Children: no one likes them in restaurants. They have been banned outright from a few restaurants in the US — whether during brunch, when they're throwing fits, or as a matter of policy — and now a British restaurant has had the brilliant idea of making money off the little nuisances.
According to the London Evening Standard, Cosmo restaurant in Croydon — which, until now, was mostly known for being the largest restaurant in England — is charging customers £3 (US$4.67) per baby. Even when they're young enough to sit on their mothers' laps the whole time! Cosmo doesn't have room to spare in their "800-seat, 22,000 sqft oriental buffet restaurant" for infants who aren't ponying up for egg rolls.
It appears to be their standard policy: adults are charged one fee, children "under 150cm" another, with a £3 minimum fee. Hence, infant admittance is £3. But of course, parents are outraged: one called it "disgraceful" while another bemoaned the fact that she would be charged the fee despite the fact that her baby "was exclusively breastfed and would be sitting on our laps, therefore not consuming any food or occupying an extra seat."
Interesting argument. Maybe it's worth it to pay a fee and have the kid sit in a chair so you can fully enjoy your choice of ten live cooking stations (including dim sum, sushi, and pizza bars) or buffets representing the cuisines of China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Singapore, Vietnam and India. It's kind of hard to balance a tray full of "as much food as you like for just one price" in one arm and a baby in the other, isn't it?
· 'Restaurant Made Me Pay £3 Fee to Take in My Baby' [London Even Standard via Guardian]
· All Children Coverage on Eater [-E-]