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Toddler friendly Happy Hour

Started 1 year ago by Meegan
Latest reply from JoB

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Meegan
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Just because we're parents now doesn't mean we still don't enjoy happy hour drinks at the end of the day, and it's not always easy to get a babysitter. Besides, we enjoy our daughter's company too.

Does anyone have places they like to go for a cocktail or beer that is accepting of the kids?

And, yes, I get that a lot of people don't want their drinks with a side of toddler, and lucky for you there are lots of places that won't let them through the door, so no haters please. I don't want to ruin your experience by bringing my daughter along, I just want to be able to get out of the house for a drink now and then too.

Posted 1 year ago #
Irukandji
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West 5 - tables in the front and a great hummus platter to share.

Bowling alley

Talaricos

Posted 1 year ago #
Bonnie
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It's not out of the house but invite your friends over for a happy hour at your house. Let the kids play while you have a drink and some snacks with friends.

Posted 1 year ago #
mannamc
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Mission and Angelina's!

Posted 1 year ago #
Sue
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Luna Park Cafe has happy hour Monday through Friday from 3-6. Definitely a child friendly place. No cocktails, but discounted beer and food items, including a child-friendly chicken tenders plate, among other things.

Posted 1 year ago #
skeeter
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My wife is 38 weeks pregnant so we are going to all our favorite places and keeping an eye out for which ones seem baby friendly.

Angelina's looks great. The WHOLE RESTAURANT has the happy hour specials, so you don't have to worry about being in "the bar." It's also happy hour all day sunday.

Rocksport also looks very baby friendly. Sure, it's kinda dark, but there are always babies in there.

Luna Park also looks good. Went there last week and was reminded of how good their happy hour prices (and portions) are.

We're right behind you Meegan!!

Posted 1 year ago #
KBear
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"Toddler Friendly Happy Hour"

Yeah, that's what the anti-privatization scare-mongers warned us about! Thank goodness we don't have all those drunken toddlers bustin' chairs and getting behind the wheel.

Posted 1 year ago #
austin
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I'm surprised nobody's mentioned elliot bay brew co. I'm thinking they don't do cocktails but they have beer, happy hour, and are kid friendly. And I have to 2nd Talaricos, four dollar happy hour slices big enough to share as well as a full bar. The last time I was there one of their bigscreens was playing Berenstain Bears hehehe.

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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KBear...

"Yeah, that's what the anti-privatization scare-mongers warned us about! Thank goodness we don't have all those drunken toddlers bustin' chairs and getting behind the wheel."

no..
their parents get behind the wheel
after tucking that toddler safely into their carseat..

Posted 1 year ago #
austin
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Is it legal to push a stroller if your B/A is over .08? Or is it considered a vehicle like a bike?

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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I am not a hater...
but i have to ask this question anyway...

What do parents who take their kids to happy hour really expect those kids to do while they are busy enjoying the company of other adults?

i have no problem at all with a parent spending time with their children where alcohol is served...
but that isn't really what happens at happy hour... is it?
parents go to happy hour to spend time with other adults...

And the kids... well they do what all kids do when parents are distracted...
they act up to get their parents attention
or seize the opportunity to do what a parent would never allow if they were paying attention.

which might be why other patrons aren't thrilled to see you bring your kids to happy hour.

Posted 1 year ago #
skeeter
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austin, you're asking a great question about drinking and walking. Have you read Super Freakonomics? There is an interesting analysis showing the walking while drunk is twice as dangerous (statistically) as driving while drunk. Of course, walking while drunk is dangerous to the walker only while driving could hurt an innocent other motorist. Check it out sometime. Good read.

Posted 1 year ago #
beachdrivegirl
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Actually my husband and I go to happy hours to get a cheap nice dinner out. On Friday we were able to get dinner for both of us, an appetizer, and drinks (3 beers) for him (I didn't drink because I am expecting) for $30 with tip. If we would have gone after 6 it would have cost us nearly double so I completely understand wanting to find a happy hour that was toddler friendly.

