Canada restaurant bans children under 15, gets one-star reviews before it even opens

A Jamaican restaurant owner in Canada has defended a rule limiting dine-in service to customers aged 15 and above. The policy has triggered criticism and reached the provincial human rights commission.Canada restaurant bans children under 15, gets one-star reviews before it even opens (Photo: Representational Image from Pexels)A Jamaican restaurant in Canada has found itself at the centre of a heated debate after announcing that children under 15 will not be allowed to dine in.Miss Christine’s Kitchen, which was preparing to open a new location on Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on November 30, had promoted its menu of Jamaican favourites including braised oxtail, jerk chicken and fried plantains. But it was the restaurant’s adults-only dining policy that drew the most attention.According to a report by the New York Post, owner and chef Christine Pattison announced on social media that the restaurant would only welcome customers aged 15 and above.Pattison said the decision was intended to preserve a quiet, intimate atmosphere for adults looking to relax, spend time together or enjoy a meal without distractions. She described the restaurant as a small, cosy space designed for customers who wanted a peaceful dining experience. The announcement received plenty of support from people who welcomed the idea of a child-free restaurant. Some parents also backed the policy, with one father of three young children saying that not every restaurant needed to accommodate kids.Others, however, strongly disagreed. Critics argued that restaurants should be open to families regardless of age and questioned whether excluding children was fair. The backlash went beyond angry comments. Pattison said some people posted one-star reviews containing claims about food poisoning and poor service, despite the restaurant not yet being open for dine-in service. She shared some of the reviews on the restaurant’s Facebook page and sought their removal.Pattison, who had worked in the restaurant industry for years, defended the decision by saying she had repeatedly seen children disturb other diners. She claimed some customers had previously requested later reservations or tables away from children.She also argued that the restaurant was not particularly suited to young children anyway, describing it as a darkly lit establishment with seating for around 30 people and little to keep children entertained.“Why are you bringing a child to a darkly lit restaurant that seats 30 people with nothing to entertain children?” Pattison said, according to the New York Post. She argued that parents could still order her food through takeout if they had younger children.Pattison acknowledged that the policy could cost her some customers but said she was prepared to stand by it. She said adults deserved a chance to have a break and insisted that the restriction did not prevent children from eating her food.The controversy also reached the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. Pattison later said she had been told that an allegation of discrimination would need to involve demonstrable harm or trauma before an investigation could be considered.Despite the criticism, Pattison remained firm on the policy and said the restaurant would continue with its 15-and-over dining rule when it opened on November 30.The debate also came as adults-only experiences were becoming more visible elsewhere. The New York Post noted that JetBlue and Virgin Voyages had recently teamed up for an adults-only travel experience, offering passengers aged 18 and above a chartered flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale.- Ends