New Franklin Park Restaurant Bans Children Under 5
We all know what it’s like to look forward to going to a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. You anticipate spending time with a spouse, partner, or date for a pleasant evening with a peaceful dining experience.
However, what we never plan on is that infant or toddler at the next table shrieking or screaming incessantly. That unforeseen experience immediately destroys that pleasurable and romantic dinner you dreamed of all week.
There’s one restaurant in Franklin Park, Somerset County that’s instituted a new rule that seeks to eliminate such an unfortunate and dissatisfying dining encounter.
Franklin Park Restaurant Says “No” to Young Children
If your commute includes Route 27 then you may be familiar with the Indian Fusion Franklin Park Restaurant in Somerset County which has garnered some headlines and conversation recently. The attention they’ve attracted is not just for their food or service but for their customer restrictions.
Andaaz restaurant at 3059 Route 27 in Franklin Park, New Jersey is described as a slightly upscale, high-end feeling, stylish Indian affair. The owners have recently instituted a rule restricting children age 5 and younger. When they opened their doors less than two months ago they began with a 10-and-under rule.
Since then the Franklin Park restaurant owners Manan and Charu Saxena have loosened the rules a bit to allow older children to enjoy their cuisine. However, it’s very clear that their top-notch chefs do not focus on pleasing children’s palates.
The first thing you see when you visit the Franklin Park restaurant’s website is a pop-up notification that says, “Please note that Andaaz does have a strict dress code policy (business/smart casual attire) and reservation policy.
Children under the age of 5 are not permitted for dinner service.” There is no mistaking their strict policies.
Personally, my kids are older, but I would not choose to dine at a restaurant that has such restrictions. However, if my wife or friends wanted to eat there, I would try it.
If you approve of the policies and want to enjoy the cuisine and classy atmosphere, the menu looks fantastic and includes Manchow soup with crispy glass noodles, pan-seared scallops with crispy wild rice, candied ginger, and Thai curry foam, plus vegan options.
Caution: 6 Foods You May Want to Avoid at Restaurants
Tap Water
Even with filtration in place, restaurant water might not be as pristine as one would assume. A study conducted by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that approximately 3-10% of water systems in North America have annually violated health standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and this includes restaurants, as reported by the water filtration company, Quench. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to find germs and chemicals in restaurant tap water that could potentially affect the health of patrons. Common impurities detected in tap water supplies consist of microorganisms like bacteria, germs, parasites, and viruses, as well as substances like lead, chlorine, aluminum, pesticides, and others.
naumoid/ Getty Images
Raw Sprouts
If sprouts aren’t properly stored and cleaned, they can become quite risky. Unfortunately, when ordering food at a restaurant, we may not witness this process. Sprouts are commonly cultivated in warm, moist conditions, which makes them an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, according to Health Digest. Recent outbreaks of E. coli and Salmonella have been potentially linked to these greens.
Nataliya Kushnir/ Getty Images
Drink Garnishes
Bartenders often don’t have to follow the same stringent sanitary standards as the kitchen staff. As a result, the fruits used in drinks are likely to be unwashed, and they might sit out for days without refrigeration. According to Good Housekeeping, it’s worth giving a second thought to that citrus fruit you might be adding to your drink while dining out. A study revealed that 70% of these sliced fruits carry “over 25 different types of germs.” Contrary to popular belief, even alcohol doesn’t seem to do the trick in killing these germs. Good Morning America visited six restaurants and discovered that the lemons were teeming with “fecal matter” and even harbored the dreaded E. coli bacteria.
baibaz/ Getty Images
Fish
Consider giving those impromptu “All-You-Can-Eat” fish special days a second thought. The fish served on such occasions is often leftovers from a shipment received a few days prior, which means it may not be at its freshest. According to Healthline, fish not stored at the proper temperature might become contaminated with a toxin known as histamine, which is produced by bacteria in the fish. Moreover, Healthline highlights that cooking at regular temperatures does not eliminate histamine, making it a potential cause of food poisoning.
rez-art/ Getty Images
Bottled Ketchup
Whether your ketchup bottle is already on the table at a restaurant or brought to you by the server, chances are it has been handled by multiple people throughout the day or even longer. Making it a potential carrier of germs. Reader’s Digest explains that the reason these same bottles keep circulating is that the ketchup in each of them is often “married.” This means that as the volume of ketchup decreases in individual bottles, servers will combine the contents of several bottles into one. However, there is a downside to this practice: you may end up consuming ketchup of an unknown age or expiration date, leading to an unpleasant taste.
DGLimages/ Getty Images
Fresh Squeezed Juices
It might be worth reconsidering your choice, just as you skip adding garnishes to your drink. Freshly squeezed juices can be teamed with bacteria, unlike pasteurized juices. A study conducted by the MSU Extension reveals that most commercially sold juices in the United States are processed or pasteurized to eliminate harmful foodborne illness bacteria. However, when fruits are freshly squeezed into juice, there is a risk of harmful bacteria lingering in the finished product.
ValentynVolkov/ Getty Images
