Table For Three — How Dining Out Changes When You Have a Child
Dining out used to mean a table for two at the town's hottest bistro. But now that you have a kid (or two), you've traded your linen-lined seat for a vinyl booth. It's one of the many sacrifices we make as parents, but that doesn't make the alternative any more enjoyable. So whether you've forgotten what it's like to eat at a table sans booster seat or you want to know what it really means to order off the kids' menu, here's a look at how restaurants change once you add a child to the mix.
Restaurant Choice Before Kids
A place that sets out so many utensils, you don't know what to do with them all.
Restaurant Choice After Kids
A place that sets out crayons so you can prevent potential temper tantrums.
Menus Before Kids
A well-designed page that lays out your three-course meal.
Menus After Kids
A well-designed coloring page that also lists a few food items.
Waiting For Food Before Kids
You swap stories and enjoy each other's company.
Waiting For Food After Kids
You pull out the iPad and pray for the meal to arrive.
Meals Before Kids
Chicken, potatoes, and lots of vegetables.
Meals After Kids
Fried chicken, fried potatoes, and absolutely no vegetables.
Waitresses Before Kids
They give you a little extra attention.
Waitresses After Kids
They give you the death stare when your tot spills some milk.
Drinks Before Kids
You splurge for the whole bottle of wine.
Drinks After Kids
You splurge for the whole bottle of wine. After all, not everything has to change.