Top tips to turn dining out from disaster to delight

One thing in life is for sure: your taste buds don’t suddenly desire fast food over tender, juicy steak just because you now have little people in your life.

Yet, when it comes to dining out, many families go for the easy option rather than daunting path of training their children to enjoy eating out at a restaurant that serves more than fried food.

Part of it is our food culture in New Zealand: we’re not quite European in our approach to dining out. Family and food are not as intertwined in the fabric of our society, and it’s not as common to see families dining out at all sorts of restaurants, at all sorts of times. But that’s starting to change, and we’ve got some great tips to help you enjoy dining out with your family.

1)    Make a booking so that you can be immediately seated when you arrive. Also, double check that it is okay to bring children – some restaurants do have an age limit.

2)    Talk with your children about it beforehand. Let them know that it is a special outing, and that it is a privilege and a treat. Talk about the kind of behaviour that you want to see from them so there are no surprises.

3)    Choose a restaurant that is close. This helps to make sure that the children don’t fall asleep in that car on the way, or become scratchy, irritated and hungry.

4)    Choose a restaurant with quick service, and order as quickly as possible once you are seated. You may enjoy a long, drawn-out meal with the love of your life, but the children are not as likely to enjoy the experience if they are waiting an hour for their food.

5)    Take a snack with you, or ask for something to be brought for the children straight away.

6)    Allow your children to bring a toy or two to help keep them entertained. However, be considerate of other diners and don’t bring anything noisy!

7)    Eat early, before the rush. A 5pm or 6pm booking means the kids aren’t up too late, there are fewer diners in the restaurant, and there are likely to be other families dining.

8)    Sit near the bathroom – enough said!

9)    Let your children know that desert is a reward for good behaviour.

10)    Be considerate to staff. Pick up bits of cheerio off the floor and stray carrots off the table, and they’ll have a smile on their face and welcome you back with open arms.