This letter is prompted by a recent incident at a local restaurant between someone in our dining party and another customer.
When people go out to eat they expect different things from their experience; some people want a quiet dinner with their companion, some want a boisterous dinner with the entire family and some want to just sit and eat in a pleasant environment.
It used to be when you entered a restaurant the hostess would ask, “Smoking or non-smoking?” You then had a choice of sitting in the smoking environment, which usually offered less noise from children, but had the smoke. Or you could choose the non-smoking area, which was usually more crowded and noisy, but smoke-free.
Now that smokers have been moved outside 25 feet from the building, many restaurant owners are seeing a loss in their income.
Perhaps these restaurateurs could make the most of their building space and offer “family dining” sections. This would separate families with small children from the other segment of the dining population that does not want their dining experience interrupted by someone else’s ill-mannered child.
“Family dining” sections could offer crayons or other small games at the tables to keep children occupied, specialized children’s menus, lighthearted music, brighter lighting and colors. “Adult dining” sections could feature soft music and lights, cozy seating and other amenities.
Almost everyone enjoys children to some degree, whether their own or someone else’s; however, not everyone enjoys booster seats with their baked Alaska or tantrums with their teriyaki. Perhaps restaurateurs will recognize this and be able to draw back a portion of their customers, or even new customers, by offering specialized dining areas.
KATHY SANDMEL
Lake Stevens
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