Sharing Charges for Kids In Restaurants

[thegazelle]

Hi,

This seems like a cash grab to me, but my wife and I have been to some restaurants lately where there is a kids' menu but it's pretty lousy food health-wise (ie. french fries, processed chicken fingers, hot dog, etc.). We say no thanks to the kids' meal, but instead, I'll just order something for me (this is NOT buffet, but sit down and order) and he can share it. After all, our son is 4-years-old...he needs to have a nutritious meal.

Well, almost every single restaurant slaps a charge for me to do that, and of course, the charge is equivalent to what a junk-food kids' meal would have cost.

I don't get the reasoning behind this. I'm already paying full price for my meal. Why should they care what I do with it. If I take it home with me and feed my son at home, they won't charge me a sharing fee. This seems so dumb.

Has anyone ever tried to fight this? It doesn't seem right to me. If it's buffet, I can certainly understand the need for sharing charges. But a sit down set dinner? It seems preposterous.

[kevthewiz]

Unless it is stated on the menu, the fees should not be charged and you should have complained to get your money back. I know my parents have been charged a few times for taking my little cousins out, and my dad being the very angry complainer he is always gets it refunded and usually something thrown in like a dessert =P

[3weddings]

Where are you eating that this happens?

We eat out often and it's never happened. Rarely do I let the dd's order off the kids menu.

I'd definitely ask for a manager if this were to appear on my bill.

[dragan69]

I've never heard of a sharing charge, is this quite common? Where are you guys located? (I'm in Calgary)

[ipxxx]

Was there unlimited anything? Like refills on drinks? Or nothing at all?
If it was like St. Hubert (refills on colslaw, drinks, bread, sauce) then I can understand why they are doing that...sort of. If it had no refills of anything at all then you should have complained :) Or before sitting down, ask them if you can see the kids menu, if you don't like it leave or ask them if they are going to charge you extra.
Done.

P.S. I love refills of anything...I eat enough to feed two ppl :D good thing there is no "eat too much" charge :P

[thegazelle]

Where are you eating that this happens?

We eat out often and it's never happened. Rarely do I let the dd's order off the kids menu.

I'd definitely ask for a manager if this were to appear on my bill.

Fire and Ice is the latest one that I know of. Their sharing charge for me to share my plate of food with my son is $4.99. My wife has a couple of others - I'd have to ask when I get home.

The charge is not a surprise - it is stated in the menu - so I am not arguing that I am surprised at the end - I am wondering whether the charge can be fought since it does not make any sense unless it's at a buffet.

If I order a plate of whatever, and they charge me $18.99 for it - whether I eat it or throw it out or choose to feed my son some of it, should not be the restaurant's business. I suppose I am really asking how viable it is to fight it, even if it is stated in the menu. Glad to hear that some of you have fought it and won.

[thegazelle]

Was there unlimited anything? Like refills on drinks? Or nothing at all?
If it was like St. Hubert (refills on colslaw, drinks, bread, sauce) then I can understand why they are doing that...sort of. If it had no refills of anything at all then you should have complained :) Or before sitting down, ask them if you can see the kids menu, if you don't like it leave or ask them if they are going to charge you extra.
Done.

P.S. I love refills of anything...I eat enough to feed two ppl :D good thing there is no "eat too much" charge :P

No, these places weren't refill type of places. If there were refills, I can understand. That's why this totally doesn't make sense.

[mart242]

The charge is not a surprise - it is stated in the menu - so I am not arguing that I am surprised at the end - I am wondering whether the charge can be fought since it does not make any sense unless it's at a buffet.

"Vote with your wallet".. Don't go back to these places and let them know why you are not going back.

On the other hand, you could order the kraft dinner for your kid or something like that. It's not 100% bad... that's what we do for my 2 years old son and he always ends up eating the entire plate. He's super happy the entire time! (and he's quite skinny!)

[GBA]

having been to fire and ice a few times, i can only speculate it is something to do with a 'sit down' charge. they probably expect each client to sit down and have 5$ minimum worth of food, whether it be a stir fry or a kids menu meal.

having it called 'sharing fee' should probably be renamed to 'sharing food fee while sitting down in restaurant'. some of the suggestions that are brought up are valid though, see if you can get a freebie like a drink or a desert or at least a treat for the child. You should bring up the point of no refills on the meal too, as you're paying only for one full meal, not for a buffet for your child and yourself. Good luck dealing with those charges

[Irb]

This is odd. I have never seen charges for kids because it's normal for kids not to finish their food. I do have a problem with adults coming in and ordering one entree and splitting it. Many places do have minimum charges but they should not apply to kids, only adults.

