kids under three.. free?

[tassie42]

this may be a dumb question, but we have a two year old and have made a few ps for full service restaurants. what is the procedure for kids under three? do you tell them when you order or wait till the bill comes? thanks

 

[billelissa]

You can tell the the host or hostess when you arrive or tell the operator when call and make a PS.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Under three is free at a buffet, family style meal, or pre-plated meal. However, at any restaurant where you order form a menu, you will be charged for what you order regardless of the child's age.

In other words, when it was our 8 month old, she just ate a few bites from our plates (a few pieces of pasta, whatever) and there was no charge, but when it was our 2 year old, we would order her meals from the children's menu (chicken nuggets, mac & cheese) and we would be charged for these items.

When you make the PS, under three is considered an infant and they will ask you if you need a highchair.

Hope that helps!

 

[tassie42]

thanks snow white rabbit! I had no idea that we will be charged for her when we order from a menu! I would have ordered her her own dinner and then been shocked when we got charged ! I'll just ask for an extra plate and have her share . Thanks again!

 

[Alice28]

We went with our 20 month old last Feb/March. If it was a buffet type restaurant or all you can eat ('Ohana, Whispering Canyon, Chef Mickey's), he ate off of my plate and we were not charged. But other restaurants like Rose and Crown or any of the counter service, I would order him something of his own like Mac and Cheese or chicken strips and I would be charged for it.

 

[DavidOH]

If it is a buffet tpe/all you can eat resaurant there is no need for a you to share off your plate. They can get there own. They also do not have to eat form the "kids" section. They can eat form the entire buffet and you won't be charged..

 

[emersonsmom]

Definitly let them know as last year when my daughter was 2 we didn't tell the waitress ahead of time and when the bill came she had charged for my daughter. When I asked about it (thank god I checked) she said she thought she looked older. She took it off so everything was ok though.

 

[babygarrettsmom]

Yes, definitely check your bill before you pay! When we went in December, ds was still 2. DH always signed the bills, and I never bothered to check until the day of checkout when the itemized bill arrived. At every buffet, he was charged for a child's plate. And, what steams me (other than the fact we didn't think to look) is that the kid is a typical toddler - only ate a couple of bites! Oh well. He's a pretty big kid, and I'm sure once he gets a little older he'll eat an adult-sized portion and only be charged for a kid!

 

[mara61]

Great question. We will be running into this in September. Mara

 

[s&k'smom]

Hi when I took DD for her 2nd birthday last June we were only charged when I ordered her something specific (like a hotdog). One really pleasant surprise was that it was noted on our PS's that it was her birthday and they gave her either a small cake or cupcake and we were never charged. As a matter of fact at Garden Grill I told the server she would eat off my plate but they were kind enough to bring her a children's meal plus birthday cake and never charged us.

 

[flyingchef]

Usually when you check in at the podium the hostess will ask you what the ages of the kids are and write it on the card. when you are seated the hostess places that on the table, when the server comes to greet you he picks up the card. they do it pretty inconspicuously....