Advice: Eating Out with the Kids - Easy As Ice Cream and Apple Pie.
What is family friendly dining experience? And what does it take to make one happen? Breakers Resort Culinary Executive and father of four shares his antidotes to “Kids-Eat-Out Anxiety” and provides tips on how to adapt.
Dining at good restaurants need not be labeled an adults-only activity. “An enjoyable time eating out does not have to translate into ‘babysitter!” affirms Kevin Walters, Vice President and Director of Food & Beverage of The Breakers Palm Beach and father of three sons and one daughter who now range in age from four to ten years. “So many parents, particularly those who love dining out as couples, feel they must limit or relinquish their desire for good restaurants when they are joined by their children,” says Walters. “It is absolutely not the case.”
Walters passionately addresses the legion of parents tormented by the stings and sufferings of dining out with their children. “My wife and I know very well those seemingly masochistic events known as ‘let’s go out to dinner with the kids’…. the silent but deadly wrath of a glaring maitre d’, a 20-minute wait for children’s food that feels like a decade, pre-school acrobatics performed directly in the path of a hurried waiter, dishes tossed Frisbee-style,” reflects the prematurely-gray hotel executive. With a wry smile, he asserts, “It gives new meaning to dinner theatre.”
Clan-friendly dining, according to Walters, is a joint pursuit that involves both parents and the establishments they patronize. “When it comes to eating family-style, there are very definitive idiosyncrasies and preferences that will make the experience more pleasurable. These elements are rooted in service, attitude, fare and atmosphere,” he says. With a bit of preparation, research and patience, along with Kevin Walter’s Survival Strategies listed below, parents – with their brood in tow -- can confidently pass over drive-thru’s and take-out menus and forge ahead into more satisfying terrain.
Survival Strategies for Family-Friendly Dining 1.
Plan to dine early. Designate your eating time to be prior to 8:00pm (remember, this is eating time versus arrival time). Restaurants that have service as early as 5:00pm are ideal.
2.
Call in advance. Inquire of the restaurant in advance how equipped they are for your children, such as the availability of high chairs and booster seats. Look for restaurants with an acceptable kids’ menu or those that can adapt regular menu items (the latter illustrates the flexibility of the kitchen to tailor their dishes, ex: substitute sauces) or create simple items (ex: a plain chicken breast or buttered noodles).
3.
Request a table. Graciously request, in advance of your arrival, your preference for a spacious table and fast service. Consider dining venues with comfortable seating and well-spaced tables with areas in which your children can roam a bit (great for fidgety kids). Also keep in mind the acoustical atmosphere that, rather than being startled by typically vocal children, absorbs or accommodates the activities of kids.
4.
Assemble a table top activity pack. Prepare a food and an activity pack as a back up. In a small tote, you can include items from home that are a sure thing (a mini-yogurt, healthy snack foods, Jell-O, and juice boxes), bib, wipes, child-size utensils, and a favorite spill-proof beverage cup. Consider bringing along a miniature animal toy, cartoon or action figures; coloring/activity books, a pad of paper, water-soluble markers, electronic hand-held games, an Etch-a-sketch or travel-size versions of a traditional or favorite board game.
5.
Ask fo rthe bread. Upon arrival at the restaurant, advise the waiter/waitress of your desire for prompt service (an exit within 60 minutes is not an unreasonable request) and place the order for the kids immediately. Specify any special needs you may have. If that breadbasket isn’t delivered right away, ask for it, or for a snack/finger food that can be brought out in moments. Ultimately, parents should be able to enjoy their appetizer while kids enjoy the entrée.
6.
Recognize your servers. Be sensitive to the additional time and attention that will be required of your servers (not-too-hot dishes, water glasses filled halfway rather than full) and acknowledge their enthusiasm and efforts (verbally and with gratuity). Recognize waitstaff that give your children the “royal treatment” and make them feel important, as well as the chef who whipped up something special for the little one. The attitude of a restaurant’s staff is as, if not more important, than the food they serve.
7.
Make introductions. Make sure you introduce your waiter or waitress to your child. It not only reinforces the youngster’s presence in the dining party, but it inclines your server to get down to your little one’s level and make eye contact. It’s great if the host/hostess invites your child to lead the way to the family’s table.
8.
Ask for the menu options. Children’s menus should include items that are simple, fun and kid-friendly (appealing to their tastes and appetites). If available, request straws and low tumbler-type glasses that won’t easily tip over. Some restaurants have Fun Packs to give out.
Sunday is food bliss. The Breakers celebrated Sunday Brunch is one of Palm Beach’s favorite traditions. The buffet is deluxe in every way and includes a raw bar, sushi bar, caviar station, carving station as well as an elaborate dessert display and includes coffee, tea, champagne, orange juice, and mimosas. Families are welcome but it is wise to make reservations by calling (561) 659-8440.
Just for kids. The resort provides young guests with an extensive menu of recreational activities including water sports, local tours, a playground and an outdoor sports court plus a Family Entertainment Center featuring an arcade room, a game room featuring Xbox, Play Station 2, and a movie room/theater.
Bonus points: Guest ages 3 to 12 years may participate in full or half-day sessions of organized fun at Coconut Crew Day Camp.
About The Breakers. The Breakers, a AAA Five Diamond property, sits on a breathtaking oceanfront and provides guests the ambiance of a Mediterranean-style beach club. The resort’s half-mile of private beach is dotted with luxurious beach bungalows for daytime-rental, and the complex maintains five pools and four whirlpool spas. The Breakers also features a broad selection of distinctive restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, as well as an array of on-site boutiques – all wholly owned and managed by the resort. Plus it features 36 holes of championship golf, 10 tennis courts, a 20,000-square-foot luxury spa. The Breakers is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Location on the planet. The closest airport is The Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), about seven miles from the resort - a 15-minute car ride. The Breakers, One South County Road Palm Beach, Florida 33480.
Make it happen. For reservations or more information, contact the resort toll-free 1-888-BREAKERS, 1(561) 655-6611 or
www.thebreakers.com
