No Babies Allowed: Mooresville Restaurant Bans Kids Under 5

MOORESVILLE, NC -- If you’re hungry for Italian but have kids under five, you’re going to need a babysitter if you want to eat at Caruso’s in Mooresville.

The owner of the high-end Italian restaurant on Brawley School Road has banned children under five, saying they don’t blend well with the upscale atmosphere. Its Yelp profile also says that it is not a good restaurant for kids.

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Community reaction to the no-kid policy has been both negative and supportive, with social media comments revealing an interesting line in the sand between parents with young children and those, well, who really don’t like the idea of breaking bread with them anywhere around.

One mother of five children ranging from ages eight years old to 18 said her children’s restaurant behavior was shaped from a young age. “I think a big part of this equation is taking your kids to restaurants at young ages and setting proper expectations for behavior when they are young!” she said. “I’ll be willing to bet that the kids that misbehave the most , are ones that rarely ever eat in restaurants! I think it’s wrong to exclude all families with your children.”

“What’s the big deal?” said Eran Maron on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “Tons of bars don’t let people under the age of 21 get in. Same thing. They have a specific niche and it’s not meant for little babies. Go somewhere else.”

Commenter Bethany Paine said she didn’t think the policy, which caps the ban at age five, went far enough in keeping kids out of nice restaurants.

"Tired of having nights out ruined by children," wrote Jenna Dale.

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