "I hate kids/dogs/cats/cell phone talkers" debate is old and tired. Let it go.

@dwrds:
Dch.

@edwardso - My thoughts exactly! I try to avoid chain restaurants because of the screaming children and ineffective parents in the first place, but if I must go to one, at least I can make sure it's not on a night where kids eat free.

This tool is the equivalent of a warning system for us CFers!

It must feel good to be so superior to all of us 'breeders' who have kids. You are use this tool to avoid us!

Huzzah!

@TacoDave: I can't see any comments that imply that people who don't have children are superior to those who do

@oneswellfoop: Generalizations are never true.

I will also use this tool to know which restaurants to avoid. I'm child free by choice. I don't mind dining with well-behaved kids; but when their parents let them run amok in the restaurant without discipline, I'll take my business to less child-friendly establishments.

@xay: I'm searching in davere's and edwardso's posts up there and not seeing anything at all that goes against what you're saying. Where is your point of contention, or are you just repeating what other people say?

I mean, both of them are saying, "Now I know the places to avoid", and you're coming back and saying, "Now you know the places to avoid". Seems like a waste of time on your part.

@edwardso: Me neither.

@TacoDave: Just because someone doesn't have or want kids doesn't necessarily mean they think they are better than people who do.

I love kids, I just don't like being around them much. This is why I have chosen not to reproduce. It's a personal decision. I admire parents who do a good job of raising their kids, but I don't feel the need to have children.

My choice is the best for ME, but I am not making generalizations here.

this site can be used in a couple of different ways, much like a site that tells you which restaurants and bars allow smoking. It might draw some people while repelling others without making any judgements about who is better

@TacoDave:
This is potentially win-win for everyone. The militant child-free types who don't even want to have to LOOK at kids will know where to stay away from (and they won't have to suffer the presence of us "breeders"). At the same time, we rubes who LOVE having children and spending time with them will know where we can go to be free of the disapproving stares of these obviously more enlightened (yet tightly-wound) blow-hards while we have a little fun with our families. In fact, I LOVE hearing/seeing exuberant children laughing and "cutting-up"; this used to be dismissed as "kids being kids", but now it seems that any child who does not sit silently and still in the corner like a houseplant either has stupid, irresponsible parents (actually, some of these folks probably think that ANY parent is stupid and irresponsible just by having children in the first place), or should be worked-up for some sort of diagnosable illness/developmental delay!

Lighten up, everyone. ALL of us were children at one time, ALL of us annoyed adults at one point or another, and it's almost certain that some of those annoyed adults had a little tolerance and understanding and gave either us or our parents (or both) a "break"; what's wrong with demonstrating a little basic human kindness and paying this forward now that WE are the adults?

I used to take my kids out to eat routinely on "kids eat free" night. It was a cheap night away from cooking for me. To this day, we rarely go out to eat without a coupon of some sort. They're both grown up now, and both manage their own money with a tight fist. I'd have used a site like this constantly.

@Dawnrazor:
Being chatty, whiny, or a little loud is one thing. I think most people, even without kids (myself included) understand that normal child behavior.
But there are plenty of people who let their kids run around the table/booth, scream repeatedly at top of their lungs, or just break things and all other manner of behavior that is just innappropriate in public. These are the kind of kids/parents people want to avoid and they seem to be more and more common anymore.

Just a friendly reminder, if you're taking advantage of any "free food" offer at a sit-down restaurant, please remember to calculate the tip based on the amount of food you *would have* paid for, not the adjusted total.

Coming from a family of food workers, nothing is more frustrating than serving a table with multiple kids, knowing the final bill will be something ridiculously low, like $20 (a $3.00 tip). Servers make under minimum wage, and it's not their fault the restaurant is running a promotion! Please tip accordingly. :)

/ PSA over

@davere:
lets just cut the shit..kids are annoying as hell, rarely are they well brought up where they just sit quietly (although I was at a restaurant on mothers day and saw a little boy and girl with their parents sitting, talking but not yelling like most lower income families will have). I know its not easy moms buts its also not that hard either, you chose to have the kid and you chose to not raise them to be appropriate in certain situations, don't get mad at us for making other life choices.

@TacoDave:
looks like someone is a little bitter... and no, I like kids but I also like to eat a meal in relative peace. Adults who get noisy and yell and laugh like theyre outdoors in a restaurant also get on my nerves. Please don't take it as everyone hates kids because they avoid kids night, its just a way of letting us know that it WILL be noisy that night and everyone who does not appreciate baby screams while eating their soup may want to avoid.