Alinea chef Grant Achatz considers banning kids from restaurant, sets off debate

During dinner on Saturday night, diners at the upscale Chicago restaurant Alinea were disturbed by a couple who brought in a baby who proceeded to cry throughout dinner and caused chef and owner Grant Achatz to contemplate banning children.

Achatz took to Twitter where he tweeted his frustrations that someone would bring their kid to the restaurant, the Los Angeles Times reports.

On Twitter, Achatz wrote to his 82,000 followers, " "Tbl brings 8mo.Old. It cries. Diners mad. Tell ppl no kids? Subject diners 2crying? Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no,but.."

The tweet set off a debate and the meme @AlineaBaby as people discussed whether kids should be allowed in a restaurant such as Alinea. The L.A. Times writer, Betty Hallock, notes that part of the restaurant's atmosphere is one of relative quiet.

According to ABC News, Achatz talked about the child on Good Morning America where he said that the 8-month-old's crying could be heard all the way into the kitchen.

The chef said that the problem revolves around how to let people enjoy the experience at the restaurant, which charges around $210 a person for a meal, and at the same get people to "be cognizant of the other 8- people that came in to experience Alinea that night.

Most people seemed to side with not allowing kids, with someone writing, "Little kids do not belong in high end restaurants."

Achatz hasn't made a decision yet, but doesn't feel young kids should be brought to a restaurant like Alinea.

image: Wikimedia Commons

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