Diners have reacted angrily to a Chinese restaurant’s announcement that it would charge parents £3 if they brought their infants along.
Panda Garden in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has announced that the all-you-can-eat buffet option will cost adults a minimum of £9.90.
Customers were incensed, however, when they discovered that parents bringing infants would be charged more.
In a Facebook post, a restaurant representative stated, ‘We are paying the opportunity cost of reserving a seat for a baby where an adult could have sat, and we are also paying for personnel to clean up their waste.
Therefore, a £3 fee will be assessed. While we do our best to accommodate younger children and infants in our restaurant, we ask that you abide by our policies.
Panda Garden in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has announced that the all-you-can-eat buffet option will cost adults a minimum of £9.90. However, buyers were shocked to learn that parents who brought infants along would be charged more.
Customers were shocked to learn that parents who brought their infants along would be charged extra.
“We hope that this post clarifies any misunderstandings and raises awareness of our policies. We will also install more signs in the restaurant and near the door to increase client knowledge of our policies.
One dissatisfied client yelled, “Like everyone else, I assumed the labor/clean up fee would be included in the price.”
‘You will be paid for a high chair, and children are not permitted to eat from adult plates. Therefore, you are paying £3 for an additional minute of work if you are efficient. And it’s a buffet; what service are they slowing down besides drinks and buffet replenishment?
Do adults pay extra if they spill a drink since it takes more time to clean up? Paying an additional £3 for my child to sit in a high chair is absurd; if I go, I’ll leave him outside to fend for himself.’
Google street view of Panda Garden Chinese restaurant
One dissatisfied client yelled, “Like everyone else, I assumed the labor/clean up fee would be included in the price!”
Another joked, “Can we leave the six-month-old in her stroller outside while we eat?” A third added, “My six-month-old will also be there.” With a lunch bag.’
Later, a spokeswoman for Panda Garden gave the following statement: ‘The £3 charge is not only for the high chair for the babies; many babies who visit our restaurant eat from the buffet, thus we need to implement a charge because food is not free in this day and age.
‘Obviously, since we are a buffet, we have to charge everyone individually; consequently, the same applies to babies; we cannot have the phrase ‘they ate off my plate’; if we didn’t have rules in place, there would be numerous arguments.
It is not possible to pay for one adult and expect two adults to eat from the buffet, as this is not how a buffet operates. We’re not an à la carte restaurant; the same applies to newborns.
‘We are also paying employees to clean up babies’ messes, which is highly time-consuming, particularly at busy times when personnel is needed elsewhere.’ This rule will remain in effect, as we cannot supply catering or free food to everyone.