My wife and I went to Ryans tonight for the first time in awhile. I got a high chair and sat the baby in the high chair (pushed it under the table so she could eat at the table) while my wife made her plate. The waitress came over, got our drink orders and went to get them. When my wife got back, I went to make my plate.

When I came back, my wife had a disgusted look on her face and was sitting at a table in the middle of the restaurant. I sat down and asked her why she moved and she told me a waitress told her we could not sit in a booth with a high chair. She was told it was a fire hazard.

I asked for the manager, who told me that it was not that it was a fire hazard, but that the fire marshal came in and told them that they could not block the 'traffic areas' with high chairs. The booth was on the front wall (by the windows), no more a 'traffic area' than between the tables (to go to the food bars).

My question is, has anyone else heard this? I have eaten at nearly every restaurant in this town and I always request a booth. No other restaurant has ever told me I could not eat at a booth with a high chair. I have seen many parents in other restaurants using high chairs at booths. Im wondering if this truely is a fire hazard issue or if they were trying to keep a booth saved for someone else who might have more than two people sitting there.

Kirk

I've never had it happen here, but we recently went to the beach (in Florida), and that is what we were told at every restaurant we went too down there.

Sorry, Kirk. But enjoy that time with the little one in a high chair. My youngest is now too big for those and she spends her time trying to jump in the chair or on the bench in the booth. Wish I could buckle her in again.

Let me see if I can shed some insight into what you experienced. In this case, I’m afraid to say that the waitress was somewhat correct, depending on the location of the booth in which you were seated at as it related to the nearest emergency exit. I would also have to disagree with manager, as they apparently did not totally understand the concept of the fire marshal’s directive.

Restaurants are classified as assembly occupancies and are required to meet certain codes and standards which include fire and life safety codes. Depending on where you are located, depends on what code standard applies. Some municipalities have adopted the codes of NFPA (National Fire Prevention Authority) while others have adopted the IBC (International Building Codes). I am more familiar with the NFPA codes so my response is geared more toward my knowledge of them.

Every assembly occupancy is required to develop an emergency operations plan, which is supposed to be reviewed and update annually. As part of the plan, they will have certain areas of their dinning areas designated as part of their emergency egress plan. This usually includes the primary isles and the isles immediately around the interior walls of the dinning area. That is why you usually set booths against walls and movable tables/chairs toward the center of the dinning room. These isles are required to be as free of obstacles in order to prevent delay in escaping the building in the event of an emergency.

The larger the occupancy, the more fire/life safety features are required. Having not done a review of Ryan's, I'm not sure as to the placement and the development of their emergency plan and interior fixtures.

This is also some of the same reasoning that most fast food establishments seat 59 persons or less.

We had the same thing happen at Ruby Tuesday's.We were told the same thing about not being able to sit in a booth due to concern over blocking fire exits.

but you can go in there any given time and see some 350-400lb person with their chair scooted out in the middle of the aisle because they're too big to fit under the table

I haven't had this happen at Ryan's but it did happen to us at Ruby Tuesday in MS. We were in Ryan's just a couple of days ago & there were two booths with children in high chairs. I guess it depends on your waitress if the rule is enforced or not.

Ask for a booster seat or bring your own instead of a full high chair and then you can still sit in a booth without blocking everyone.

It's like most other rules and regulations, it probably is a new rule that some know and some do not know about.

Im glad to hear that someone else has experienced it. You know, I could understand if it were a table that we moved into the path, but a high chair is no different from a chair, highly moveable. And, believe me, if there were a reason to evacuate, the baby would not be there and the high chair would be the least of anyones worries, considering all the chairs that are at the tables directly across from the booths. I doubt anyone would be kind enough to push them back in....

Kirk

When I taught elememtary school we had to leave what I considered a too wide aisle down the middle of the multi-purpose room. I thought the aisle was way too wide at the crowded programs - but I was not the fire marshal! It was strictly enforced!

I try not to visit the buffet only restaurants, due to a stomach problem I have, but hopefully this Ryans will soon be changed to add back menu items similar to the way they used to be. Some of the Huntsville stores have already been updated/converted and I was told by a Management official at Ryan's HQ that the Florence store was slated for conversion in the fourth quarter of the year so we'll see.

I realize this doesn't have to do with the initial context of this topic but since it was talking about Ryans I thought I would add this in.

What certain menu items? BTW i feel for you havin stomach problems thats hell

I think the message from restaurants is clear..."We are not making money off babies and toddlers, hire a baby sitter and leave them at home". I would be inclined to contact the fire marshall and see if this is a safety requirement. I know RYANS LIED TO ME ABOUT CARRY OUT CUPS FOR COFFEE.

quote:

Originally posted by Timothy Statum:
What certain menu items? BTW i feel for you havin stomach problems thats hell

Although the upline manager didn't share that with me and I haven't been to one of the modified restaurants I understand and have heard items like some steaks ( rib eyes, filets, and possibly a marinated steak) and items like their old Hawaiian Chicken (marinated chicken). Again I don't know for sure that all that will be able to be ordered ala-carte but that's what I'm understanding. Time will tell.

As for the stomach problems .. appreciate the comments but with Crohn's you have to watch what you eat.