Parents' shock after restaurant bill shows $4 discount for their 'Well Behaved Kids'

PUBLISHED: 12:15 EST, 7 February 2013 | UPDATED: 14:04 EST, 7 February 2013

A Washington couple were left stunned after their server handed them the bill for their family's dinner - and they saw they had been given a $4 discount for their 'Well Behaved Kids'.

Laura King and her husband took their three children, aged two, three and eight, to an Italian restaurant in Poulsbo to enjoy an early-evening meal last Friday.

As they tucked into their feast of pizza, pasta and mushroom ragu, the family discussed planets, racecars, zebra jokes, and commented on the warm decor of the restaurant, Mrs King said.

Just desserts: Laura King and her husband took their three children, ages 2, 3 and 8, for dinner and were given a $4 discount on their tab for their 'Well Behaved Kids'

'They were just being their normal selves,' she told Today.com of her children. 'Our server came to our table and just really thanked us for having exceptionally behaved children.'

After the server brought them a bowl of ice cream to share, they received the tab - and saw it had been discounted by $4 for 'Well Behaved Kids'.

More...

'A pleasant surprise after a lovely meal,' Mrs King wrote on her blog, after an image of the receipt was posted on Reddit and became an internet hit.

Rob Scott, who owns the Sogno di Vino restaurant, said he often offers complimentary desserts to families with well-mannered children, yet he had never put the discount on the receipt before.

Family outing: Mrs King, pictured with her family, said the children were just being 'their normal selves'

Together: She said that she and her husband, pictured, make sure they have a family dinner every night

He told Today.com that the children had said 'please' and 'thank you' and stayed in their seats during the meal - which is unlike many of the youngster who visit the restaurant.

'Sogno di Vino means "to dream of wine",' he said. 'It doesn’t mean Chuck E. Cheese. We love Chuck E. Cheese, they do a great job. That's why you go to Chuck E. Cheese, so the kids can play.'

On her blog, King wrote that she has always placed emphasis on good behaviour at the dinner table as she experienced rowdy families when she worked front of house in a restaurant.

'We eat most of our meals as a family around our kitchen table,' she said. 'It is one of the ways we come together throughout our week to talk about our lives, to catch up and to share our love.

Dinner: Staff at the Sogno di Vino in Poulsbro, Washington often give desserts for good behaviour but said this is the first time they have ever put it on a receipt

'Our kids are also encouraged to pick up on general etiquette at the table. That same etiquette occurs when we’re out at dinner.'

She added: 'We don’t expect handouts for acting respectful of the folks who bring us our food. But it certainly makes you feel good when someone else notices your kids in a positive light.'

Add your comments

Comments (106)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

I used to have people comment on how well behaved my children were, so much so my son always used to get free bones for the dog, it's lovely that people notice you are doing a good job and it reinforces to your children how they are expected to behave in the world. Sadly many parents now feel it's everyone elses job to raise their offspring. Well done guys.

- Penji , Hervey Bay, 08/2/2013 07:07

Click to rate Rating (0)

"He told Today.com that the children had said 'please' and 'thank you' and stayed in their seats during the meal - which is unlike many of the youngster who visit the restaurant." The children's behavior must have been so different than what the waiter usually sees - it's a good lesson for the kids. Good manners should be recognized.

- WHendricks , Arlington, United States, 08/2/2013 05:54

Click to rate Rating 8

This sounds great and cute and everything, but it is setting a bad precedent for the restaurant. Now every family is going expect a discount for well-behaved children. Maybe their kids actually won't be well-behaved, will that stop parents with entitlement syndrome from complaining about it? Maye their children will be well-behaved, but whatever server is arbitrarily handing out discounts doesn't give it to them?

- Meghan_Eileen , Florida, United States, 08/2/2013 04:14

Click to rate Rating 18

Cute family!

- GinGin , Meridian, United States, 08/2/2013 04:00

Click to rate Rating 35

I really, really want to raise happy and healthy kids who know how to behave - this is a nice little bit of inspiration :-)

- novembertea , novembertea, 08/2/2013 03:41

Click to rate Rating 50

ok, so they are basically insulted either way. A discount for well behaved kids? How about a charge for misbehaved kids? Come on? Some people gripe no matter what. It's the headline, not the topic. They want everyone to know they got their nose in a snit. Go away. Take your well behaved children and go away. Maybe cook at home.

- Panz , Internets, 08/2/2013 03:21

Click to rate Rating 57

That should be the expected level of behaviour for every child at those ages and at every other age as well. What this story exposes is today's dismal level of parenting skills resulting in abhorent social behaviour at all age levels. Had our children's social behaviour got seriously out of line they would experienced a warming of their posteriors and a warning to rectify their behaviour. They were fast learn ears and today, in their late thirties, their social behaviour is exemplary. It was likewise from the first moment they learned to walk. Their parents had high expectations and both children responded accordingly. It is not rocket science. Spare the rod and spoil the child should be learned by every parent.

- Eggan Friedbread , Place on Earth, Christmas Island, 08/2/2013 03:12

Click to rate Rating 28

Obviously, both parents were raised with manners as well so kudos to the grandparents!

- VRWCmama , San Diego, 08/2/2013 02:36

Click to rate Rating 85

@Waggle, Houston Texas...please don't give us a bad name, Thank you.

- Houston Texas Proud , Lone Star State, 08/2/2013 02:28

Click to rate Rating 11

May his tribe increase...

- depwavid , Panama City Beach, United States, 08/2/2013 02:19

Click to rate Rating 34

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.