[thegazelle]

having been to fire and ice a few times, i can only speculate it is something to do with a 'sit down' charge. they probably expect each client to sit down and have 5$ minimum worth of food, whether it be a stir fry or a kids menu meal.

having it called 'sharing fee' should probably be renamed to 'sharing food fee while sitting down in restaurant'. some of the suggestions that are brought up are valid though, see if you can get a freebie like a drink or a desert or at least a treat for the child. You should bring up the point of no refills on the meal too, as you're paying only for one full meal, not for a buffet for your child and yourself. Good luck dealing with those charges

You can see the "sharing charge" on the lunch and dinner menus online. It is in the store menus as well.

http://www.fireandicestirgrill.com/dinnermenu.html

Scroll to the bottom and you'll see it. Remember, Fire and Ice is not a buffet.

I'll find out what the other restaurants are that this happened to us.

[mart242]

You can see the "sharing charge" on the lunch and dinner menus online. It is in the store menus as well.

http://www.fireandicestirgrill.com/dinnermenu.html

Scroll to the bottom and you'll see it. Remember, Fire and Ice is not a buffet.

I'll find out what the other restaurants are that this happened to us.

The sharing charge makes sense for adults. I'm all for it. But for kids? Come on. Unless you order a single plate and share it between 5 kids, I don't see why they'd be charging you that amount. I think that it was the server who was misinformed. Did you speak to the manager?

[thegazelle]

The sharing charge makes sense for adults. I'm all for it. But for kids? Come on. Unless you order a single plate and share it between 5 kids, I don't see why they'd be charging you that amount. I think that it was the server who was misinformed. Did you speak to the manager?

No, but I definitely will now.

Perhaps this is self-evident, but I'm not that bright, so I'll ask the dumb question. Why do they have sharing charges for adults? If I am half hungry and go in and order a steak but know that I can't finish it, and my wife feels like steak too but can't finish one slab all by herself, what is the moral conundrum behind us just ordering the steak and sharing? I can see if you basically have 10 not very hungry people go down on one plate, how that can be unclassy...the only thing I can think of is they don't want to waste their space and servers' time if people are not really having a real meal.

Yes, that sharing charge applied to my son, who was then 3-years-old. I couldn't believe it.

[mart242]

I can see if you basically have 10 not very hungry people go down on one plate, how that can be unclassy...the only thing I can think of is they don't want to waste their space and servers' time if people are not really having a real meal.

Exactly. If you have a table that doesn't bring money while potential customers are lining up outsite and might decide to go elsewhere because there's no table available, that's not good for your business.

And yes, that would open the door to all sorts of unclassy behaviour like the one you mentionned..

[BluEL]

I remember Pho 88 once added a sharing fee to their menu. I think it was $2. Probably because them extra large bowls of pho were huge and people would always order one and share. But they've since removed the charge. In this case it's because sharing usually required extra bowls and utensils being used...then they would have to wash and clean more.

Did you ask for extra plates/utensils? I guess that's justifiable. MAYBE.

[Password]

I think a place like Fire and Ice will add this sharing charge due to the nature of their service: One could (and I do!) pile up their plate astronomically high at the veggie bar, and certainly get enough food for two (I often have enough for lunch the next day, unless I was really hungry going in).

The sharing charge there is a way of them to control their food costs, and, IMO, certainly reasonable. I'm not saying you piled up your plate extra high, but that you could, and the sharing charge keeps costs in line. It's stated on the menu, so it's no surprise. If it's an issue, next time you go, order a kids' meal.

I don't think I've ever experienced a sharing charge applied to a child in a restraurant that serves plated meals.

[thegazelle]

I think a place like Fire and Ice will add this sharing charge due to the nature of their service: One could (and I do!) pile up their plate astronomically high at the veggie bar, and certainly get enough food for two (I often have enough for lunch the next day, unless I was really hungry going in).

The sharing charge there is a way of them to control their food costs, and, IMO, certainly reasonable. I'm not saying you piled up your plate extra high, but that you could, and the sharing charge keeps costs in line. It's stated on the menu, so it's no surprise. If it's an issue, next time you go, order a kids' meal.

