Top Dublin restaurants - would you bring a baby?

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Ceist Beag

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We're going to Dublin for a weekend in September and are bringing our 2 year old with us. I was hoping to treat my wife to a top notch restaurant but would these restaurants be suitable for a baby? i.e would they refuse a booking if you are bringing a baby or are these restaurants perfectly happy to cater for anyone willing to pay the bill? Would love to bring her to Patrick Guilbauds as we've often mentioned that we'd love to visit it just once!
 
No high chairs, no children's menu, no buggies etc. would certainly not encourage you to bring children even if they don't specifically forbid it.

If you are staying in a hotel, they may be able to organise a babysitting service.
 
always ring ahead beforehand. with 2 under 3s we found that while most restaraunts will accomodate, theyre not all set up for kids or babies. The busier restaraunts may only give you a table for 2 where the babyseat/babychair gets in the way of waiting staff or other patrons making the restaraunts just not suitable.
Even simple things down to the type of glass you get can cause difficulty, e.g, we were out at the weekend in a new local eaterie and we were given long stemmed wine glasses instead of tall glasses which we asked for so the kids would find it easier to handle, was told that they had no tall glasses. Despite best efforts, sure enough, drink went over the table as our youngest grappled with the straw.
We gave up early on in our family life bringing kids to the fancier places as we found the "cheap and cheerful" places a little easier to negotiate with kids in tow.
 
The more top notch i'd say , they less likely they would want a young child as part of the package. Lower down the order maybe they are less fussy. If they can fill the place without you, its unlikely. Its not the restuarants fault really, its their customers thats the problem. Personally I'd be unhappy to have any children near me when out with Mrs Runner for a dinner and chat!
Had a coffee earlier today and a couple of kids did my head in - im getting old...
Your best bet is hotel restuarants.
 
This is probably an awful thing to say and you'd know I don't have kids BUT if I was in a nice restaurant then I'd definitely be annoyed if there were kids crying or making a mess.

When I was at uni I worked in a restaurant part time and we used to hate seeing people with kids coming purely because of the mess there would inevitably be to clear up afterwards!
 
ClubMan said:
Can they legitimately refuse you entry with a buggy?
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I don't know-I didn't think that children were covered by equality or other legislation.

There was previous discussion on the issue, I can't find it now.

As to whether or not I would bring a baby/young child to a top restaurant, the answer is no.
 
Ceist Beag said:
We're going to Dublin for a weekend in September and are bringing our 2 year old with us. I was hoping to treat my wife to a top notch restaurant but would these restaurants be suitable for a baby? i.e would they refuse a booking if you are bringing a baby or are these restaurants perfectly happy to cater for anyone willing to pay the bill?
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You mean the baby is paying - well why didn't you say! :D
 
:D nice one Clubman! I'm thinking myself it would be a bad idea to bring our little un along as it would devalue our experience of the meal as well as everyone around us but just interested to see what others think or have done in the past.
 
Personally I woundn't be inclined to bring our 2 year old to a top notch restaurant but having read how much it might annoy some other people I would consider changing my mind. :)
 
If I was paying over €200 a head (plus wine) in Patrick Guilbauds I would not like to see kids there. I have three of then and they don't come to good eateries with me (though I do bring Mrs Purple the odd time :D)
 
I'm inclined to agree with many other posters that the top-flight restaurants aren't very likely to accept an evening booking that comes complete with infant. However, if the destination is the important bit, and your timetable allows it, maybe you could try going to Guilbauds for lunch instead?
[sample menu here: ]

Other diners are less likely to be out for a romantic meal, so the restaurant might have fewer qualms about accepting your booking. It might not be the full-on Guilbaud experience, but it could be a manageable compromise.
 
Much as I love small children (and I do!) - I don't see the point of paying for a top restuarant/dinner and spending the evening saying 'use your fork', 'drink your juice', 'well done you ate your vegetables!'

It is absolutely well worth bringing children out to a restaurant for dinner, but start at your local carvery for Sunday lunch - not the Michelin level!

Unless she's fast asleep (unlikely!) a 2 year old is pretty much going to be fed up by the time your starters arrive; best advice? - hire a baby sitter and enjoy your night out - check with the hotel if they have a baby sitting service or would grandparents be willing to have baby for the w/end?
 
Two year olds are fantastic fun. Part of their charms lie in their increasing self of themselves, their confidence, their growing vocabulary, their unpredictability, and even occasionally their tantrums. I love two year olds.

But do I want to see their unpredictable charms in a place where I'm paying top prices for a truly special gastronomic experience? Ehhh .... NO!
 
Well there you go (I guess this is an example of the 'nanny' state in action ;) ), thanks for taking the time to dig that out.

Does it raise some interesting questions in the context of this thread?
 
Ceist Beag said:
:D nice one Clubman! I'm thinking myself it would be a bad idea to bring our little un along as it would devalue our experience of the meal as well as everyone around us but just interested to see what others think or have done in the past.
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I think you've hit the nail on the head with this, and answered your own question: it would probably devalue the experience.

Having had the pleasure of dining at Gilbaud's a few times in the past, I'd be amazed if they didn't do everything to make you feel as welcome as possible with a two year old (though the reaction from other diners might be quite interesting). There's quite a French ambiance to the place, and for anyone who's spent time in France or Italy will know that the idea of not bringing children to restaurants would be considered strange.

However, you've got to ask yourself honestly if you'd enjoy the experience. One of the pelasures of the experience is being able to relax and spend time, neither of which is really compatible with dining with a two year old.

We've brought our children out to restaurants at all ages, but I don't think I'd do so to a top-level place.

It might be interesting to try, though!
 
It would be interesting to find out if people in France or other more 'child- friendly' countries generally bring their 2 year olds to Michelin grade restaurants.

Personally, I don't think it's an appropriate place for a two year old but each to their own.
 
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