I will have to check out the read Skeeter. I had never thought about it before but it actually doesn't surprise me now that I think about it.

Posted 1 year ago #
skeeter
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Yeah, Beach hit the nail on the head. We've discovered, too, that happy hour is basically a half price dinner!!

Posted 1 year ago #
GenHillOne
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hehe, well, except the OP didn't mention food, only cocktails and beer. No judgment, just an observation :)

Posted 1 year ago #
nighthawk
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I will second Elliot Bay for being kid friendly. I've never been specifically for happy hour but we do like to eat there. The only issue with them might be the noise. If they are busy it gets very loud in there. My daughter is generally pretty good with it (1.5 yr) but I know some toddlers are pretty noise sensitive.

Posted 1 year ago #
WorldCitizen
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Celtic Swell has always been cool with our kids.

Posted 1 year ago #
BunBun
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My brother and his family went to West 5 and found out that they don't have high chairs or boosters. No kid menus or kid cups either. FYI. We both like going there without the kids!

Posted 1 year ago #
cyclemom
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While I appreciate the OP's desire to continue to have a full adult social life, I made really different choices as a parent. When I had kids, I stopped going to happy hour. Did I miss it sometimes? Yup. But my life changed after kiddos. Sometimes my husband and I got a sitter and went out, but mostly we stayed in. I don't feel comfortable modeling social drinking to my kids, and made a conscious choice to keep the adult centered and kid centered facets of my life separate. I completely understand the desire to find kid-friendly places to eat, but would politely suggest that "kid-friendly" and "happy hour" are two phrases that don't go together.

Posted 1 year ago #
Meegan
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I understand that posting something on an open forum opens you up to potential criticism, and that of course there are many many opinions on the right way to raise your kids.
It works better for us to have incorporated our daughter into our lives without changing things too much. That includes parties, restaurants, museums, concerts, art walks and even happy hour sometimes. (There are plenty of things that we do just for her as well)
I think that modeling responsible, social drinking is actually a good thing. And while we are having a drink at happy hour, the more important part of it is the social interaction, which we keep her a part of too.

Posted 1 year ago #
thee
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a few common sense notes for kids and their folks at happy hour:
1. Please keep yr child away from my barstool, beer, feet, newspaper. If some dunk was crawling around under the bar, they'd be 86'd
2. Expect to hear cussing, dirty jokes, yelling at sports on TV -- that does not change when brianna or chase come to happy hour.
3. ya know that loud piercing screech that these children are prone to? Not allowed.
4. keep that child within arms reach at all times -- i don't want to talk to it, play with it or tell it to go away.
4. please remove the child the moment it begins to melt down.

Posted 1 year ago #
mrhineh
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As long as we are spelling out the rules:
1. Please stop telling my child what to do. If he wants to crawl, so be it.
2. If you have to curse, tell dirty jokes, or yell at the tv, keep it to yourself. Not everyone else wants to hear it.
3. When you start yelling and screeching like an obnoxious drunk that pierces my ear drums, its not allowed.
4. Keep you date at arms length, we don't care how "great" she/he is.
5. If a child melts down, maybe you should stop staring at them and scaring the bejesus out of them.
6. Happy Hour is not the same as when you were 21. It means an affordable meal with a beverage when your household increased by 50/100/150%. Most happy hours end at 6 and just before that is dinner time for families. Why should families be considered lepers and not seen?
7. If you don't like the company, leave. There are lots of 21 and over bars around!

tia,

Posted 1 year ago #
thee
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mrhineh --

1. Fine. Let the kid crawl around. Let him eat fries off the ground. Hell, let him lap up my spilled IPA if you want. Just keep him out from under my feet. I know he's entitled to go anywhere he wants, but c'mon...
2. Sorry, it's a bar. it's for GROWNUPS. Get yr highchair, grab the crayons and move to the back.
3. I might yell a bit depending on how bad the seahawks are blowing it, but I'm generally pretty good. That screech is still not allowed. Sorry, pop.
4. Hey pal, no one forced you to get married!
5. Really? Did you just type that? Man that is dumb.
6. Actually, happy hour is exactly the same as when I was 21. Nothing has changed. The above rules I kindly spelled out still apply.
7. Sorry. Not going anywhere. I'm a paying customer and I'll drink where I choose. I'm simply asking you to keep your kid in line. What part of that is so offensive to you?

