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Restaurant
Helper by Ni Lah
As
Bali for Kids.com wants Bali to improve more and more on the kids
side, we hope with this article will help many restaurants to
overlook their kids department and make it more kids and family
friendly. Please contact us if you have more ideas we can add
to this page.
So...
What takes it to make a real cool eating place for kids and families?
And...
How can you attract more families?
#
1 - YOUR MENU:
Most
of the time if I look in a menu I am shocked to see what they
offer for kids. Fish Fingers with rice. No vegetables? White rice?
Hamburger with French Fries? Ups... Okay, here now what makes
your menu a kids suitable menu:
Offer
of each dish you have in your menu in 1/2 portions for kids. For
half of the price! My daughter loves to eat the same stuff as
I do, so I like to order 1 1/2 portions of a dish. Many restaurants
have problems to do this. I wonder why?
Set
up a real good menu for kids. Fish, Vegetables, Brown Rice, fruits,
etc. I once got a real good kids dish in a small restaurant: Fish
sate, nasi goreng made with brown rice, boiled vegetables cut
very small with a nice sauce, cherry tomatoes, tempe manis, a
little plate with fruits and a small piece of cake. Additional
came a small glass of apple juice (not cold, no ice). The price
was with 18.000Rp really cool and it was all eaten. Very often
I find many kids dishes, but they all got meat added or the base
of the dish is wheat. As more and more kids running allergies
and more and more parents taking care of what their kids should
eat, it is a good idea to add some vegetarian variants to the
kids menu.
#
2 - YOUR SEATING:
Do
you have high chairs in your place? I once went in Switzerland
to a nice small restaurant, they had a little train build for
kids to sit in and eat with other kids. They had so much fun while
the parents had a quite meal. You can also provide special cushions
which raises the kids up to seat on a higher level.
#
3 - TOYS:
To
have some toys in a basket or drawing colors is really a good
idea. Bali Buddha put out two big
bowls of crayons - not just for kids - and some lovely mandala
print outs. Some soft puzzles are cool for smaller kids. A little
kids book corner helps bigger kids to overcome the waiting time.
#
4 - PLAY AREAS:
To
set up a little play area is the coolest thing you can do if you
have some space. A little swing, a slide and some cushions to
hang out on the floor and you can be sure you got lots of families
with kids coming in.
#
5 - KIDS EVENTS:
To
make your restaurant more known for families it is a great idea
to set up regular events. Halloween, St. Clause, any kids of fun
holiday event and your place is full of youngsters and parents.
Never forget, they grow up quick and remember your place as a
place they felt welcome.
#
6 - YOUR STAFF:
Train
your staff to be kids friendly. Once you managed to order some
food for your little one, drinks are served in high glasses (standard
for adults) - you can bet they falling over in no time. One time
we got an expensive vine glass for my daughter, before I even
could ask for a smaller one she had dropped it over and was broken
- on the top of the mess: I had to pay 45.000Rp for broken glass...
Each time I ask for a small spoon for my daughter, guess what
we get??? A very long spoon for ice cream cups. There you go,
my little toddler with a 20 cm long spoon shuffling her food in
the mouth.... Train your staff to bring drinks for children in
small glasses with a big solid base. If the child has no own dish,
bring a small bowl or plate. Additional a small spoon, like for
coffee. Make sure there is a napkin for the child. Another point
is that often I have to take my daughter in the middle of a meal
to the bathroom. I had it happening, that when we came back our
food was gone....
We
hope this little guidelines will help many families with kids
to enjoy better meals in kids-friendly restaurant.
Salamat
makan! - Ni Lah - Editor Bali for Kids.com |
