SMC Restaurant Goes Viral For Unruly Child Policy

FOSTER CITY, CA — A Foster City restaurant is drawing widespread attention online after photos of its child behavior policy, printed on its menu, went viral.

Chez Xue asks parents to ensure children remain seated, respect other diners and avoid running, shouting or making noise with utensils. The policy warns that guests who don't follow the rules may be asked to leave and says parents will be held financially responsible for any damage caused by their children.

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"Chez Xue is a family-friendly restaurant. However, we are not a playground," the menu states.

An expandable section of the menu lists examples of recent damage, including a child who dropped a credit card reader, resulting in a $327.03 charge to the parent, a child who carved designs into a tabletop with a dining utensil, and another who knocked a teacup to the floor.

Owner You You Xue told SFGATE he was surprised by the viral attention but encouraged by the number of people who supported the policy.

"It was never an anti-children campaign," Xue told SFGATE, saying he added the policy to the menu earlier this year after years of witnessing disruptive behavior from both children and adults.

He said a child breaking a credit card terminal last April was the final straw that prompted him to put the expectations in writing.

The policy has sparked debate on social media, with some praising the restaurant for setting clear expectations while others argue the rules are too strict for a family-friendly establishment.