Posted 1 year ago #
Que
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@thee I am pretty sure that it is your tone that mrhineh is offended by. Certainly that is what offends me.

Posted 1 year ago #
mrhineh
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I think #7 applies to EVERYONE! Besides, its not a bar if a kid is at your feet. Its called a resteraunt that serves beer/wine/cocktails and anyone. I mean really, I see just as much embarassing, entitled behavior from adults as I do kids. Hence, go to an adult bar that doesn't serve under 21 if its such a big deal. Otherwise, can't we all get along ;)

hth

Posted 1 year ago #
West Seattle Art Attack
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This is a fun thread that seems to be stirring up some emotion. It amazes me how culturally different we can be without even knowing or recognizing it. While there are some cultures and religions that ban alcohol outright there are others that accept it and embrace it. After a couple of years of living in Italy I recognize that alcohol doesn't have to be demonized. Come to think of it, kids don't need to be demonized either. I enjoyed countless wonderful meals in Italy while kids ran around and behaved like. . . . . kids. Nobody batted an eye. Nobody cared. They realized that kids are. . . . . . kids. It's part of the culture and when parents are enjoying a 3 to 4 hour meal it is much better for everyone to let the kids get up and move a little rather than restrict them to a chair (how would you like to be strapped to a chair for hours - you'd scream too). They also serve alcohol with meals and even (gasp!) sell it in ice cream parlors and coffee shops. My kids were able (at the age of 12) to buy a beer at the store. We had them do it - because they could. I don't think they were traumatized (by the way, they bought it but didn't drink it - they gave it to dad). But back to the issue at hand - the world is filled with people that are young, old and in between. If someone has an inability to deal with people they come in contact with (whether they are young or old) I would suggest that they might be the ones with the problem. Lighten up and enjoy your drink or drink at home where it is nice and quiet and you can control all the parameters of your drinking experience and swear at the Seahawks if you like.

Posted 1 year ago #
SarahScoot
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I'm just confused by post 19, especially "I don't feel comfortable modeling social drinking to my kids..."
It's safe to assume that your kids will realize at some point that you drink alcohol (responsibly, I assume). So if you don't to model "social drinking" to your kids, what kind of drinking do you want to model? Solitary drinking? Binge drinking? I guess I have always thought of "social drinking" as the most socially-acceptable of types of alcohol consumption.

Posted 1 year ago #
skeeter
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My two cents.

The meaning of "happy hour" has changed immensely in the past few years. At one point it was drink specials only. Now it is drink and food specials. At one point it was from 4-5. Now it is 3-6 and again from 9-close. At one point it was bar only. Now the specials are often (not always) available in both bar and restaurant.

Keep in mind that the owner of the bar/restaurant gets final say as to whether kids are welcome. If he/she doesn’t want kids, then it’s 21+. If kids are allowed (babies, infants, whatever) then my interpretation is they are welcome.

If a parent is comfortable taking the family to Red Robin and enjoying a Corona, I can’t imagine that parent would be opposed to taking the family to happy hour at Elliott Bay and enjoying a PBR.

I think family friendly happy hours are a great idea. Many restaurants love to serve families. Restaurants understand that they are only half-full from 4-6, so they offer specials to the folks willing to come early. It’s really as simple as that (for my small brain.)

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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mrhiena

"its not a bar if a kid is at your feet. Its called a resteraunt "

did you really just type that?

this is what you think is appropriate behavior for a child in a restaurant?

while i will agree that a lot of parents seem to agree with you lately... as the paying customer whose meal out is spoiled by the antics of your children.. i don't.

i have a new policy.
I complain to the management immediately.

