Taking kids out in public can be very stressful.
Even the most well-behaved kids might lose their heads for no inexplicable reason, resulting in an afternoon of smiling apologetically at passersby as your toddler screams over being told not to eat cigarette butts.
Taking them out to dinner can be even more nerve-wracking, as when there’s food in their hands they’re effectively armed with projectiles.
Of course, this is all part of the parenting experience. Along with being responsible for your kids’ behaviour, however, it’s important to remember you’re responsible for the mess they make, too.
Sure, in a restaurant setting there’s an inevitable clean-down of your table on the agenda, but making service workers’ jobs harder for your own convenience is a bit… well, not fair.
As a mum from Seguin, Texas discovered in 2023, some eateries are prepared to lay down the laws of etiquette if the left-behind mess is beyond reason.
Selena Palomares visited a local Tex-Mex restaurant only to be denied service over her ‘messy children’.
Per My San Antonio, Palomares had been visiting the restaurant, Taco Tejano, with her family for over 15 years.
Per Palomares’ social media post about the incident, her mother had gone into the restaurant to prep a table with high chairs but soon came out to inform the family that they weren’t welcome.
“I have my two children in my hands and that’s when (my mum) pulls me to the side and she’s like, ‘They said that we couldn’t go inside and eat there because the kids make a mess and we don’t clean up after them’,” she said in the post.
While you might assume this is fair enough, Palomares insisted it wasn’t reflective of their past visits.
“Every time we go out to eat I clean up after my kids, my kids aren’t throwing chairs around, they’re not running around the restaurant or tossing food across the restaurant - that’s not what is happening,” she claimed.
Despite the sense of injustice, Palomares was supposedly too embarrassed to confront the staff about it.
A subsequent post on Taco Tejano’s Facebook page also appeared strangely pointed.
"Get your Taco Tejano T-Shirt (Where kids are not welcomed jk jk) $20," it said.
While they didn’t reflect Palomares’ family directly, in a separate post the restaurant clarified its rules.
"We hate to have to make a post like this, but there are a few things we feel the need to clear up.
"1. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
"2. We will not haggle on our prices. The prices are clearly posted on the menu.
"3. We try to quickly and efficiently remedy any mistakes we may make on your orders, but lying to get free or discounted items won’t be tolerated. We’re honest, hard working people & would appreciate honesty in return.
"4. Disrespecting my employees is not tolerated. Any issue you may have can be discussed with the owners.
"5. Any past employees are no longer working for us for a reason!"
"Sounds like it was a mess, poorly behaved kids, and disrespectful adults… 3 strikes- you’re out!" said on comment.
However, others stood on the affected parents’ side. "How much mess can a 2 and 3 year old make with possibly one taco or rice and beans?” said one. "What the guest are to get brooms and mops after they eat because of the mess?
"That’s their job with in the restaurant business. There has to be more to this story why they were refused service."
What’s your take?
FOODBible have contacted Taco Tejano for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Melanie Acevedo/Getty ImagesTopics: US Food, Restaurants and bars, Social Media
Rachael Davis