After moving to Bangalore with my husband we didn’t bother getting a cooking gas connection for at least a couple of months. It was so much simpler (and fun) to just eat out everyday, than to stand in queues and run behind babus for a gas cylinder. This surely turned my husband into a complete food snob. The kind who studies menus before he orders his main course, always knows of the newest and hottest restaurants, even if it means driving to Whitefield for a meal. That's all well and good when it's just the two of us or we are meeting some friends for dinner.
With the arrival of our twin boys, things didn’t change too much …at least initially. When our twins were babies, we took them to some nice restaurants and it worked out fine for the most part. If one of them had a crying fit, we'd take turns walking them up and down the sidewalk until they calmed down. They were bottle fed, so we quickly mastered the art of giving a baby a bottle while sipping wine and taking bites of our chicken risotto. We had some nice meals with our infants in tow.
But then they started eating solid foods, getting bigger and reached an age when they were decidedly un-restaurant friendly. You know what I mean... when you have to leave a tip that is almost as much as your bill to compensate for the mess and the noise. Since then the only restaurants we ever went to as a family were those where we could tag along our baby care maid or that had a drive through window.
I have been to McDonalds and the lifestyle food court about 400 times. I love the McChicken, but always wondered there must be somewhere else to eat that's as kid friendly, right? And that isn't fast food.
Now, riding on my past experience and a bit of planning we do manage to take our boys out to restaurants. Of course, we've had some mortifying moments along the way, but for the most part, their restaurant manners have been pretty good.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy a pleasurable dining out experience. You don't have to leave your twins at home when eating in restaurants. You just have to plan ahead and adjust your expectations. The problem is my food snob husband who still prefers a restaurant with a ten page desert menu and a valet parking as opposed to one that offers crayons, mango Frooti and has French fries on the menu.
Firstly, choose the restaurant carefully .Quiet, elegant bistros are not the place for kids, especially multiples. There are plenty of other places with good food and a family-friendly atmosphere. Look for restaurants with a high noise level. That way, your duo's chatter -- or tantrums -- won't be as disturbing to the other diners. Choose places with a fun, busy style that has plenty of decor to look at and talk about with the kids.
Quick service is also preferred. Ideally, you'll want to be seated immediately after arriving, and don't want a long lag in between courses. Buffets are great with kids, because you have access to the food whenever you want it. Italian restaurants are another good bet; they usually have a quick turnaround, with the added benefit of serving plain pasta and garlic bread sticks.
It pays to call ahead. If you've never been to the restaurant before, ask about their provisions for young people. Many smaller establishments only have one or two high chairs. If you need more, you're out of luck. Save yourself the frustration and call ahead to confirm that they can accommodate you.
We have often walked into restaurants at 7pm thinking it would be pretty empty and we would be able to get the kids fed before started to get too hungry or tired -- a bad combination as any parent knows .Timing can mean the difference between a marvelous meal and disastrous dining. Avoid crunch times -- both your children's and the restaurant's. Follow your twins' schedule. Choose dining times when they're usually happy and alert; don't try to go out when they're too hungry, sleepy or cranky.
Hopefully, those times will coincide with the restaurant's off-peak hours. Prime dining hours around lunch and dinner mean more crowds, busier servers and more waiting -- which only creates more frustration for your family!
Order the kiddo meal as soon as you sit down, and ask the server to bring them out as soon as possible. Many restaurants will keep your table plied with breads or other snacks; use these freebies to keep little mouths occupied.
I keep telling all parents ‘ busy twins are happy twins’ . Bring in your own ammunition. Some kid-friendly restaurants provide crayons and even games to keep your kids occupied at the table. But you're better off coming prepared with your own gear. Pack a bag with books, crayons and paper and small toys. It's great to have things that are new or unfamiliar to the children; they'll hold their attention longer.
Last time when we walked in with our freshly showered, well dressed family ,things were looking good. While my husband perused the desert menu list, I got the kids settled with their Picture books and a couple of hot wheels cars. They got a little squirmy when the food didn't come out as fast as they are used to. Once the food did come, one of the boys needed a diaper change. Then as soon as I got back from the restroom, my other son decided he had to go too. But you know what? It was a pretty pleasant experience. In fact, we had fun... and dessert was over-the-top amazing.
All those people looking at us with the "oh aren't they a cute family" look had no idea the amount of prep that went into that dinner. I looked like a Mom with my act together, which I am so not.
Cute :)
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