St. John restaurants who allow 2 year old

sailawaygirl · Post by **sailawaygirl** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:46 pm

Ok have read all the reviews and can't wait to get there this Sunday Jan. 11, but am wondering which restaurants will accept a very quiet 2 year old. She "dines" out with us all the time, but don't want to offend other diners or be turned away. Was looking forward to eating out every night, but may need to rethink that with all the comments about "no children alllowed".

byado18 · Post by **byado18** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:05 pm

For sure you will be OK at Cafe Roma.....

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:36 pm

Huh? No children allowed?

Just catching up after a long day of meetings.

Flip Flop and I traveled with mini flip flop all over STJ and ate at several restaurants without any problem.

I guess I probably wouldn't expect to take a little one to Asolare but there are so many other decent dining options that won't have an issue.

Now they may not have a booster chair or high chair available but I don't recall seeing anyone with a kid turned away at any restaurant I visit on island.

Now that being said I don't think hanging out with a 2 year old at a bar would be the best idea -- but I'm betting that's not on your agenda.

Don't sweat it. Just show up for dinnner wherever you want and enjoy yourself.

I have never seen any owner of any biz on STJ be anything less than doting on little ones.

stjohnjulie · Post by **stjohnjulie** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:43 am

Zozo's is the only place that doesn't allow children that I can think of. Cafe Roma and The Banana Deck are usually pretty big hits with the little ones. For upscale, LaTapa seems to be a hit with the kids as well. I've seen lots of children there over the years. Ask for an inside seat if you go there (which I highly recommend you do!).

Jessicasmom · Post by **Jessicasmom** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:44 am

They have always been very nice to us at Lime Inn.

piscesgirl0314 · Post by **piscesgirl0314** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:26 am

I have never heard of a St John restaurant not allowing children...honestly I don't think I would eat at a place that didn't allow children...

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:29 am

Zozos is pretty explicit about their no under 5 policy, even mentioning it when I made my reservations. Otherwise, in three trips with my little ones from age 10 months to 6 years I have eaten all over the place. The friendliest seemed to be Banana Deck, Rhumblines, Island blues (went above and beyond by providing anything we needed including BUG Spray during August's skeeter craze), Donkey Diner, Skinny's, and Shipwreck.

My kids particularly love Vie's and Miss Lucy's but I think its because of the chickens and goats.

The only places I wouldn't venture with wee ones would be Zozos, Asolare, and Waterfront Bistro (they were friendly but very upscale, I would worry more about other patrons being annoyed than the management) and the Caneel restaurants.

PSUWethr · Post by **PSUWethr** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:43 am

We have had our daughter to most of the restaurants when we were down when she was 9 weeks and 10 months. It sometimes works in your favor cause they tend to sit you faster

I would just avoid the very upscale places like Asolare and the places at Caneel. We already had her to Zozos and the Stone Terrace had no problem.

piscesgirl0314 · Post by **piscesgirl0314** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:57 am

Our five year old was with us in June 2007 and we had NO issues at any restaurants. They were especially nice at The Lime Inn and Morgan Mango's...and the food is great too...

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:31 am

zozo's turned us away with a 10 month old. they failed to mention their policy when we made reservations.

i would mention that you have a child when making reservations then you can get a feel for how the child will be treated.

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:53 am

We've never had any problem taking our kids to any place on STJ, probably because, like sailawaygirl, they have both been dining out with us since infancy and know how to behave. When they were toddlers I always had a bag full of tricks and quiet amusements to keep them engaged and quiet enough while the food was being prepared. Once the food came it was an opportunity to practice proper table ettiquette and stressed keeping the place setting nice and neat.

One thing that really bugs me (and I'm sure staff and other diners) even in a Friendly's let alone a fine dining restaurant is when kids in high chairs are given a package of crackers to keep them quiet and it ends up being an unholy mess in a three feet diameter around the high chair and the parents are oblivious and leave it for the servers to clean up. That gives the rest of us breeders a bad name.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:08 am

flip-flop wrote:Zozos is pretty explicit about their no under 5 policy, even mentioning it when I made my reservations.

Ah yeah, the reservation guy was seriously concerned about this when I made reservations for 6 people in March 08. I got the impression he was worried I would be sneaking in four kids under my skirt.

He told me at least 3x when I made the reservation and then again when I called to confirm.

We had good experiences at all restaurants. Morgan's Mango and Lime Inn were particularly accomodating but really every place seemed happy for our business.

I do remember not every place had high chairs or boosters. I think I remember the Lime Inn stacking three chairs to bring our son up to table height.

sailawaygirl · Post by **sailawaygirl** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:26 pm

Thanks for all your suggestions. We will patronize the ones who welcome our little one!

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:27 am

La Tapa is our favorite. They make off-menu foods, my daughters have been going since they were infants and still ask about the pasta with olive oil and garlic (11 & 17 now). The inside seats against the walls have benches against the walls. My youngest ended her meals there snoozing with her head in my lap until she was 8. Dad got to finish the evening with a brandy and conversation. They also have small plates, something between an appetizer portion and an entree, that works very well for the small ones. If yours likes shrimp then their grilled shrimp small plate is tasty and visually appealing. I eat them with my hands, she can too.

Have fun, STJ is perfect for a 2 year old! Get up early and go to bed early.

Cheers, RickG

KatieH · Post by **KatieH** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:26 am

Agent99 wrote:.... That gives the rest of us breeders a bad name.

LOL! I'm with you. I was glad my remora wasn't a "let's drop things over the edge of the high chair for a study of cause and effect" kind of kid.

Agree with all posts about Zozo's and others... .La Tapa was great and offered to do a kids pasta dish for us.

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