A restaurant is charging a fee 'for adults unable to parent' while they're dining

They're calling it an "Adult Surcharge" and they've followed through with it, as one parent claimed she was socked $50.

Most parents feel the weight of judgey eyes when they take their kids out in public.

It's often a sixth sense that's triggered, especially if an outing involves young children.

And then, there's times when they know they're being outrightly judged - thanks to thinks like signs telling them to get their faces out of their phones.

Or, an explicit message on the menu, as a diner discovered this week. They posted a screenshot of the restaurant's warning online, and captioned it, "This restaurant charges extra for bad parenting."

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"For adults unable to parent"

The Tocca Riverside Restaurant in Georgia warns all patrons: "Adult surcharge: For adults unable to parent $$$."

The decision seems to be entirely at the restaurant's discretion.

It's not surprising, then, that reviews of the restaurant include, for example, this one: 

"If you have children, absolutely avoid this place at all costs.  Holy moly - the most disrespectful owner made a huge scene in front of the entire restaurant because our children were 'running through the restaurant'.

"We were told we need to 'go to Burger King and Walmart' and that we were bad parents. They have a $50 surcharge for 'bad children'. We were a group of 21 and our server was AMAZING and was overly apologetic.

"Terrible business practice, we will never be back."

Source: Reddit

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"You don't do that in a fancy restaurant"

Another patron also claimed to have a terrible experience with his kids.

"Don't go if you have children. We were three adults, two children and our four-month baby. When we entered to the place they gave us a bad look.

"Later my wife was rocking the baby (not crying, just to make him sleep) and this 'manager' told her that you don't do that in a fancy restaurant (of course this is not a fancy restaurant) and later moved our stroller in a bad way.

"Food is not good either. Do yourself a favor…go somewhere else."

Commenters on Reddit were also outraged by the restaurant's expectations.

"Actual adults running a business decided to write this insipid shit on something they are going to hand to everyone who walks in the door. Amazing," wrote one.

Another asked, "What is deemed as an ‘adult who can’t parent’? No grounds to charge extra if that were to happen."

And this person suggested: "Just say no kids…? Kids can be annoying, but they’re unpredictable because they’re KIDS."

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Originally published as A restaurant is charging a fee 'for adults unable to parent' while they're dining