Teppan Edo with a Toddler?

[MRYPPNS]

Has anyone gone to Teppan Edo with a young toddler? How did it go? My husband wants to eat there again in November when our son will be 18 mo. old. I'm thinking that it might not be the best idea because of the hot grill and sharing a table with strangers. I'm interested in hearing from those of you that have gone with a toddler and those that may have been sat with another family's toddler.
Thanks

 

[_queenie_]

The first time we went there was when my older DD was about that age, we had no problem. If they are sitting back in the seat enough they won't try to touch the table, it's too far of a reach. As for sitting with strangers, I think it just depends on how comfortable you are with it. If you aren't embaressed by having to take him out into the foyer or something, you'll be fine. If they complain about sitting with a toddler, the one thing I have to say is that they shouldn't have decided to eat at a place where tables are shared!

 

[princesspwrhr]

We ate there several times when it was Teppenyaki (at one point with TWO toddlers) and once with a toddler and a preschooler since it was remodeled to become Teppen Edo. I won't swear to it as fact, but the dining table seems a good 4-6 inches deeper since the remodel, making the grill further away. I know they didn't push the issue of making sure the little two didn't reach to the grill as much as when it was Teppenyaki, they also didn't insist on seating the toddler at the corner like they used to.

As for sitting with other people - I normally feel bad for the people who get seated with us. We're a party of 5 usaully, sometimes 6, and 2 of those kids are under 4. Since we take up most of the table ourselves we usually get sat with a couple traveling w/o children. Most of our experiances have been good, but we had one experiance where the couple at the table with us obviously expected a grown up night out. They were older, but not old (upper 40s, early 50s), VERY well dressed -suit, heels, make up, loads of perfume & hair spray, and were having wine by the bottle with their lobster etc. Thankfully the children were all behaved that evening, but the woman of the couple was constantly looking down her nose anytime one of the kids made a peep (which was most of the meal since they were talking, but not being loud). That was the exception though. The rule has been a good experiance with either active conversation from our tablemates or indifference. When faced with this we rearrange so that all the kids are between dh and I and not next to the stranger.

 

[james'mommy]

I've never eaten in the restaurant in WDW but I have frequently eaten at Hibachi type restaurants with children before. We've found that if you put the child on the corner of the table there is no way they can reach the grilll or accidentially have food thrown on them. My son actually really liked this kind of restaurant when he was little.

 

[llmurphy17]

I've been there a few times- the last time in Dec. 07 my 3 children went 5,3,1 and with another family kids age 9 and 12. The hostess told me that children were not allowed to sit in the center where the grill close to reach. So we had the kids sit at the ends and the adults in the center.

The kids loved watching the cook and enjoyed to food.

 

[auroraarielella]

I have never been to Teppen Edo At WDW, however, at Hibachi-style restaurants, when my DD was younger, she was afraid (terrified) of the fire, and our chef promised "no fires" but she jumped and screamed every time someone else's grill flared up.
(She is now 8 and LOVES Hibachi-style dining. We plan to eat there next trip to WDW.)

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

We went in Dec with our almost 3 yr old and he was fine. They told us no kids in the middle of the table, so they all sat on the ends (kids ranged from 3-9 and we had 2 tables). DS loved it and actually ate a good bit, which is unusal for him! I'm guessing you could put your 18 mth old in a high chair and then there'd be no chance they could reach the grill. Even sitting on your lap, it would be tough for them to reach if you are sitting on the end...
Hope you have a great trip!

 

[northriver]

We eat at our local Hibachi resturant at least once a month. It has been DD's favorite resturant since she was about a year old. Ours has really fabulous food! I haven't been to the one at Epcot in about 10 yrs, so I don't know what they serve. But at ours, DD loves the soup, the grilled zucchini, the chicken, and the noodles. She eats more there than at any other resturant we eat at. She has never been scared by the show but maybe becuse she has eaten there her whole life, or because she lives with a teenage brother and has a high "scare" tolerance I can't say. My niece age 4 is a little jumpy about the fire because she is a bit of a drama queen, but she gets over it quickly.

I second what others have said about seating, I seat DD in a high chair either at a corner or at the end where the grill is not so hot.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Thanks everyone for your great stories. I think I will make a ADR for Teppan Edo for our next trip!

We ate there several times when it was Teppenyaki (at one point with TWO toddlers) and once with a toddler and a preschooler since it was remodeled to become Teppen Edo. I won't swear to it as fact, but the dining table seems a good 4-6 inches deeper since the remodel, making the grill further away. I know they didn't push the issue of making sure the little two didn't reach to the grill as much as when it was Teppenyaki, they also didn't insist on seating the toddler at the corner like they used to.

I think you're right about the new tables. I saw a picture of the remodel and I thought there was a greater distance from the grill to the edge.