Pei-Wei is one of our favorite restaurants to go to as a family. The food is incredible, and it’s kind of a loud place, so the kids’ silliness doesn’t disturb anyone. It is, however, a challenge at times to keep all four kids out of trouble while we wait in line to order our food.
One evening after we ordered, seeing our table was ready, I took the three girls and sat down while Jason, holding our two-year-old boy, finished paying. As my husband put little Jason in his high chair, I noticed our toddler was holding a gigantic chocolate chip cookie. “Where did he get this?” I demanded.
You see, my husband tends to be a little one tracked. I could already see the whole scenario in my mind. I pictured Jason paying and our little guy taking the opportunity to steal a cookie without being noticed. Similar things have happened. Jason, knowing what I was thinking, decided to have a little fun and let me believe it. So as he struggled to get our boy into the highchair, I haggled with Jason over what to do about the cookie. Finally, he told me with a smile that the cashier had given Jason Jr. the cookie. In my surprise I blurted out, “You mean she just gave him the cookie?” right as the restaurant manager walked by. He stopped and good naturedly asked about it. As he walked away, I was horrified, thinking that I had probably just gotten the kind cashier in all kinds of trouble.
As we were finishing our meal, our girls were getting down to the music, and all without leaving their seats. I mean, they were having an all-out jam session. I was actually enjoying the fun, and to tell the truth, I would have liked to join in. Sometimes it just stinks to be a grown up! But they were beginning to draw attention. As I was about to tell them to tone it down a little, the manager walked by, whispered, “Nice moves,” and kept going. Well, there would be no stopping them now. Smiling ear to ear, they danced with renewed vigor. Pretty soon the manager came back with another gigantic chocolate chip cookie and gave it to the girls “for their great dancing.”
We all left the restaurant full and happy. The food was amazing, and the service was fabulous. The cookies were so good I think we’ll have to buy some on our next visit!
I’m linked to Making My Home Sing Monday.
Robin says
March 26, 2011 at 7:26 amHa ha ha… So many things are funnny about this story…
Ruth says
March 26, 2011 at 8:26 amThat’s awesome! I love family-friendly places, where they actually *encourage* the laughter and fun. We have a place like that in town, an Italian place named Tony’s. (What else?) We all LOVE it, and the kids always beg to eat there if we’re going out. They even know how to get there from our house, five miles away…
Christa says
March 26, 2011 at 8:37 amSo fun! Sounds like great service! So glad you were able to enjoy it. 😀
Renee Ann says
March 26, 2011 at 9:46 amSounds like your family entertains wherever you go! Fun!
Nancy says
March 26, 2011 at 10:10 amI think it’s great you allow the kids to be happy and themselves in this type of situation — when I was growing up, my mom would have been horrified if we put our elbows on the table. 🙂
Danna says
March 26, 2011 at 10:18 amThat is so sweet! What a nice thing for the manager to do. I think it is nice when kids are allowed to be kids, you are an amazing mother!
colleen says
March 26, 2011 at 12:16 pmWhat an awesome and funny story Esther! It is the little things like that that just make a memory and a night!:)
Ken Barnes says
March 26, 2011 at 1:55 pmEsther, when you’re old and have grandchildren, you’ll have occasion to sit by yourself in a rocker or swing or whatever and remember times like that. You’ll sit there by yourself and die laughing. ( And people passing by will think, ( “poor thing”). HA!
Rachel says
March 26, 2011 at 3:20 pmI am so happy when I see kids who are allowed to be kids even in a restaurant. I grew up expected to behave like a mini adult especially in public! I love that you chose a restaurant that the kids can be a little more relaxed in rather than expect them to conform to a quieter place!
Tanya says
March 26, 2011 at 6:30 pmThat sounds like a wonderful dining experience. What I wonder is, why do they only give kids cookies? I would’ve danced for a cookie, especially if it was chocolate chip! Glad y’all had a good time. I miss eating out with the family. We only do that once or twice a year because my little L can’t handle the dining experience. One of his autism things is that he is constantly LOUD! Other diners tend not to like that.
Glad y’all had a good time!
Cookie says
March 26, 2011 at 6:32 pmHi Esther!!! Oh my! I envy you for allowing your kids to have all that fun. I admit I can be a kill-joy mommy at times especially if we’re at a public place. But I guess it was so nice to have a place like that where kids can really be kids, THAT would be such a blessing! Anyway, stay happy mama! Stay blessed!
Skyler Ashley says
March 26, 2011 at 7:39 pmAaah! .>
Skyler Ashley says
March 26, 2011 at 7:40 pmAaah! .>
(And I don’t know what is wrong with my computer, just a by the way. :/
Skyler Ashley says
March 26, 2011 at 7:41 pmAaah! I totally would have joined in!!! Perhaps this is why people still mistake me for 15… >.>
Ross says
March 27, 2011 at 5:42 amHa!Ha! This is great! We have kids that are like yours. They like to put on a show wherever we go. Nice site you have! I really like it.I’ll be back now to follow it and read more great posts.
momstheword says
March 27, 2011 at 10:41 pmI have never heard of that restaurant but it sounds very family friendly! Glad you had a good time.
I remember when the kids were little I wanted to train them not to accept candy or anything from strangers. And then you go into a store like Costco and they’re offered all sorts of treats from strangers!
I remember going to Costco one time and someone offered my four year old son a candy and he just seemed so startled, so I figured I’d done my job, lol!
After that, whenever we were at Costco and someone offered us a snack, I always asked them to hand it to me and I’d give it to my child. That way, he’d know it was o.k.
Of course, now you can go to the Bank and all sorts of places and they’ll be offered a goodie, lol! Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday!
Joyfull says
March 28, 2011 at 10:32 amThat was a great dining experience! Thanks for sharing such a good night out!
Susan Evans says
March 29, 2011 at 5:11 pmSo many families are anti-joy in public. Hurray for joyful families!