I heard about this on the radio this morning and the DJ said what I was thinking... Some restaurants are just more family-friendly than others. If you're at a place where a steak costs $40 that might not be the most appropriate place for small children. But if everyone is hungry and you want to eat out - some restaurants are totally doable for families with children. If the family needs to eat out in order to all be around the table together, by all means go for it. They also talked about other "adult intrusions" like a conversation at the theater or during a movie, someone talking loudly on a cell phone, that sort of thing.