Embarrassing dining moment, do I go back? (Gross out caution!)
My wife, daughter and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant to eat today. We probably go at least 4 times a month they have great food at great prices.
My 3 year old daughter must have some kind of stomach virus because after eating we walk up to the counter to pay and my daughter starts puking all over the floor and counter, in plain view of every other patron there eating. Gah!
Besides the fact that this is probably the worst offense you can make to a place that serves food (not that it had to do with the food) theres a very small staff there that know us by face.
To add the cherry to the pie my wife tells me when leaving that the toilet jammed when she flushed it after throwing all the paper in to clean up the little one's clothes. Gah again!
Would you go back? We love the food I'm just worried they'll always expect us to walk up to the counter and start spewing.
P.S. Yes, we've already laughed at ourselves for this.
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28 Comments:
My sister once hurled on the table at our family-favorite-eat there every week Chinese restaurant. I never ever saw my father hand out money so quickly--I think other diners might have even received some. We still laugh about it --she was about 6 at the time and she is now 39.
I would just call and apologize and tell them how much you love it there and say that you always tell all your friends about their great restaurant.
PoorOldMama at 5:53PM on 10/31/09
Go back. A 3 year old always (or should) gets a free pass. Apologize to the staff and just move on. We had that happen when our youngest son was about 5 at a local restaurant we went to often. The staff was more than nice about it. Anyone who has young children knows that puke happens. :)
finsbigfan at 6:21PM on 10/31/09
I think it should be okay, your daughter is still young enough to get away with it! Just give them a veerrry good to next time : )
catmistress at 7:37PM on 10/31/09
Go back.
Apologize for the circumstances.
Leave a very big tip for the next several visits. Even if it's take-out.
CJ McD at 7:39PM on 10/31/09
I agree with calling and apologizing. I worked in a theater where I once had to clean up after someone that urinated in their seat. It was a horrible experience, but the patron, like your daughter, didn't do it on purpose. Puke (and other bodily things) happen and yes it's embarrassing but it's easily cleaned up.
gingercookiewithlime at 8:18PM on 10/31/09
kid projective vomiting is totally excusable. clogging their toilet with paper, not so much. she really should have known better.
gypsykid at 8:44PM on 10/31/09
Aw! These things happen! I don't have kids, but I understand that little ones have upsets like this and I think most people do too.
If I witnessed a similar scene as a restaurant owner or employee, I certainly would not hold it against the family. I think you're safe to return and I bet when you do, they'll ask how everyone is doing and move on.
Lord knows my sister puked all over Hershey Park. But you didn't hear that from me.
yayfood at 9:45PM on 10/31/09
Never go back with the kid for a year or so. By then someone else will have puked all over and you will be forgotten.
JerzeeTomato at 11:38PM on 10/31/09
If you don't go back, they'll sit there wondering if it was the food and watching for the lawyer and/or the health department to show up. Trust me, they want you to come back, at least once, to allay those fears.
I'd come bearing gifts--a nice bucket of bright flowers with a can of Lysol, a plunger and packages of Handi-Wipes and biohazard disposal bags tucked into the arrangement would be a good-natured way of letting them know all is well from your end. If they react positively and are happy to see you, you'll know all is well on their end. Oh, and the bucket is for your daughter. They bring it out with the booster seat every time you dine.
betteirene at 1:12AM on 11/01/09
Take the wife back for dinner and surprise her by spanking her in front of management, to punish her for her toilet plugging sin.
Hey, seriously, I bet they will be ok if you are a regular and tip well.
Remander at 1:21AM on 11/01/09
Just go back they will appreciate your business especially if you are a regular customer...
Re: your 3 year old-PUKE HAPPENS--she's 3-they'll get over it! It's not as if you jumped up onto the counter and started screeching like a howler monkey--then you'd have issues!
Re: toilet stoppage--My guess was that your wife was already way embarrassed and just wanted to flush the napkins to alleviate the puke smell from wafting from the trash cans..I would contrbute a few extra dollars for the cost of a plumber-not alot, just good faith money and apologize for the clogged toilet..(especially if that was the only toilet in the place & if you are return patrons) ...It will probably be refused but the gesture appreciated.....& just move forward from there.....things happen!
