Should adults be allowed to order from the Kids menu?

I guess my problem with the idea that if you don't want that much food you should just order an appetizer or soup or a salad is that I often don't WANT those things.  I went out for dinner, not frou-frou food.   For instance, I might want a steak...but I don't want a 12-oz. steak, I want a 6-oz. steak.  Because that's all I'm going to be able to eat.  So because I don't want double the meat, I have to instead order deep-fried mushrooms?

I get the whole concept, believe me.  But anywhere I go, you'd get a LOT more repeat business by letting me eat off the kids' meal, which will lead to you making more money, than if I can't.  I guess it depends on if you'd rather sell a kids' meal to an adult 3-4 times a week or if you'd rather sell me an adult meal once and lose my business to another place.

felix4067, I heartily agree with you. 

As for me, if I am eating out, I am usually alone (since my son married and moved out), so there is no way I can easily split anything with someone else.  (I did try asking the guy at the next table once, and he looked at me as if I was crazy!)   

I do feel that convincing people here to offer portions that we would enjoy it is like banging your head against a wall for both of us (and for others in our same situation) since people these days seem more and more to be less and less accommodating toward other people.  (And then they wonder why they are losing business to some upstart who comes along.)

 we offer both children and seniors menus. Some adults will order off the kids menu but it really doesn't hurt our bottom line. Kids and seniors make up about 15-20 percent of our overall cover count. I would rather them order from the appropriate menu but I'm not going to berate them for it. Some people just can't eat a lot or are financially unable to afford a full priced meal.

JMHO

David O.

David, do you support the contention that you're losing money on the senior and kids's menus due to overhead costs? Is there a difference between a single or two serving ordered within a group of regular paying customers and a table that a group of individuals all order the child/senior plates?

Not that germane to the subject but I noticed something kind of odd at Bob Evans the other day. The biscuits and gravy on the regular menu was $3.29 for 2 biscuits and a bowl of gravy. I was looking for a smaller portion so I looked at the senior menu. The price was $3.29 for 2 biscuits and a bowl of gravy. I asked the waitress if there was a difference in the portions, she said no so I asked her why the same dish was listed twice and she said some seniors only looked at the senior menu.

ces1948


Not that germane to the subject but I noticed something kind of odd at Bob Evans the other day. The biscuits and gravy on the regular menu was $3.29 for 2 biscuits and a bowl of gravy. I was looking for a smaller portion so I looked at the senior menu. The price was $3.29 for 2 biscuits and a bowl of gravy. I asked the waitress if there was a difference in the portions, she said no so I asked her why the same dish was listed twice and she said some seniors only looked at the senior menu.

LOL, that's similar to my irreverant Daily Special I sometimes put on the board "Buy one get the second one at full price"  

  Dawn, In the overall scope of things, the prices of all meals reflect overhead costs. The percentages are pretty constant. Food. labor, rent, utilities are a reality we must all face so pricing meals is really just an exercise in mathematics. 

David O.

I don't think people should order off of the kids menu ... bottom line is it might not affect the cost of food, but it affects the wait staff - 15% of $10.00 vs 15% of $5.00 makes a difference.    Why should a restaurant be any different that other food vendors?  you wouldn't expect to buy half a hot dog or half a burger ... people want to eat out at a restaurant for more than the food - it's a place where they can have fellowship.
 
where I worked there was 2 ladies that came in everyday - they ordered one entree and split it ... they didn't get up and leave after they finished their meal, they sat there and smoked  while the waitresses  continued to fill their glasses with tea  and their cups with coffee.     I thought what they did was pretty tacky

This is a real throwback reminiscence, but many years ago, when I was a teenager growing up in Indianapolis, one of my best friends and I would have an occasional adventure:  taking the bus downtown from where we lived in the suburbs, going shopping in the department stores (in those days, L.S. Ayres, Wm. H. Block, and Strauss), and perhaps going to a movie in one of the now long-gone movie palaces like the Indiana, Circle or Lyric theaters. 
 
