Asked to stop nursing at Chilis *updated post 46

[FoxintheSnow]

A friend and I went to Chilis for dinner last night. DD was really cranky and took forever to get latched on. When she finally got latched on our waitress came up to our table and said:

"We've gotten some complaints about what you're doing so could you please stop or turn and face the wall at least?"

I was stunned! I simply replied "no" and continued my conversation. She kept standing there and I looked at her again and said "My baby needs to eat" she walked away and we didnt get service again until the check came. There were definitely people gawking, but we were in a booth so they had to go out of their way to see and be bothered.

I dont really care about other people's opinions about me nip, but I cant imagine if I was a mom who was really shy about nip.

[grniys]

This makes me so mad! I eat at Chilis all the time.

Have you considered talking to the manager there?

Seriously, face the wall? Grrr.

[New_Natural_Mom]

I nursed in Chili's with no issue on 2 separate occassions. It must have been that location or those people. I definitely would have spoken to the manager.

[hellyaellen]

yeah because that is not an issue a server needs to be handling. ideally they would tell the manager who would then talk to the offensded table and give them an awesome probreastfeeding spiel and offer to move them then go apologize to you and comp your desert.

ok maybe thats just my fantasy world but really thats some the manager would have probably prefered to handle and may well have handled completely differently.

does chilis have a coporate policy towards nursing?

[PassionateWriter]

i would have spoken to the manager. and i would be calling today. i would be PO'd.

[FoxintheSnow]

I just sent an email to their corporate office. We'll see if I hear back...

[Teyu]

Oh how lame. "What you're doing," pft. THE ACT WHICH MUST NOT BE NAMED. O NOZ!!!!

If that were me I would have been tempted to rant, rave, then leave without paying, shooting every single person in the restaurant a dirty look on my way out.

[InstinctiveMom]

((hugs))
Good on you for sending them an email!

[Limabean1975]

If you don't get a satisfactory response, consider posting in your tribal area to round up some help for a nurse-in at Chili's!

[rmzbm]

Wow! Good for you, eagerly awaiting an update on the email! :

[zensven42]

please report this incident using the BF discrimination report form at http://www.firstright.org/

Firstright is trying to organize the fight against BF discrimination.

Thanks!!

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by Jokerama

I just sent an email to their corporate office. We'll see if I hear back...

Glad you sent the letter. Keep us posted.

[tallulahma]

you should also contact FIRST RIGHT

http://firstright.org/

[mamaverdi]

and

[Equuskia]

Hope you didn't tip her either. That is extremely rude to not attend you except for bringing your check. You have a problem with a customer, you call a manager. Very poor customer service.

[blessed]

I'm wondering what state that happened in, and what city if you want to share.

It's hard to believe they were receiving 'some complaints'. I've never seen people do anything other than smile approvingly when a woman breastfed (when they could even tell what was going on, which usually most people are missing it because it's too subtle).

It was probably just the waitress who was offended the entire time.

[ambivamom]

Originally Posted by Equuskia

Hope you didn't tip her either. That is extremely rude to not attend you except for bringing your check. You have a problem with a customer, you call a manager. Very poor customer service.

ITA. The issue here was poor customer service from your server. It is also a problem of poor management if the server told the manager about it, and was told to solve it in this way.

I am a manager in a restaurant and there is no way a sever should have to handle this. Servers are (ideally) capable and professional problem-solvers for the meal itself. Other issues, particularly problems with other diners, should be handled by higher-ups, if only to guard the servers themselves from losing income due to inter-diner squabbling, or some other factor they cannot control.

Thumbs down to that Chili's, and I hope that your email will help to educate them. Please suggest that they encourage every Chilis to have a well-understood policy about breastfeeding in the restaurant, and how the management will handle *the ones who are offended.*

[New_Natural_Mom]

Let's not vilify the whole chain for something 1 server in 1 restaruant in the chain did. It was completely inappropriate and the manager should have dealt with that person, but I don't think Chili's as a whole has a problem with breastfeeding (at least in my personal experience.)

[apelilae]

Good for you for sticking up for your DD and your rights! Sorry that happened to you though... so annoying. Keep us posted to what happens.

[HarperRose]

Originally Posted by New_Natural_Mom

Let's not vilify the whole chain for something 1 server in 1 restaruant in the chain did. It was completely inappropriate and the manager should have dealt with that person, but I don't think Chili's as a whole has a problem with breastfeeding (at least in my personal experience.)

I agree. I've never had ANY problem nursing my kids in Chili's and we've been faithful patrons of the chain since my oldest was born 8 yrs ago. In those 8 yrs we've eaten at 4 different locations (in 3 different cities) and I've nursed each of my 3 kids at every one of them on a very regular basis. I have NEVER had an issue.

Keep us posted, though. I'd hate for this to become another Applebee's. : And I'd be very disappointed to have to boycott them because I really like their turkey sandwiches.