Italiancupcake at 7:15AM on 11/01/09
I'm with betteirene - send a nice small arrangement of flowers with the apology, and maybe a small handwritten note about what a wonderful restaurant they are, how much you appreciate the staff, etc - something they can display with the flowers at the counter, if they want, and which does not refer in any way to the incident (though I think adding the other things separately is a cute idea.)
lemonfair at 8:30AM on 11/01/09
Ahh, kids. Gotta love em. Mine once puked at Chuck E Cheese. But then again, that probably happens twice a day there.
lambowner at 8:18PM on 11/01/09
My youngest (about 2 years old at the time) barfed at an Indian restaurant. The funny part, I think, was that the staff became really scarce right then and said they were too busy to help clean up. They did produce a bucket of water and some rags for me.
I really don't blame them at all. While I didn't mind cleaning up my own kid's emisis, I really wouldn't fall all over myself to clean up after someone else's kid.
GKlose at 9:39AM on 11/02/09
While at brunch 3 years ago in Tribeca, my (now) husband and I witnessed a grown man vomit all over the waitress station near the bathroom. He seemed relatively unfazed or embarrassed, while the rest of us were disgusted. We have always referred to that restaurant as "pukey brunch" when going through various restaurant options.
My point is, the restaurant will probably not remember you. But all the people who were there when she vomited will. Lucky for you, they probably won't eat that restaurant anymore! :) In all seriousness, she's three- it's totally forgivable. Just make sure you don't throw up!
kll205 at 9:17AM on 11/03/09
Here's a story from the other end of the counter -- when I was a barista at a small brunch cafe, we occasionally had a family of six come in during the weekend rush. Other rampant issues aside, one day their youngest kid (who I suspect was in the beginnings of his potty-training) proceeded to have the runs all over -- and I really mean, all over -- our only bathroom. The parents didn't say a word, merely paid the bill and left us the mess to clean.
I still vividly remember the incident -- especially since the family continued to return for brunch and pretended like it never happened. It'll always be a memorable incident, but if they'd at least acknowledged how shitty (harhar!) the situation was, I wouldn't have been thinking in the back of my head, "Oh, what next..."
avaryne at 10:41AM on 11/03/09
go back, they won't be giving you the "omg, i can't believe they brought the pukey kid back."
i've had to clean up kid's projectile puke several times while working in a popular chain restaurant. i don't hold it against the kids, but it does irk me that every time i've had to do it, the family just casually watches me clean it up for 20 minutes. i never had anyone apologize or even seem slightly embarrassed when they informed me that i needed to take care of their kid's mess like it's part of my job description. however, the people i would remember and detest were the ones who allowed their children to absolutely trash their area with food smeared everywhere, crayons broken all over the floor, and piles of napkins strewn about. i know they wouldn't allow their children to do it at home because they wouldn't want to clean it up so why act like i want to clean that up?
kris10 at 1:26PM on 11/03/09
Please go back and bring the 3 year old, some flowers, a heartfelt apology and a big smile. Seriously, if the restaurant has been open for some time, yours is probably not the first to barf there. Kids get a pass....your wife, clogging the toilet, maybe not so much...but it was a stressful situation. I am sure the staff appreciates your cleaning up after your child.
@kris10...you touched on one of my hugest pet peeves (and trust me I have many)...when my son was small and he made a disaster of the table, floor, etc. I would try to clean up as much as possible, but I also left a big tip. Kids don't learn how to behave if they are never exposed to restaurants , but that doesn't mean you abdicate parental responsibility for cleaning up after your own child. My son is now 16 and drives himself to his favorite place to eat---In n Out...and I know he cleans up after himself...
jsd517 at 2:06PM on 11/03/09
I was in a coffee shop once when the barista threw up in the sink behind the counter. And then continued to make everyone coffee. Admittedly, the bathroom was far from the counter, and sometimes you just can't hold that stuff back.
lkrier at 1:37PM on 11/04/09
I agree with everyone else. You're a loyal customer and people understand that three year olds puke. It happens. Just make sure not to let her eat the same thing she did when she projectiled in the restaurant.
rumanddiet at 4:44PM on 11/04/09
If a guest came to your house and was suddenly sick on your floor, would you not want them ever to return? Now imagine they pay for the privilege. No restaurant wants to lose a regular patron, especially in these economic times. To not go back is to punish them for your actions.