At that time, Ayres still had its tearoom (which now exists solely as a novelty restaurant at the Indiana State Museum http://visitindy.com/indianapolis-restaurants-l-s-ayres-tea-room-at-indiana-state-museum ), which our mothers had taken us to for lunch when we were little kids.  The tearoom had a children's menu, which included wonderful ice cream desserts, including one called the Snow Princess or something like that, which was molded vanilla ice cream decorated with silver shot as the "skirt" for a china doll head and torso.  To a small girl, this was pure magic.
 
Anyway, flash forward to my teenager years.  When my friend and I showed up in the tearoom (feeling very grown up), we were treated graciously, except that they would not let me order the Snow Princess ice cream, even if I offered to pay extra for it. 
 
Why?  We'd ordered full meals off the adult menu.  But it was on the children's menu, so I couldn't have it.
 
I was truly disappointed, and it took me years to psyche myself into going back to the tearoom.
 
 

I definitely have an opinion on this subject.  Oh,
what was the question, again.  Oh yes----------
Yes, of course, I agree there should be no deviation allowed
in for a dime in for a dollar.
CTF___I agree NO it should not be allowed---and I am an old codger who has friends who would not agree with me.  Sorry Dawn.
 

rumaki


This is a real throwback reminiscence, but many years ago, when I was a teenager growing up in Indianapolis, one of my best friends and I would have an occasional adventure:  taking the bus downtown from where we lived in the suburbs, going shopping in the department stores (in those days, L.S. Ayres, Wm. H. Block, and Strauss), and perhaps going to a movie in one of the now long-gone movie palaces like the Indiana, Circle or Lyric theaters. 

At that time, Ayres still had its tearoom (which now exists solely as a novelty restaurant at the Indiana State Museum http://visitindy.com/indianapolis-restaurants-l-s-ayres-tea-room-at-indiana-state-museum ), which our mothers had taken us to for lunch when we were little kids.  The tearoom had a children's menu, which included wonderful ice cream desserts, including one called the Snow Princess or something like that, which was molded vanilla ice cream decorated with silver shot as the "skirt" for a china doll head and torso.  To a small girl, this was pure magic.

Anyway, flash forward to my teenager years.  When my friend and I showed up in the tearoom (feeling very grown up), we were treated graciously, except that they would not let me order the Snow Princess ice cream, even if I offered to pay extra for it. 

Why?  We'd ordered full meals off the adult menu.  But it was on the children's menu, so I couldn't have it.

I was truly disappointed, and it took me years to psyche myself into going back to the tearoom.

Different era and yes I remember it well in Indianapolis - the downtown shopping ritual. Except as a male the Tea Room held no fascination for me. My dad was a bit bemused when I thought it was proper and tried to eat fried chicken with a knife and fork. Won't happen again unless future generations have memories and desires for chicken nuggests and macaroni and cheese, or expect a cheap Chinese made toy with their meals.

My grandkids refuse to order from the kids (or as they say) baby menu.  Neighbor's grand-daughter always looks for the most expensive thing on the menu---then leaves 90%---I would strangle her if----but then I would be a nasty old man.

the ancient mariner
 

Neighbor's grand-daughter always looks for the most expensive thing on the menu---then leaves 90%---

 
That's a Parent, Grandparent problem--- Not a Kid problem. The Magic Word is NO! 
Who runs the Asylum anyway?
Same thing applys to Parents allowing kids to run amok in restaurants.
As Kids, we behaved in restaurants or else we paid the price.

This  reminds me of  the time  a  gandparent  friend of mine  took  two  of  his  granchildren  out  for  dinner.   They  both  ordered  the  lobster.  After dinner,  he  asked  him  if  they  realized  how  much  their  meal  cost.  The  older kid  siad  "Yeah................market  price"  and  his  granddad  said    "Correct..............that  means  its  is  going to be  costly  and  do not  ever  order  MP  again"
 
I  loved hearing this  story  and  always remember to  tell my  grandchildren  that  any  menu  item  that  says  "market  price"  is  off limits!

That is more of a question of character.  I dont think that older teenagers or adults should go trick or treating, but in my neighboorhood, it seems that everyone is looking for free candy.  I also think that a childs menu is a product offering like all the other product offerings on the menu.  If I want to order a kids plate, if it is on the menu as a kids plate, then why not.  I certainly pay taxes and I will also tip.  As for the fast food places, how would it be "policed" in a drive through setting.  I dont think there should be a rule against the freedom, but I think it comes down to character, freedom, and choice.  It may not be in line with the rest of America, but, it is just a sandwich and some fries and a small coke.   When my dad was in the nursing home, I would order him a kids meal, with toys or coloring books.  At 93, if he wanted to color, I figured, he was certainly old enough to do whatever he want to.      

