Dining out with kids can pose challenges for parents, often leading to a less-than-ideal experience for everyone involved.
This was the case for one couple who found themselves in a situation that left them feeling penalized.
A North Georgia restaurant recently sparked controversy by introducing a policy that fines customers for what they consider “poor parenting.”
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant, located near Blue Ridge, has ignited debate online: should parents be financially penalized for their children’s misbehavior?
A Reddit user shared their firsthand account, stating, “The restaurant owner approached me and mentioned that an extra $50 would be charged due to my children’s behavior… It left a sour taste in my mouth.”
The restaurant owner, Tim Richter, responded to the backlash, explaining that the surcharge was introduced to offset COVID-19-related expenses.
However, he clarified that no customer was actually overcharged on their bill.
He claimed he never used the surcharge as a threat until recently when a family with nine children visited his restaurant. He mentioned that the kids were running around uncontrollably.
He mentioned that although he warned the parents, he never ended up asking them for the money!
“We want parents to be parents,” He just stated. The eatery, nestled in the mountains by the Toccoa River, is accustomed to a peaceful crowd. It’s a well-liked spot and during dining hours, cars line up along the road.
Laura Spillman, a customer from Florida visiting the town, was shocked when she heard about the policy.
“That is crazy,” she said incredulously. “For real? I don’t think you should do it because kids are cute.”
Anne Cox, who was enjoying a meal with her family, mentioned that the charge might motivate parents to manage their kids in order to improve their behavior.
She said, “Parents need to teach kids etiquette,” adding, “They need to teach kids to behave. There are other people in the world, so they should have fun in the right place.”
Federico Gambineri, who was dining with his young child, expressed surprise at the restaurant’s policy.
He mentioned, “I’ve never heard of this before, and since my 20-month-old may not always behave well at restaurants, I hope I won’t be charged.”. “I feel that if I were charged, I would be very unhappy about it and probably never recommend the place to somebody.”
Jack Schneider, a frequent customer at the restaurant, claimed to be unaware of this additional fee.“I have mixed emotions on that,” Schneider said. “At the same time, we’ve all sat next to tables where you say hey, do something with that kid. So I really think it’s more on the parents.”
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