Australia is divided – and for once, it’s not over politics, petrol prices or whether pineapple belongs on pizza. This time, it’s about a Port Stephens restaurant asking children to remain seated while dining.
Laguna Blu Bar & Dining recently gained national attention after a TikTok mum shared a sign spotted at the venue, “We appreciate well behaved children, and require them to remain seated at all times.”
The sign ends with a courteous thank you for understanding, which, in true internet fashion, nobody did.
The mum in question called the sign a bit “blunt” and labelled the request “somewhat unrealistic” – especially when it comes to toddlers, whose main food groups are crayons and movement.
Enter: Sunrise’s Nat Barr, who weighed in during Hot Topics alongside Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli.
Barr, coming in hot with a reasonable middle ground, said, “It feels like they have had some incidents [of kids running under waiters’ feet].”
She added, “If you are the waiters and you have kids around your feet and (you’re) carrying hot or heavy stuff or glasses, you might support the sign.”
Zempilas, meanwhile, was less sold on the strict wording.
“Look, there is always a balance,” he said.
“Kids need to be under control to a degree when they are at restaurants and formal settings, but also the restaurant owners need to understand there is a certain tolerance that needs to be made.
“Kids can’t all sit still throughout an entire meal.
“The sign is a tiny bit extreme.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli zeroed in on one particular phrase that triggered her inner parenting instincts.
“The rest of it is perfectly fine,” she explained.
“I think they might have just said ‘as long as you can’ or ‘as much as you can’ or ‘please try’.
“I think it is the fact ‘at all times’. We cannot do that at all times.
“Kids need to move around to go to the bathroom or whatever. Nobody wants kids climbing all over the tables or the chairs or running about, and nobody, not even the other customers, want kids dancing in the aisle.
“It is safety. It is about comfort in the restaurant and being sensible.”
As the debate continued to rage in the comments section of TikTok and probably one too many Facebook mums’ groups, the restaurant issued a statement to The Daily Telegraph, clarifying that the sign was not part of an anti-child conspiracy, but rather a practical PSA.
“Laguna Blu Bar & Dining welcomes families and children and is proud to offer a variety of kids’ meals and family-friendly dining options,” they said.
“Recently, a notice displayed in our restaurant has drawn some online attention. The purpose of this sign is purely to promote safety and comfort for all guests.
“As our venue is located within a resort and surrounded by an infinity pool, the outdoor flooring can occasionally become slippery.
“In addition, we serve hot dishes, such as meals in cast iron skillets and beverages including wine and cocktails. For this reason, we kindly ask parents to ensure their children remain seated and supervised during their visit.
“We want to make it clear that Laguna Blu is a welcoming space for everyone. Our goal has always been to provide a safe, relaxed, and enjoyable experience for all our guests.”
Images: Sunrise/TikTok