Those children running around in the restaurant are a safety hazard to waitpeople carrying plates full of hot food and to anyone trying to enter or exit the establishment.

I suspect there is some point at which the free drinks and free deserts and free dinners that are handed out with those valid complaints in some of the higher end eateries will affect policy.

As far as i am concerned.. it can't happen too soon.

I like children a lot.
I like them even better when their parents supervise them.

Posted 1 year ago #
mrhineh
Member Profile

Yes JOB I did. Did you really just need to repeat that with some sort of condescending response (expected). Where does it say its acceptable? Instead of lumping everyone into your same pot, go ahead and complain to management. I agree that its dangerous for kids running around scott free since you now asked. Did I say it wasn't? Where does it say that? Get off the putting words in peoples mouths, please. I merely stated that if there is a child at your feet, its not an adult bar. Do you understand the difference? I would be the first to protect my child from stupid behavior. Would you be the one to glare at me for dare scolding a child in public for such? Lets give both sides some credit here. I like it when adults supervise themselves appropriately too.
Its merely the tone that some people choose to state that children should not be admitted into public spaces "because my time will be ruined". Well hey, there is a lot of that around. But I'm not going to start throwing those stones around. Be my guest.

Posted 1 year ago #
beachdrivegirl
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I think what mrhiena was saying is implying is that kids aren't allowed in bars so you wouldn't see kids there. And kids are allowed in a restaurant.

Posted 1 year ago #
cwit
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I think this topic is becoming derailed by this issue of child behavior in public places - which the OP said she's aware of and requested '...no haters please.'

I don't think anyone's mentioned Porterhouse by Admiral Theater - so I will. They serve decent food, have a large selection of beers (even wine and cocktails, if you're inclined), and I think they have happy hour until 6pm. They're kid friendly with a kid's menu and the wait staff are pretty friendly too.

Also, the bar's separate enough from the main dining area, so your toddler would have to be a fast crawler to get under someone's barstool. Even if they brazenly ignore the 'No Minors' sign. ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
mrhineh
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cwit, you are so right, thank you for reminding me. I don't think Endolyne Joes has been mentioned, along with our regular above mentioned favs EBay, Angelina's, Red Robin, Luna and Cactus.

Posted 1 year ago #
beachdrivegirl
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Does Cactus serve happy hour in the restaurant or just in the bar?

Posted 1 year ago #
mrhineh
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BDG, good question, I'm not sure. I just think their kids menu is inexpensive and rocks, so I threw it out there b/c we like it, but didn't consider the HH factor.
So I looked, and it is in the bar only. But I would give it a thumbs up for kids food. My bad.

Posted 1 year ago #
JimmyG
Member Profile

This thread further reinforces why 100% of my social drinking is done at either the Corner Pocket or The Poggie Tavern.

If I wanted a kidlet chaser with my beer I'd have bred.

Posted 1 year ago #
redblack
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elliott bay brewing is like chuck e. cheese between the hours of 4 and 9. the missus and i avoid it like the plague. which is a shame, because they brew great beers and serve good food. we confine our visits to any time when there aren't strollers and golden retrievers parked on the sidewalk and a wall-to-wall wait for table or booth seating.

and even if we had kids, we'd still avoid it like the plague.

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
Member Profile

mrhieneh..

ROFLOL...
the funny thing is that i was just having a conversation yesterday about the over-use of the word condescending.

would you rather i asked if you left your manners in your underwear drawer .. because that is exactly what i asked my children when they displayed that kind of lack of regard for the people inhabiting the world around them.

The funny thing is that when i do complain to management about children running and screaming in the restaurant what i hear is that they are afraid of offending the offending parents.

"if there is a child at your feet it isn't an adult bar"

can you explain to me how a child that does not belong to me gets under my feet in any establishment without running wild?

and that line between the bar and the restaurant.. in many places not so difficult for a child to cross.

