Ziggy is almost two, and according to his Australian mom, over the weekend, he was asked to leave a restaurant with his family.
Renèe Barendregt tells Kidspot that the reason behind the dining drama was simple: Ziggy acted like a toddler.
“Can you please put your child in the seat?”
After spending the day exploring the Gold Coast on their family holiday, Renee searched online for nearby restaurants.
She picked one with impressive reviews.
“When we arrived and asked for a high chair, they said they couldn’t provide one. I said no problem at all as he didn’t eat in a high chair at home, he sits at the table with his brothers,” Renee exclusively told Kidspot.
“He sat for a while but in true toddler style got off of his seat, but stayed close.”
Renèe did not have the impression the restaurant was busy.
It was early, before the dinner rush, and the only other patrons she recalls seeing nearby were a couple with a six-month-old baby.
Ziggy even shared a sweet interaction with the baby.
“The dad turned around and sat the baby on his lap facing and chatting with Ziggy. It was so cute!” the mom explained.
Renèe says she was asked to leave after Ziggy wouldn’t stay seated.
She says Ziggy’s behavior was “docile” and that he wasn’t “running around or being disruptive to anyone” while they waited for their food.
The toddler had taken a particular interest in a fake potted plant near their table, touching the leaves.
Renèe maintains Ziggy hadn’t done anything wrong. He wasn’t being destructive or interrupting other diners.
That’s when Renèe says a waiter approached her and her son, asking for Ziggy to remain seated.
“The man came over and said if he can’t stay in his seat we can’t serve you here,” Renèe said.
With Renèe struggling to keep Ziggy confined to the seat, she decided to leave.
The ordeal left her upset, so she took to TikTok to share the encounter, asking for people to remember to be kind.
She says what the man didn’t know was just how exhausting her day had been, chasing after her busy toddler.
“It’s just such a reminder that you just don’t know where people are at or what they’re doing at that moment. Something like that can just be really f–kng upsetting,” she told her followers in an emotional post.
She also named the restaurants in the comments section: Lemongrass Thai on Teddar Avenue:
Statement from Lemongrass Thai on Teddar Avenue:
Kidspot reached out to the restaurant for comment.
“The safety of our staff and customers are our highest priority. Our restaurant only just opened for the night, so whilst there were only a few customers currently dining at the time, we were fully booked for the night, but had time to fit in the family of 3.
“Before they were seated, we mentioned straight away that we did not have high chairs and if she (the mother of the son) was okay with this. She mentioned that it’s okay, and that her son can sit in a regular chair. We confirmed again if she was sure about this, and she said yes… so we welcomed them in. (The reason we do not offer high chairs is because we rarely have toddlers dining at our restaurant).
“They were seated by the window, near the entrance of the restaurant. The two adults then ordered a glass of champagne each. After serving the drinks, we checked whether they were ready to order their meals and they said they weren’t ready yet at the time. So we waited. At which this time the child wandered off to play with the interior pot plant (which is in the corner near the entrance of the restaurant, the restaurant entrance is quite narrow).
“At this time, there were customers/takeaways (including UberEats) walking in and out of the restaurant, it started to get busy. We believe this could have causes a safety hazard to the child AND the customers walking in and out of the restaurant. So my father (the owner) went up to the mother and asked her if she could please sit her child down as it is starting to become busy now.
“My father then responded that we are starting to get busy now, and that our restaurant does serve very hot items which will be dangerous towards the child if something were to happen. The mother then continued to comment “No , it’s a kid.”
“Which we then mentioned that if she is unable to sit her child, we will be unable to serve her for now until he sits down. The mother then responded that they were going to leave then. We then mentioned that it was their choice.
“Our restaurant is child friendly. Whether child or adult, we always take the safety of our customers and staff seriously. Our restaurant is very very small, the entrance is narrow and there is not much space to move around which can be a hazard as a small child, especially when it starts to get busy.”
Barendregt replied to that statement saying,”No that isn’t correct we were definitely asked to leave, they absolutely said they would not serve us at the restaurant.”
“These comments are wild”
Commenters on Renèe’s video were divided by the ordeal.
Some backed the restaurant’s decision to give the family the choice to leave.
“It’s about time restaurants started doing this,” one viewer said.
“I have two boys and I agree with the restaurant.” another agreed.
A third comment, from a hospitality worker, offered a different perspective: “As a former waitress, carrying plates and dodging kids is a huge annoyance and hazard.”
However, there were some who came to Renèe’s defence.
“These comments are wild. Children have the right to exist in the world and parents have the right to eat out just like every other paying customer,” one argued.
“Children are just being curious and wanting to explore the world,” another added.
Renèe believes restaurants need to show more patience and kindness when children dine out.
“Getting children out before even getting to the restaurant is an ordeal in itself! I will always do my best to make sure my children are being respectful and safe around staff and other people eating out. It’s really quite simple.”
