Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I lived in Bologna for a year and ate my way around the city's gelateria. It was a true shame you didn't try the pistacchio at La Sorbetteria Castiglione, because it is the best pistacchio I have had in my entire life, which included a summer in Rome, a summer in Siena, and trips all around the peninsula. Go back!!

@Daniel: I prefer Mozza's crust to UPN's, too, but I'm not a topping guy. If you're going for a basic pie I think there's a lot more flavor on the whole at UPN.

While NOT the case at Mozza, I think that toppings can sometimes be a crutch. There's a much-ballyhooed place in LA (Eagle Rock) called Casa Bianca that has this amazing sausage... but if you get a plain pie it tastes like cardboard.

BTW, what's your top 3 in Chicago? Thinking of doing pizza tour there.

My brother and I grew up going to "fancy" restaurants. We both started going when we were infants. Being 12 years older than my bro, I remember that if he got fussy (which was in all honesty, not very often), he'd be whisked off by our dad. They did not want to ruin anyone's dinner, so my mom and I would finish our meal in peace and get my dad's meal to go. By the time we were five, we knew to behave and be pleasant or we would not get to go. And who would want to miss out on a fantastic dinner?!

My parents were smart. We'd go around 5ish and leave early. Another tip from them is that if we weren't behaving or feeling well, we didn't get to go at all and our nanny would stay with us. Parents should definitely take note on this! I can't stand going ANY WHERE and you have a whiny kid in the nearby vicinity. Parents nowadays seem to think that either their kid is an angel or "cute" and DISCIPLINE is not in their vocabulary.

Also, do your server a favor and clean up after your mess maker or if you won't do that, at least leave a big tip!

After all that I've said, I do agree with the original post - restaurants should think about having a "family night". Children can begin learning "restaurant manners" without the rest of us sacrificing our night out.

Remember when you take a young child out that you should tip a higher precentage than normal because the server has to do much, much, much more work for a parent and one child than they do for two adults. At the same time the total cost of the bill goes down so the server makes less money. Also, anything you bring in for the child (toys, snacks, etc.) should leave with you. Cleaning up after your child's mess is not now nor has ever it been part of the price of a meal. A happy, well-behaved child is a treasure in a restaurant.

@joc1234 - To be honest, I didn't write this post to start a "should babies be allowed in fancy restaurants" argument. I actually don't think they should. And that's why we've avoided nice dinners, at fancy restaurants, with our newborn. Even for 5 p.m. seatings... which a lot of restaurants would probably be ok with. I just feel bad. I don't think people should bring babies to restaurants.

That being said, so many restaurants are struggling in this economy to attract customers, that I suggested this idea more for restaurants than parents. The idea being that rather than introducing recession specials to lure in your normal customer base, looking for a bargain- why not do something that would attract a whole new set of customers. Customers who would be more than happy to pay full price, for the privilege of not feeling guilty bring their child someplace where he or she wasn't welcome.

I figured if you did it a) at a time when the restaurant is already having trouble luring people in (first seating on a weekday perhaps?) and b) let customers without children know when they try to make reservations during this once a week or once a month time slot that it has been set aside for families with children, and they are more than welcome to dine during that time but there will be a lot of families there.

That's it! I actually don't think babies should be welcomed at fancy restaurants... but if those restaurants are empty anyway at 5pm on a Weds, I'd be more than glad to eat there if they wanted to welcome me with open arms!

The impolitic answer is that it depends on the baby. I don't have children, but a clean, quiet child with parents who don't shove the kid in your face is no big deal. A whining, screaming child with parents who change the child within sight and smell, who grabs at you and then gets you admonished because you ignore the kid rather than 'make friends' is a nightmare. Probably the best solution is for the restaurant to reserve the right to ask the parent to step out with the child if it is proving to be a distraction.

I dunno, I guess I'm of the school of thought that having children isn't mandatory -- it's a person or a couple's choice. And, with all choices come compromises and consequences, one of them being that you may not get to do the things you were used to doing before you had kids. Or, that you have to have a more detailed budget/money discussion even before having kids; because factoring in the cost of a babysitter one night a week (or month) is something parents should do not just for the sake of others around them on a night out, but for themselves to have their own time alone without the kid in tow. It's allowed, you know...

Just as I would never dream of going to a Mommy TIme Movie, I would take the same approach if I knew a restaurant was setting aside Tot Time. I just wouldn't go.

You can't have it all. Fine dining and bars are for grown ups and are not to be considered make shift daycare centers/ personal cantines. Some of the posters on this board sound a little selfish and it doesn't seem like they have adjusted to the idea that life changes when you have children. There are certain luxuries you have to give up when kids arrive and dining out at high end restaurants is one of them. From a business stand point "baby seating' is a bad idea. Double the people, double the work with only half the pay out makes no sense. Babies don't eat full portions but take up the space of someone who does.
I love kids but I'm with the other posters who say get a sitter and if you can't afford one than you need to prioritize.

Brilliant idea!! Necessity truly is the mother of invention.

wow... i feel a lot less like a terrible person after reading this. my bf and i are are the type who will ask to be moved to another table if we're seated next to kids, which i always feel bad about... but our money is precious and after a hard day at work, we just want a nice meal out without having to listen to babbling and screaming. also, it disgusts me to see parents who let their kid eat stuff like a waffle with syrup RIGHT OFF THE TABLE, or mash their food up and throw it on the floor... just utter disrespect for the people who work there.
i guess i didnt weigh in on the question at hand... i dont have much of an opinion on the issue... really im having a hard time wrapping my head around a $200 dinner.

Jesswalker, you read my mind. Clearly, Zach can afford a sitter. For parents who can't, I guess you will miss out. Millions of parents survived without $200 meals for a few years.

But if parents are going to insist on bringing their spawn where they know they aren't welcome, then for my sake, yes, please, let's have a baby seating. Not only will it help restaurants bring in the parents, but it will minimze them during the grown-up dinner hour. I'm not shy about walking out of a restaurant if I spot a rugrat; in addition to food, I pay for ambience. Parents - I know, I know, you just "tune them out." Guess what? The rest of us don't. And don't want to. And shouldn't have to. And no, I'm not a baby hater, I rather enjoy spending time with well behaved in appropriate situations. I do, however, hate parents that foist their children on innocent bystanders in situations that are clearly not meant for families (e.g. fine dining, adult-themed movies, beer-volleyball leagues, wine tasting parties...). Your baby is not the cutest/smartest/best behaved/best dressed/best anything baby. Yes, your baby is your world, as it should be. But it isn't my world.