I don't think I've ever experienced a sharing charge applied to a child in a restraurant that serves plated meals.

Thanks very much for your thoughts. I suppose I think of it this way - even if a person piles on the veggies and manages to get it to the grill and they grill it and you choose to take it home, you're still paying $15 - $22 for that plate, no matter what you do with it. So how would that affect the restaurant if you choose to take it home so you have enough to get the next day or feed your kid in the restaurant? The restaurant only gets their $15 - $22, and you get your meal for which you paid.

[Supershyguy]

usually there is only min charges. I have been to pho places that have a sharing fee, so people wont just order a large and split it

but if you order something else and meet min charges they dont give s*** about it

[Supershyguy]

Fire and Ice is the latest one that I know of. Their sharing charge for me to share my plate of food with my son is $4.99. My wife has a couple of others - I'd have to ask when I get home.

The charge is not a surprise - it is stated in the menu - so I am not arguing that I am surprised at the end - I am wondering whether the charge can be fought since it does not make any sense unless it's at a buffet.

If I order a plate of whatever, and they charge me $18.99 for it - whether I eat it or throw it out or choose to feed my son some of it, should not be the restaurant's business. I suppose I am really asking how viable it is to fight it, even if it is stated in the menu. Glad to hear that some of you have fought it and won.

oh I missed this post.

if its fire and ice then is resonable then.

since you get to put as much as you want on your plate

[Narci]

Thanks very much for your thoughts. I suppose I think of it this way - even if a person piles on the veggies and manages to get it to the grill and they grill it and you choose to take it home, you're still paying $15 - $22 for that plate, no matter what you do with it. So how would that affect the restaurant if you choose to take it home so you have enough to get the next day or feed your kid in the restaurant? The restaurant only gets their $15 - $22, and you get your meal for which you paid.

Think of it this way. When you sit down...say family of 3....you take a 4 seat table up. You order 2 meals, husband and wife and share with the kid. You are taking 2 orders away from the restaraunt. They compensate for this for charging a 'sharing fee' although like others have stated should not be called that.

When you get it take out..you are not taking up any real estate in thier restaraunt so share all you want.

Your also paying for the waiter's/waitresses time to serve 4 people for 2 meals. Kids want some water, needs some napkins, need an extra plate, need a fork?

Restaraunts these days run a slim profit margin to stay in business because it's so competitive.

Restaurants can only hold so many people at a given time. Quite a few cafe's/eateries charge a minimum charge if you do not order.

Now lets take this on a large scale. Say you have 4 familes with 2 kids each. Now your taking up 8 spots for the price of 4.

If you like to share..you might want to goto a chinese/asian restaraunt more often as they do not have sharing charges.

reminds me of...

http://www.start.com.my/blog/maximizing-your-roi-at-pizza-hut/

[thegazelle]

Think of it this way. When you sit down...say family of 3....you take a 4 seat table up. You order 2 meals, husband and wife and share with the kid. You are taking 2 orders away from the restaraunt. They compensate for this for charging a 'sharing fee' although like others have stated should not be called that.

When you get it take out..you are not taking up any real estate in thier restaraunt so share all you want.

Your also paying for the waiter's/waitresses time to serve 4 people for 2 meals. Kids want some water, needs some napkins, need an extra plate, need a fork?

Restaraunts these days run a slim profit margin to stay in business because it's so competitive.

Restaurants can only hold so many people at a given time. Quite a few cafe's/eateries charge a minimum charge if you do not order.

Now lets take this on a large scale. Say you have 4 familes with 2 kids each. Now your taking up 8 spots for the price of 4.

If you like to share..you might want to goto a chinese/asian restaraunt more often as they do not have sharing charges.

reminds me of...

http://www.start.com.my/blog/maximizing-your-roi-at-pizza-hut/

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. That definitely makes more sense now. Appreciate the response.

...And that Pizza Hut maximizing ROI article is hilarioius!!!

[smilodon]

Well, instead of paying the "sharing charge" and get nothing from it, you could simply order a soup for your kid and the restaurant should not be able to complain about that, can it?

[UrbanPoet]

Well, instead of paying the "sharing charge" and get nothing from it, you could simply order a soup for your kid and the restaurant should not be able to complain about that, can it?

soup @ a resturant still cost $5-7 lol...

