Discrimination against the youngest at the restaurant is a recurring subject, in France and abroad. In August 2022, a restaurateur of Singapore had decided to tax customers accompanied by children deemed too noisy. Likewise, in New Jersey, an Italian restaurant had been talked about a lot by indicating that they no longer accept children under ten years old, as Eater had reported in 2023.
In France, all audiences must be welcomed by restaurateurs without distinction of age, religion, physical appearance, sex or disability. Precisely, two laws warn the drifts, that of May 27, 2008 which transposes several European directives on equal treatment and that of June 24, 2016 aimed at combating discrimination due to social precariousness, which strengthens criminal provisions in matters of discrimination. Not only have restaurateurs do not have the right to refuse a customer, but they are not allowed to impose a table or to treat consumers unevenly. They incur a fine of up to 45,000 euros and a prison sentence up to three years.
Clearly, restaurateurs do not have the right to refuse a couple accompanied by a young child, even if it could be turbulent … except that in reality, things happen differently. Some tables do not clearly write that they refuse toddlers, to avoid being illegal and prefer to affirm not to serve as a “child menu”. Gastronomic addresses choose if not to put aside customers who have come to share the meal with their offspring, to ensure that the other guests are not embarrassed by possible cries or behaviors deemed inappropriate in a restaurant. And then, there is also the reality of expensive places like in Paris where the arrangement of the tables prevent de facto from welcoming young parents with a stroller …
But, it is however good in the capital, which is full of tables sometimes holding in a pocket handkerchief, that the guide Le Fooding decided to take up the challenge of changing their eyes on the presence of children in the restaurant. To orchestrate a specific welcome from the youngest taste buds, the reference publication to identify the chefs. The event, which has nothing to do with the taste week traditionally organized in October, will take place from May 14 to 21 (we will note the wink of the choice of Wednesday, the day when there is no school for the youngest). On the program: children’s menus at the top of the poster, culinary unwinds adapted to the awakening of tastes, and also coloring. And above all “reception with open dishes, smiles to the ears”, indicates the fooding, which does not hesitate to support, specifying “because if our stews play, shout, comment and challenge everything that moves, it is that they understood that the restaurant is joyful as life. So, at the restaurant, the children!”.
Everything is said: children also have their place in the restaurant. What a better place to taste new flavors, learn the art of living in the French, that of the art of the table, the ballet of the indoor service … It is the very first time that the guide takes up position on this sensitive subject. The list of participating addresses and their offer is available directly on the website of the gastronomic guide.