NWcajun at 1:10PM on 11/05/09
After working in several restaurants/cafes, I can assure you that your kid is not the first, nor will be the last, to throw up. I've also had to clean worse, such as heroin needles.
Just go back, and be apologetic and tip well. While this seems embarrassing to you, it's just part of what happens when you work at a restaurant.
nicoeats at 9:19AM on 11/09/09
As someone who worked in a restaurant at a major tourist attraction, I learned that things like your situation happen...it's just part of life. Most places understand, they really do.
The flower arrangement idea is great! Also, LOVE the "added extras" idea!
skyeyes at 10:25AM on 11/09/09
Dear Embarrassed;
This regards a child....get over it! Next time you stop by the restaurant, it would not hurt to bring a gift of some nice pastry for the staff & management.
Trust me, your child is not the first, nor will be the last to go through such a public display in a restaurant.
Obla di obla dah, life goes on...
ChelseaGuy52 at 10:31AM on 11/09/09
Once when traveling I had a stomach bug, and as a precautionary measure I went into a local burger restaurant. They had only one toilet, and when I saw it I knew I was going to make a mess: Basically the only choice I had was between puking on the floor while sitting on the toilet, or getting the area in front of the wash basin slippery... I sat down, and used the single toilet roll to clean up as much as I could.
Worse happened to a colleague who, while at an overseas resort, got Montezuma's curse on a topless beach with no toilets. She stormed into a posh restaurant, but it was too late. Presumably the patrons will always remember the sight of a virtually naked woman bursting in and out at the same time...
mynah at 4:51PM on 11/09/09
My son used to do things to embarrass us in restaurants all the time when he was little - either by moving the furniture around, or screaming and having fits because he didn't want to eat, always something. The last time was in Atlanta, GA at Glady's Knights restaurant. We ordered a bowl of macaroni & cheese for him - he only liked Kraft from the box and really didn't like the fresh kind. I ordered a meal and it came with mac. So, he tasted it. He thought it was ok enough to actually eat some so we ordered a serving for him. When he started to eat it, my husband ordered another serving thinking he would eat it too (he had a huge appetite and still does). Well, he shouldn't have ordered it because the second he ordered it, he had a fit and wouldn't eat the first serving. He had such a huge fit, that my husband had to take him outside - where he gave him a little spanking. One of the guests happen to see him doing it through the window and came outside to talk to him.
When he brought him back in, he refused to eat anything - even the waffles. So, we left (after I finished my food). As we were leaving, the man spoke to us again (the one who came out to talk to hubby). He explained that it looked very bad and he felt bad for our son. We explained to him that our son did that constantly and he was just doing it to get attention and not to worry, we were not abusive parents - really! We were just trying to teach him a lesson. We never went back to Glady's restaurant. Now when we remind him of it, he doesn't remember the time at all. We sure do!
RisaG at 4:56PM on 11/09/09
I own a restaurant and trust me, accidents like this happen all the time. The worst part is the distinctive aroma wafting about afterwards! Thank God for good ventilation and air Lysol. And I agree with some of the above comments...the rowdy, screaming, mess makers whose parents just sit and ignore them are the worst. Them I can do without.
sticky wicket at 10:04PM on 11/09/09
@RisaG, My mom used to do the same thing your husband did. Except she brought us into the bathroom for the spanking instead. We were to understand that going out to eat was a privilege and it could be taken away from us. On the whole, we were well-behaved kids. If we weren't, it didn't take much more than a smack on the bottom to get us to behave. At least to sit still and be quiet. I think my mom's method was pretty effective. It's hard to discipline kids in front of a lot of people. And kids know when they are embarrassing their parents and will take advantage of that to get their way.
engmcmuffin at 11:35PM on 11/09/09