In a bold and controversial move, Nettie’s House of Spaghetti, a popular New Jersey restaurant, has decided to cease operating as a family restaurant. Located in Tinton Falls, Nettie’s has announced a ban on children under the age of ten from dining within their establishment. This announcement has sparked a heated debate on social media and generated considerable attention.
Nettie’s House of Spaghetti, with over eighty thousand followers on Facebook, revealed their decision to ban children in a February 9, 2023 post, with the policy taking effect on March 8, 2023. The announcement reads:
“We love kids. We really, truly, do. But lately, it’s been extremely challenging to accommodate children at Nettie’s. Between noise levels, lack of space for highchairs, cleaning up crazy messes, and the liability of kids running around the restaurant, we have decided that it’s time to take control of the situation… As of March 8, the day we return from our winter break, we will no longer allow children under 10 to dine in the restaurant… Thank you for understanding.”
This policy has ignited passionate discussions among parents and those who enjoy the presence of children in dining establishments. Some loyal customers have expressed their outrage at Nettie’s decision to ban children from dining at their restaurant. Many took to Facebook to share their frustrations, with one commenter stating:
“Since you forgot – we were all children once. Why not ask the non-supervising parents to leave instead of punishing an entire class of patrons? A fatal business decision.”
Other customers made it clear they would be taking their business elsewhere.
One social media user wrote, “I won’t be going to your establishment anymore,” while another critic added, “Good luck staying open with only angry know (sic) nothings who hate kids to support your business.”
Following the announcement, Nettie’s has received a series of one-star reviews, with one reviewer calling the policy “very discriminating.”
However, not everyone is opposed to a child-free restaurant. One diner applauded the decision, saying, “Fantastic idea… having worked in the industry since I was 14, I’ve never seen anything as I have in the recent past. Kids are out of control, and most parents are oblivious.”
This debate raises important questions about the balance between accommodating families and maintaining a particular ambiance in a restaurant. Is it fair to ban an entire age group, or should establishments focus on addressing the root of the problem: the behavior of certain individuals? By taking this bold stance, Nettie’s House of Spaghetti has undoubtedly placed itself at the center of a critical conversation about the responsibilities of businesses, parents, and patrons in creating an enjoyable dining experience for all.
Source: AWM