A couple from Florida, Lyndsey Landmann and her husband Kyle, expressed their shock and dissatisfaction after they were charged an additional $50 ‘Parenting Surcharge’ at the Toccoa River Restaurant in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Kyle took to Google Reviews to express his disappointment with the restaurant’s decision, stating that the additional fee was added to their bill due to their children’s supposed disruptive behavior.
“The proprietor confronted me, stating that he would be adding a $50 charge to our bill because of the way my children were behaving,” Kyle wrote in his review. He emphasized that his children were engaged with a tablet until their food was served, ate quietly, and were taken outside by his wife while he settled the bill.
Lyndsey, Kyle’s wife, spoke to TODAY, expressing her dismay at the situation and insisting that their children were behaving appropriately. The couple was dining with their three young sons and four other families, comprising a total of eleven children aged between three to eight years.
“The children were seated at one end of the table, behaving exceptionally well,” Landmann recounted. “Halfway through our meal, I even remarked on how impressed I was with their behavior.”
The situation escalated when Tim Richter, the restaurant owner, approached the group after they had finished their dessert. He informed them of a surcharge mentioned on the menu, labelled as ‘Adult Surcharge: For adults unable to parent,’ accompanied by a call for respect towards the staff, property, and oneself.
Expecting a compliment on their children’s behavior, Landmann was taken aback when Richter stated that an additional $50 would be added to each bill at their table. When she inquired about the reason, Richter pointed out that the children were being ‘too loud’ and expressed his frustration about them ‘running around outside,’ despite being under adult supervision.
“He confronted us, stating that we should have been dining at a fast-food restaurant instead. When we asked to speak with the owner, he revealed that he was, in fact, the owner,” Landmann shared, adding that the entire restaurant watched as Richter raised his voice during the exchange.
Richter declined to appear on camera for comments, but shared with Channel 2 News that he introduced the surcharge a few years back during the pandemic. He mentioned that he had never applied the charge before, only issuing a warning to a previous family with unruly children.
While Richter emphasized his desire for parents to take responsibility for their children, several other Google Reviews highlighted concerns regarding the service quality and Richter’s demeanor, particularly towards families with children.
The Toccoa River Restaurant, nestled in the mountains and a two-hour drive from Atlanta, offers a range of seafood options with prices varying from $21 to $39. The menu also notes additional charges for large parties, separate checks, ordering from the birthday menu, and a $3 surcharge for sharing food. A special note mentions that the listed prices are for cash payments only, with an additional 3.5% charge for non-cash transactions.
In this renewed portrayal of events, the Landmann’s experience sheds light on the ongoing conversation surrounding children’s behavior in public spaces and the responsibilities of both parents and business owners.