What makes a restaurant "family friendly"? Which Beijing restaurant is your family favorite?
Posted 5:55am Sat Nov 17th, 2007 by admin
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So what makes a restaurant family-friendly, anyhow? What are the attributes that are important to you?
And which spots are your family favorites?
Some ideas:
Grandma's Kitchen
Annie's
Xiao Wang Fu
Peter's Tex Mex
Steak & Eggs
The Orchard
Din Tai Fung
Senses, The Westin Financial Street
Ding Ding Xiang
Traktir
Golden Jaguar
Tim's Texas BBQ
Rumi
Bite a Pitta
Zone de Confort
Outback Steakhouse
Eudora Station
Morel's
American Cafe
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Re: What makes a "family friendly" restaurant? Which Beijing res
We've set up a survey for those interested in casting their two cents on the topic of what makes a restaurant family-friendly ... takes only about 5 minutes to fill out .... check it out at
The survey should take less than 5 minutes to fill out.
Here's the link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=1X4WH_2f2aXNKmO0Vl6xmkLw_3d_3d
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Re: What makes a restaurant "family friendly"? Which Beijing res
Well, being that this is tbjkids, I'm assuming most folks' definition of family friendly will entail being kid friendly but for me, it's not the case.
A family friendly restaurant is one where my wife and I can go have a quiet dinner without any loud/obnoxious drunk teenagers sitting next to us making a fool out of themselves. Also, it's a restaurant where the staff knows to stay out of the way as needed and show up on time for drink refills and food orders.
I'll add to that, for parents' sake, that they should have high chairs, maybe even a small playground and make sure that parents with kids sit in a non-smoking section or as far away from smokers as possible.
one particular occasion comes to mind when I was having brunch at the krow's nest with some friends. When we walked in, we immediately proceeded to sit as far away from any area with kids because we do not like smoking around them. it's makes us feel quite uncomfortable. that said, 1/2 hour into it, as we're enjoying a halfway-through-the-meal cigarette, a family came in and sat right next to us with their toddlers when the rest of the restaurant was basically empty!!!! they picked the spot then proceeded to give us the evil eye for smoking in front of their kids... excuse me.... but come on!!! out of respect, I turned off my cigarette and went downstairs to the bar to have one.... I should not have to do that...
We're back!! Winter 2009 Chinese Bootcamp! 2 weeks of intensive learning out in Hebei
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Re: What makes a restaurant "family friendly"? Which Beijing res
badr wrote:out of respect, I turned off my cigarette and went downstairs to the bar to have one.... I should not have to do that...
So very nice of you to turn off your cigarette. I must say, though - the very fact that you CAN smoke in ANY enclosed public space is a fortunate (and eternally incredulous) thing. Fortunate for you, I mean. Not for anyone else. Especially as passive smokers actually inhale unfiltered smoke which is far more damaging than sucking it through a padded tube.
DO NOT want to start a smoking debate here (yes, I know about Europe and yes yes yes I am a clean-lunged (though now questionable due to my years in China), health-driven Aussie where all enclosed and quasi-enclosed public spaces are smoke-free and have been for years - call us the lucky country? my, yes). So forgive me if I hold a little bias but I will not enter into a debate because, well - there isn't an argument. Smoker or nonsmoker - we all know what the Reality is. And quasi-kudos to you, dear writer, for at least extinguishing your tube in the presence of wee ones. Family-friendly restaurant? Smoke-free INDEED.
Footnote: Chinese smokers now make up one-quarter of the world's total smoking population. [[[Shudder]]]
This above all; to thine own self be true.
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Re: What makes a restaurant "family friendly"? Which Beijing res
Interesting to note that so far in our family-friendly restaurant survey, having a No-Smoking area is second only to clean bathrooms in the qualities that make a restaurant family-friendly.
More imortant than Booster seats/high chairs, Kids Play area, English menu ....
That gives you an idea of how people feel.
Here's the ranking of the most important criteria so far:
1 Clean bathrooms
2 No-Smoking area
3 Healthy food selections
4 Staff accustomed to dealing with children
5 Booster seats/high chairs
6 Kids Play area
7 On-table distractions (crayons, blocks)
8 Kid portions/selections on the menu
9 Childproof tablesettings (ie plastic rather than crystal)
10 English menu
11 Low price to make family meal affordable
12 Stroller-accessible
13 Quiet/calm atmosphere
14 Nearby parking
15 Booth seating
16 Diaper changing table
17 English-speaking staff
18 Live Entertainment/floor show
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Re: What makes a restaurant "family friendly"? Which Beijing res
thanks everyone on the input on the Beijing family-friendly restaurants survey. We received 45 ballots, a lot of great suggestions and many fantastic comments. We now know with some semblance of authority what it is that is most important in making a Beijing restaurant family-friendly.
We've also compiled a list of over 100 restaurants that our intrepid team of "testers" are going to evaluate over the next two weeks -- each will be measured on the criteria that you told us was most important.
We are then compiling this data for the January double issue of tbjkids -- which will prove to be the most fantabulous and useful guide to family-friendly dining in Beijing ... ever. Period. End of story.
BTW we're still looking for people to go test these spots -- we'll even pay for you to go. If you are interested, please contact our editor Lisa at editor@tbjkids.com -- let her know your interest and where you live so she can assign you a restaurant near where you live.
BTW, here are the final rankings of the criteria that makes a Beijing restaurant family-friendly (in order of importance):
1. No-Smoking area
2. Clean bathrooms
3. Booster seats/high chairs
4. Staff accustomed to dealing with children
5. Healthy food selections
6. Kids Play area
7. On-table distractions (crayons, blocks)
8. Kid portions/selections on the menu
9. Childproof tablesettings (ie plastic rather than crystal)
10. Stroller-accessible
11. English menu
12. Quiet/calm atmosphere
13. Low price to make family meal affordable
14. Booth seating
15. Nearby parking
16. Diaper changing table
17. English-speaking staff
18. Live Entertainment/floor show
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Re: What makes a restaurant "family friendly"? Which Beijing res
The results are out ...
101 of beijing's most family friendly joints are detailed in the latest issue of tbjkids ... which, i might add, is a special double issue and at 150 pages is so thick it can double as a booster seat. Pick up a copy around town or email distribution@tbjkids.com.
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