Family Slammed With Fee After Kids Get Too Loud at Restaurant

A Georgia restaurant sparked outrage and went viral after tacking a $50 "adult surcharge" onto the bill of a large family dining with children. The incident occurred at Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in the small town of Blue Ridge. Lyndsey Landmann and her husband went to dinner there with their two young kids plus four other families - a group of 11 children in total ages 3 to 8.

According to Landmann's account, the kids were well-behaved during the meal. But after dessert, owner Tim Richter approached the table and announced he was imposing a $50 surcharge for the children being too loud.

Landmann insisted the children were quiet, but Richter allegedly got in the parents' faces and told them they belonged at Burger King, not his upscale eatery. He caused a scene yelling as other diners looked on shocked.

A photo of the restaurant's "parenting fee" policy soon went viral on Reddit. The menu stated management could add a $50 surcharge at their discretion for loud or disruptive children. But Landmann assumed it was a joke, not a serious rule.

The incident sparked debate over whether restaurants have a right to sanction parents for unruly kids. It also raised concerns over discriminating against families versus other rowdy patrons.

"You can't target families as a source of noise in restaurants," said consumer advocate Louise Buckley. "Plenty of adults are obnoxious diners too."

Surcharge Touches Nerve for Parents For parents, the surcharge touched a nerve, implying they don't deserve to eat out unless children behave perfectly. Some viewed the practice as unnecessary shaming.

"Parenting is hard enough without restaurants punishing you for a toddler acting up," said Allison Reynold

s, mother of two. "Most of us are doing our best."

But other diners argued parents should remove loud kids rather than letting them disturb everyone's meal. A few other upscale restaurants have adopted similar surcharges when customer complaints mounted.

"Some parents let their kids run wild with no consideration for other diners," said restaurateur Franco DiLorenzo. "At some point, owners need to take action to maintain ambiance."

Regardless where one stands on the issue, Toccoa Riverside's surcharge sparked discussions over children's place in restaurants and how to handle any misbehavior.

The public reaction also shows modern parents face rising judgment over perceptions they are coddling or spoiling kids. From airplanes to grocery stores, toleration seems lower for child disturbances.

"It's a very different environment than decades ago," Buckley said. "The standard of behavior expected from children feels higher."

Restaurants Walk Fine Line For restaurant owners, noisy kids represent a dilemma. They aim to accommodate all patrons but also provide a pleasant dining experience.

Imposing special fees risks backlash, especially from vocal parents on social media. But being too permissive can prompt complaints from other guests.

"It's a tricky balancing act," explained industry analyst Geneva Santino. "You have to handle things diplomatically, not confrontationally."

Some eateries preempt problems by prohibiting young children or posting noise limits. Others gently remind parents to quiet loud kids. Adding special kid's menus or distractions like crayons helps too.

But the most success comes from setting expectations upfront and training staff to address issues tactfully if they arise. Communication, not penalties, is key.

"Reasonable families just want to know where you stand ahead of time so they can respect it," Santino said.

For now, the Georgia restaurant's viral surcharge has made it a flashpoint in debates over family dining etiquette. While the policy aims to maintain decorum, many felt the owner's handling only created more disruption.

Perhaps the ultimate solution is recognizing how children behave depends on age and stage. Within reason, restaurants could demonstrate more latitude toward their youngest, and loudest, patrons.