Eating off the Kids' Menu

I don't know a lot about the food industry, but can someone tell me why a restaurant would care if an adult ordered off the kids' menu? I don't eat a lot, and unless we're eating at a local restaurant, and I can take the leftovers home, it doesn't make sense to order a regular entree, especially when portions are so large. Any ideas???

kids menus are a promotion, a way of encouraging adults to bring their kids to the restaurant, expecting the adults to buy full meals. Just like 'kids eat free'.
If they let an adult eat of the kids menu without ordering a full meal, they could lose money on the visit.

I have always assumed that it is to maintain/increase the per-adult-customer revenue. If you were willing to pay "adult" prices, they would probably be willing to serve you "kid's" portions. The lower priced, smaller portion items on the menu are perhaps offered as a courtesy to parents (to encourage them to dine there) when the bulk of the kid's meal is more likely to wind up on the floor anyway.

(Ooops! Slow getting my now-redundant comment posted.)

Quote: bookkeeper

I don't know a lot about the food industry, but can someone tell me why a restaurant would care if an adult ordered off the kids' menu? I don't eat a lot, and unless we're eating at a local restaurant, and I can take the leftovers home, it doesn't make sense to order a regular entree, especially when portions are so large. Any ideas???

a lot of the times the kid item is the same as the adult one but only difference is the price. I use to work at steak and ale and the kids steak was a 6oz sirloin, and well there was just a 6oz sirloin on the dinner menu only difference is the price.

Oh and another reason, YOU'RE NOT A KID. If you want a kids meal go to McDonalds they won't say anything and you'll get a toy

Quote: dwheatley

kids menus are a promotion, a way of encouraging adults to bring their kids to the restaurant, expecting the adults to buy full meals. Just like 'kids eat free'.
If they let an adult eat of the kids menu without ordering a full meal, they could lose money on the visit.

This is the correct answer. Do you really think restaurants can make money serving up the $2.99 kids meal? BTW, if you really want the kids meal, you can usually call in your order and pick it up from carry-out. They will sometimes let that fly.

While I have never done this in a restaurant, when I am working as a DJ at a catered event, I will often ask what is on the kids menu. I get shocked looks when I do so, and even bigger surprises when I select a kids item, but I've never been refused.

on my last trip i had a coupon for a free buffet at the M, which btw i feel is one of the best in vegas. while there a young boy and his dad was getting their food and while the dad was carrying a typical plate full of food the boy was happily holding his 'one' banana! it made me think, wow that's one expensive banana! of course i don't know if the boy ate anything else, but it couldn't have been much. upon leaving i had to find out how much kids pay and as this was the sunday brunch it was something like 18 dollars for 5 to 9 year olds. this boy had to be right around 5 so if the dad had to pay for him, ouch!

as we like the M buffet so much we ate there again on this trip, and while there the table next to us had a young family with 4 kids. the oldest may have been around 9, and none of them had very much in the way of food on their plate. for example one boy had one slice of pizza and a bowl of soup. as we were there before them i know none went back for seconds except for maybe a small desert. after one of the boys finished his meager meal i heard him tell the mom, "i'm finished mom"! i thought, ouch again!

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Quote: inap

on my last trip i had a coupon for a free buffet at the M, which btw i feel is one of the best in vegas. while there a young boy and his dad was getting their food and while the dad was carrying a typical plate full of food the boy was happily holding his 'one' banana! it made me think, wow that's one expensive banana! of course i don't know if the boy ate anything else, but it couldn't have been much. upon leaving i had to find out how much kids pay and as this was the sunday brunch it was something like 18 dollars for 5 to 9 year olds. this boy had to be right around 5 so if the dad had to pay for him, ouch!

as we like the M buffet so much we ate there again on this trip, and while there the table next to us had a young family with 4 kids. the oldest may have been around 9, and none of them had very much in the way of food on their plate. for example one boy had one slice of pizza and a bowl of soup. as we were there before them i know none went back for seconds except for maybe a small desert. after one of the boys finished his meager meal i heard him tell the mom, "i'm finished mom"! i thought, ouch again!

.

(A) Another reason Vegas is not for kids.
(B) They can make up for it when the kids are teenagers -- at least the boys. Hear that loud sucking sound as all the food leaves my fridge? Of course, with teenage boys, the parents will realize point (A) and leave the kids at home.

Quote: iamthepush

If you want a kids meal go to McDonalds they won't say anything and you'll get a toy

Well, not all the time. I have been occassionaly denied a toy (without a price adjustment), with the excuse that, "it is just for kids".

McDonald's in some areas are now running a promotion where you can order the burger, fries and drink, (but no toy), as a package. It runs around twenty-five to fifty cents (USD) less than the corresponding "Happy Meal" (which basically cover the cost of the toy. Note that some of the toys in Happy Meals are quite costly (over a $1 to the operator), and are loss leaders for restaurant owners who hope to recoup the money in the accompanying adult purchase.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Well, not all the time. I have been occassionaly denied a toy (without a price adjustment), with the excuse that, "it is just for kids".

McDonald's in some areas are now running a promotion where you can order the burger, fries and drink, (but no toy), as a package. It runs around twenty-five to fifty cents (USD) less than the corresponding "Happy Meal" (which basically cover the cost of the toy. Note that some of the toys in Happy Meals are quite costly (over a $1 to the operator), and are loss leaders for restaurant owners who hope to recoup the money in the accompanying adult purchase.

I guess if you explicitly tell them this is not for a child then I guess you wouldn't get a toy.

Quote: bookkeeper

can someone tell me why a restaurant would care if an adult ordered off the kids' menu?

same reason you can't get a senior citizen discount for coffee (if you're not a senior).

Quote: iamthepush

I guess if you explicitly tell them this is not for a child then I guess you wouldn't get a toy.

I think the frontline staff was given explicit instructions to hand out toys only if a child was present.

Quote: Ayecarumba

I think the frontline staff was given explicit instructions to hand out toys only if a child was present.

sometimes my kids are not with me or in the line of sight when I order and have yet had to call 911 b/c of no toy, in addition my rear windows are limo tent so when in the drive thru they can't tell if I have kids with me.

I used to order the Kids Meal at Burger King. Everything else had too many calories, plus I could get milk with it. I always got the toy. There are adult nerds who like to collect the toys. Some are very highly collectible. Nowadays, the combo meals are so cheap it is a better deal to get them than the kids meal. For example, at the Wendy's restaurants near me, you can get a double bacon cheeseburger, large-ish fries, and a large drink for $2.99. That's like 1979 prices. Help for my wallet--not my waistline.