I watched one doing so just last week.

when the plate of hot food ends up on someone's kid or the mobility impaired patron ends up on the floor.. the restaurant is going to get sued...
because it's unsafe...
and it's their job to provide a safe environment for diners.

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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cwit...

LOL...

objecting to combining kids and happy hour isn't hating...

nor is pointing out that if parents actually supervised their kids while dining out they would have much less difficulty finding establishments that welcome them.

Posted 1 year ago #
Jiggers
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I've lived in W.S. for 15 years. I don't have kids, but I know every establishment that does or doesn't allow kids. Anyways, I would say that 65% of the businesses that serve alcohol in W.S. are kid friendly now. Businesses weren't that kid friendly ten years ago, but times have changed here.

Posted 1 year ago #
mrhineh
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JoB, you want people in the world to behave exactly as you see fit. Good luck. You win.

Posted 1 year ago #
JanS
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I watched one evening not too long ago as 2 moms sat and ate their dinner and chatted, completely oblivious to the fact that their 3-4 yo children were running all over the restaurant, nearly tripping an elderly disabled woman whose hubby had to run interference for her. I think that may be what is feared. I have no problem with kids coming with you during a Happy Hour, or a dinner...but ..shouldn't they be expected to stay at your table, and not throw food etc., all over the place, getting into other people's way? No one is saying that you shouldn't bring your kids.But, just please remember that you're the parent, and include the children in your good time out so they don't get antsy and get into the face of someone who may not appreciate it. Kid friendly doesn't mean we're all babysitters whilst you have your relaxing good time :)

Posted 1 year ago #
beachdrivegirl
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Where are some of you eating? We go out alot and I don't think I have ever seen children running around like you describe? And parents must be doing a little bit better job this lately since as Jiggers said more establishments allow kids today than ten years ago.

Posted 1 year ago #
JanS
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OK...I'l bite...I saw this happening at Duke's on Alki. The kids had left the area where the parents were, were in another part of the restaurant altogether, running up and down between tables, booths, server had to be careful to not trip over them carrying things like soup. Moms were totally oblivious.

I agree, there are lots and lot of families eating out there now...and we all can agree that's just fine. If I want to go to a place without kids, there are plenty of 21 and over places. I think some people balk at the idea of "kids underfoot"...perhaps it's a matter of semantics, and better words could be chosen.

Redblack doesn't go to EBB during certain hours because it's "family friendly"...I have no problem going there, even if there are children. It's a matter of choice. And that's as it should be.

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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mrhineh

"JoB, you want people in the world to behave exactly as you see fit. Good luck. You win."

No..

i just don't want other people's kids under my feet when i go out into public.

and i have a really hard time understanding why that is such a huge request.

A restaurant is not a public playground.

Posted 1 year ago #
maplesyrup
Member Profile

Sheesh.

The OP just wanted to know which places were maybe more kid-friendly than others during happy hour. Some will be, some won't. Management will tend to cater to one side or the other. If you don't like kid-friendly places, don't go there. If places are not kid-friendly, don't take your kids there.

Pretty simple.

Posted 1 year ago #
austin
Member Profile

Yup. This is a perfect example of a threadjacking. Unlike the funny "lets change the subject to chupacabras or other non sequitur" sort of thing that gets called threadjacking around here, this one has been twisted just slightly to be a sounding board for people complaining about others' lack of parental skills despite (or because of?) the OP's specific request for that not to happen. I guess some people's e-agendas are more important than just providing a straightforward answer to a real easy question..

Posted 1 year ago #
KBear
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As well as the desperate need to have the last word, um... words.

Posted 1 year ago #
maplesyrup
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KBear I just couldn't let you have the last word.

So take that!

Posted 1 year ago #
bluebird
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I seem to remember some of you that are bitching the loudest, being the biggest proponent of confronting the source. Why isn't it you can't politely notify the parents that their kid is out of sight or disrupting your meal? You need to complain to management, scam a free meal and threaten a law suit? I think I'm going to start renting kids just for fun.

Posted 1 year ago #