With the news of a popular Tinton Falls Italian joint—Nettie’s House of Spaghetti—banning kids under 10 years old, I have to ask myself: Is it worth it? Seriously, I agree more than most that kids can be a true pain—especially in the dining room. They get in the way. They’re fussy and often loud.
Realistically speaking, though, does banning kids actually work? You not only alienate part of your customer base that has young kids, but it comes off as pretentious even to many who don’t. On the other hand, for experienced diners, this makes Nettie’s a more alluring restaurant. Who wants their date night or business dinner ruined by the screams of a toddler? Certainly not me.
Additionally, for the workers, this could be a sigh of relief. During my bartending days, I have tripped over children too many times to count. Dropping a tray of dirty martinis at the peak of a dinner rush because you tripped over a Hess Truck is enough to make anyone freak out. Now we’re both crying, AND I smell like olive juice.
An upscale New Jersey restaurant has adopted a controversial new policy: No kids under 10 allowed in its dining room.
Nettie’s House of Spaghetti cites high noise levels and insufficient space for high chairs as factors in the decision.
https://t.co/tWyz98y9q5 pic.twitter.com/Tfposo2OwG
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 14, 2023
Banning children from restaurants isn’t technically new—there have been many places that prohibit children after certain hours, but that differs from an outright ban. Parents of well-behaved children are understandably outraged that their kids will not be welcome at Nettie’s House of Spaghetti any longer, but does that mean it’s wrong? Obviously, there was a breaking point, so what was it?
Nettie’s revealed in an Instagram post that recent events led the team to make this difficult decision. While they are upset to alienate their fans with children, they felt this was the best decision for the continued quality that people have come to expect from the red sauce joint. Time will only tell if this was the correct decision. This is set to take effect on March 8.
What do you think about this ban on children? Was it the right decision or a discriminatory one? Let us know in the comments below. As always in the Twitterverse, opinions vary.
What’s louder than the sound of little kids in a crowded dining room?
The comments section of any social media site when talking about Nettie’s House of Spaghetti’s decision to ban kids younger than 10. And they seem evenly split. https://t.co/0OrHVXlRAv
— Asbury Park Press (@AsburyParkPress) February 14, 2023
Feels like a restaurant called Nettie’s House of Spaghetti shouldn’t have any customers over ten.https://t.co/Fyy7pFmJVQ
— Brendan Duke (@Brendan_Duke) February 13, 2023
Nettie’s house of spaghetti banning children under 10, great news. If you can’t control your children keep them at home!!!!
— Mark Lawrence (@MarkLaw27495501) February 11, 2023
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