What if the only way you can eat at a certain restaurant is from the kids menu, because those choices have the least amount of sodium??? Don't tell me I can have an entree salad, those are some of the most sodium filled things on the menu nowadays what with all the meats & cheese & dressings. If people could learn to be more creative & not cook with a saltshaker in one hand, it might be different.
 
It all boils down to: Do you want my money, or don't you? If you don't, I will remember that for next time & not return. It's not often that I order one, but ???? Isn't this America?

If they publish a Kids Menu on the regular menu for all to see then they should offer it to all who see. If they have a seperate Kids Menu, then only kids should eat from it. If they have a seperate Kids Menu and you ask for it and they give it to you ---then open season!

I understand the quandry.
 
Especially while traveling, I will often times order nothing, rather than to get pushed into an entree that I know will mostly go to waste.  Many places offer a half order (for more than half price) ... most don't publicize that half orders are available.  I wonder how much revenue is lost to folks in my position while an operator is priding themselves on having a menu that, in fact, keeps people from ordering.
 
Notice, my experience comes from the practical point of view, not from trying to wiggle out paying for a meal that isn't practical.
 
 

On more than one occasion, I have been at a bar, soaking up expensive beverages and been offered food from the kids menu.   Beleive me, a proprieter dosn't lose out under that scenario.

I also want to add that I wouldn't mind paying full price if they let me have a half portion. (I am not one of those people who looks on the plate trying to calculate if someone is charging too much. I am just grateful I don't have to do dishes, to be 100% honest with you.) 
 
ESPECIALLY when traveling, where it is not practical, nor advisable to take half of the food home. Who wants to eat half of a sogged out sandwich that you weren't able to refrigerate properly for 4 hours? Might as well just cut out the middleman & drink a bottle of Mexican water.

Our local Cracker Barrel does not have Senior meals, but any senior can order from the children's menu.  It may not be advertized, but when my waitress noticed I did not eat all my meal, she told met that I could order anything off the children's menu & that is what I do all the time now.
 
I also get McDonald's, Wendy's or other fast food restaurants children meals.   That is the only way to get what used to be a small fry,regular hamburger meal.  Also, then I get a collection of toys for my grandchildren. 
 

If it's on the menu, anyone should be able to order off of it.
 
For instance, a lot of people can't finish a 3/4lb cheeseburger, so why should they be forced to pay for something they can't eat if there's a smaller one on the menu? Let them get the 1/4lb kid's burger.
 
For me, sometimes I'm still hungry after eating an adult meal, so I'd get a kid's meal too. Or, they'd have something like mac n cheese only on the kid's one. I've been given a hard time about it plenty before. Hey, I already paid for an adult meal, and can't finish off another steak. Get me a kid's cheeseburger table wench!!

I agree with Dawn T on this. 

I think Gostilllerz has it right, too.  If it's on the menu, and I'm paying with U.S. currency, I can order it.

Tony Bad


Your math works if you only calculate the cost of food, which is what most people do, but that isn't the only expense that needs to be calculated. A person eating a discounted meal takes up the same space as someone paying full price. The costs for wait staff, linens, cleanup, rent, etc are all fixed whether you are paying discount or full price. If the rest of the table is occupied by full price paying customers or parents of kids, there is no issue, but you know that won't always be the case. A table full of discount or lower (or no) profit meals just isn't a good thing for a restaurant owner.

I'm no MBA, but it seems to me that his argument is only valid if the offending party is taking up the last available table in the joint -- or is pushing you into overload, which means management is calling it too close anyhow.

Just about  every child's menu  that is  printed on the  regular  menu   clearly  states  "For  12 years  and younger, only".  What  more has to be said?

Here is a weird idea;
 
On the Kids Menu offer a special discount (maybe 20% ? , or a special price on each item?)  only for children 12 and younger. Who is gonna gripe about a special discount for the younger kidos? Older kids of any age pay the regular price. Problem solved. :~)
Joe