[Irb]

The purpose of the charge is to prevent people from walking into restaurants and just sitting there or like in this case sharing dishes. I have friends who runs restaurants and small business owners hate it when customers walk in and don't order anything. If you're not going to order anything then why go out? If you're not hungry then why walk into a restaurant? You do'nt have to order a large meal. Spend a couple dollars and order an appetizer, a milkshake or a dessert. If you plan on not spending money then just go over to your friends house if you want to chat.

I do find this charge really odd to be applied to kids.

[thegazelle]

Well, instead of paying the "sharing charge" and get nothing from it, you could simply order a soup for your kid and the restaurant should not be able to complain about that, can it?

Very true. At Swiss Chalet, I always order my son the chalet soup. He never finishes it, but at least it's around 3 bucks, rather than him not finishing a 5 dollar meal, which is comprised of processed and from frozen anyway

[thegazelle]

The purpose of the charge is to prevent people from walking into restaurants and just sitting there or like in this case sharing dishes. I have friends who runs restaurants and small business owners hate it when customers walk in and don't order anything. If you're not going to order anything then why go out? If you're not hungry then why walk into a restaurant? You do'nt have to order a large meal. Spend a couple dollars and order an appetizer, a milkshake or a dessert. If you plan on not spending money then just go over to your friends house if you want to chat.

I do find this charge really odd to be applied to kids.

Totally understandable about people going to restaurants and not eating - I didn't think that was even allowed - I don't think I've ever seen people go to a restaurant and not order anything, but just sit at a table. Even at a Starbucks or a Timmy's, if people want to chat with one another, they almost always buy something - otherwise, it's unfair to the store.

[Narci]

Very true. At Swiss Chalet, I always order my son the chalet soup. He never finishes it, but at least it's around 3 bucks, rather than him not finishing a 5 dollar meal, which is comprised of processed and from frozen anyway

Swiss Chalet has 1/4 chicken drumstick kids meal and a chicken sandwich meal no? At least when I worked there for 8 years through school they did. Those two items are not frozen but fresh.

Swiss Chalet is kinda hgard to beat for value for a family restaraunt. The food is pretty decent for the price.

How much is a kids meals now? It was $3.95 when I was working. A good nutritious meal would be a 1/4 drumstick or Chicken Sandwich. Fries (i know fatty but swiss chalet only serves fresh cut fries not processed or frozen) and a frozen yogurt icecream for dessert. I think it included a drink too..Oj or Apple juice would complete the nutritious meal.

During shifts I'd be bored and once I looked at the nutritional chart for Swiss Chalet.

Quite surpised ot see that a 1/4 white meat with no skin has less fat then 1 packet of butter.

People are correct. I served at swiss chalet and I hated customers that just sat there.

They ask for water, hot water with lemon...things that do not add to my average cheque. Usually the higher the average cheque the better tips I got.

I remember serving a table of 4 in which 1 person ordered a meal and one person an appetizer ther other two asked for water.

While I was busying runnign around getting water and hot water and lemons for the 2 people who didn't eat..my time would have been used to provide better service to paying customers.

Total bill was about $12. Tip was $1...for 4 people!


BTW, nothing in the chalet soup is fresh..not even the chicken cause it's leftover meat from the previous day. The soup is powedered and the veggies in it are dried up that comes witht he soup mix. Basically just add hot water and chicken and serve.

[JAGpilot]

Fire and Ice is the latest one that I know of. Their sharing charge for me to share my plate of food with my son is $4.99. My wife has a couple of others - I'd have to ask when I get home.

The charge is not a surprise - it is stated in the menu - so I am not arguing that I am surprised at the end - I am wondering whether the charge can be fought since it does not make any sense unless it's at a buffet.

If I order a plate of whatever, and they charge me $18.99 for it - whether I eat it or throw it out or choose to feed my son some of it, should not be the restaurant's business. I suppose I am really asking how viable it is to fight it, even if it is stated in the menu. Glad to hear that some of you have fought it and won.

I love that place. I always pile up a HUGE plate and then take half of it home for the next day. Its healthy stuff too.

My idea/reason the restaurants may have a sharing charge is because when you pay for the meal you are paying for the "rental" of the table. In the eyes of the restaurant another person could be sitting in your kid's place and ordering themselves a meal meaning the restaurant makes money. Same with restaurants who have an a-la-carte all you can eat but your not allowed a take home bag. If they allowed it you could order enough food for your meal and then order 5 more full plates and take that home.