Restaurant sparks backlash after banning children under 10

A restaurant in New Jersey has been hit with criticism after announcing that children under the age of 10 are no longer welcome.

Children can be messy eaters, It's just a fact - especially when what they're trying to eat is long, sauce-covered spaghetti.

Combine that with the excitement of going out for a meal and you're definitely in for a chaotic experience, probably ending with some dirty tablecloths and mushed-up meatballs on the floor.

It's to be expected with kids, but Nettie’s House of Spaghetti, in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, has admitted that the strain of younger customers has become too tough for them to manage.

netties.house.of.spaghetti/Instagram

The restaurant took to social media this week to share a picture featuring the words: "Children under 10 will no longer be permitted to dine at Nettie's."

A caption alongside the image explained further, with staff at the restaurant insisting they 'love kids', but saying: "Lately, it’s been extremely challenging to accommodate children at Nettie’s."

Among the reasons given for the decision, the restaurant cited 'noise levels, lack of space for high chairs, cleaning up crazy messes, and the liability of kids running around the restaurant'.

"We have decided that it’s time to take control of the situation," they continued.

"This wasn’t a decision that was made lightly, but some recent events have pushed us to implement this new policy."

netties.house.of.spaghetti/Instagram

The restaurant is set to implement its new policy from 8 March, though it acknowledged that the decision was 'going to make some of you very upset, especially those of you with very well-behaved kids'.

Nettie's wasn't wrong, as many Instagram and Facebook users were quick to make clear they weren't happy about the changes.

Responding to the post, one person wrote: "Wow! This is messed up beyond another level. Children are children. Moms are tired and don’t have time to cook. Not welcoming children under 10, is a complete a slap in the face to families. So disappointed in this establishment."

Triocean / Alamy Stock Photo

Another commented: "Can’t help feeling this will backfire spectacularly. (No I don’t have a kid under 10). The finest restaurants in NYC can accommodate kids but Netties can’t? Seems like the trouble is your patrons not the kids."

Many people argued the restaurant would lose business by banning children, but Nettie's insisted 'this is the right decision for [the restaurant] moving forward'.

It added in a comment on Facebook that children had become a 'liability' as they are 'running around the restaurant in circles when [staff are] trying to carry trays of food and drinks'.

The restaurant has also thanked those who showed support for its decision, with many saying the change would give diners a 'better experience' and that Nettie's has the right to implement any rules it wants.

Tyla has reached out to Nettie's for comment.

Topics: Parenting, Food and Drink

Emily Brown

Emily Brown is the Community Desk Lead at LADbible Group. Emily first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route. She went on to graduate with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University before contributing to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems. She joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features, and now works as Community Desk Lead to commission and write human interest stories from across the globe.