The Bulletin, Bend / Central Oregon News
FEBRUARY 09, 2010 01:41 PM
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Baltazar Chavez, seen at his Mexican restaurant, Baltazar's, in Bend on Wednesday, has been criticized for how he deals with children there. He said he's not anti-children, but he doesn't necessarily want them at his establishment. He wants to make his restaurant different from other Mexican restaurants by creating an intimate and high-end setting. Chavez also owns El Pescador in Sunriver, which he says is child-friendly.
Pete Erickson / The Bulletin
Highchairs lead to high drama
Dispute over restaurant's child-friendliness escalates on the Web, raises larger issues
By Anna Sowa / The Bulletin
Published: April 26. 2007 4:00AM PSTYvette Nishikawa has no problem with restaurants that don't cater to children, and she understands youngsters can be a pain at fine-dining establishments, but a January dining experience she had at Baltazar's restaurant in Bend pushed her to confront the issue of family-friendly eateries.
"When you're a business owner in a family-friendly town such as Bend, you have to rise to a certain level of professionalism," she said. "I think Baltazar poorly conducted himself."
Nishikawa is referring to an issue she had with Baltazar's owner, Baltazar Chavez, which has spread through countless inboxes and blogs throughout Central Oregon, drawing more Baltazar's complaints and some Baltazar's defenders.
The issue also ignited a heated, emotional and often vulgar debate on the Craigslist Web site, begging the question of where children are accepted as restaurant patrons and whom business owners may choose to serve.
And it all started with highchairs.
In January, Nishikawa dined at Baltazar's - a Mexican restaurant with dinner entrees ranging from $10 to $60 on Southwest Knoll Avenue off Century Drive - with her husband, her newborn and two other couples, having left her two older children at home with a baby sitter. Nishikawa asked for a highchair for her baby but was told the restaurant offers no highchairs because Baltazar's doesn't "specialize in children."
She said servers made insulting and embarrassing comments to her about bringing her baby. At the end of the night, her group of six spent around $300 on the meal, she added.
Months passed and a couple weeks ago, Nishikawa's friends prompted her to write a letter to Baltazar's, describing the incident and what she said was "outrageously rude treatment." Chavez called her back and told her that he would not offer highchairs because he wants to discourage patrons from bringing children.
Then, the argument escalated, ending with Chavez acknowledging Wednesday that he shouted obscenities at Nishikawa, including, "Go to hell, you f------ b----!"
Nishikawa said he's never apologized.
On Friday, Nishikawa sent an e-mail to some of her friends describing the experience. Many are members of the Moms Club of Bend, of which Nishikawa is president. Those friends passed the e-mail along to other friends, and the episode quickly spread throughout the local blogosphere and Internet.
"My intention was not to put Baltazar's out of business," Nishikawa said of spreading the story. "I wanted to suggest to Baltazar that he consider getting a highchair or post a sign (saying children are not allowed)."
Bend resident Shannon Page received the e-mail. Although she didn't know Nishikawa, her story hit a nerve. Earlier this year, Page said she was similarly embarrassed by Chavez when she tried to dine at Baltazar's with her husband and small child. She said Baltazar's employees acted like she should know better than to bring her child there, although no posting expressed the rule.
"The issue is whether his policy is known and the way he handled it," she said. "If it's your policy, advertise it. Don't waste my time."
Chavez, a Bend father of three and grandfather of one, says he doesn't intend to post a "no children allowed" sign, hoping his lack of highchairs and printed children's menu do the trick.
He now apologizes for losing his temper with Nishikawa.
"I'm not going to deny I said that," Chavez said Wednesday. "But she made me crazy."
Chavez said he is not anti-children, but he doesn't necessarily want them at his restaurant. He wants to make his restaurant different from other Mexican eateries by creating an intimate and high-end setting.
Baltazar's has children's food items available, but they're not listed on the menu.
When the restaurant first opened eight months ago, Chavez offered highchairs, which he now stores in the restaurant's attic - where they'll stay. He says children create noise and mess and bother other patrons.
"You think I'm going to let infants come and trash my restaurant?" Baltazar said. "Children are welcome, but I do not have highchairs so people will understand that this is a more intimate restaurant."
Chavez, 37, also owns El Pescador in Sunriver, which he says is openly child-friendly.
He wants Baltazar's to be different.
"If you don't want kids (in your restaurant), that's your prerogative," he said. "It's a free country."
Business owners can refuse to serve anyone as long as they don't discriminate against protected classes, such as ethnic or religious groups, said Elizabeth Peters, director of communications for the Oregon Restaurant Association.
If the restaurateur, in general, wants to say "no children," he can, Peters said.
"A restaurant is not required to make infant seats available for customers," Peters added, citing Oregon and federal law.
Baby on board
Parents know which restaurants are kid-friendly and which aren't, Nishikawa said. And most parents take unruly children out of a restaurant or get their food to go if there's a problem.
Typically, noisy restaurants are ideal for squirmy, squealing children, she said, and many take the extra step of offering kid's menus, coloring materials or other activities for children.
Restaurants like Red Robin, Johnny Carino's and Yoko's tend to be the most child-friendly, Nishikawa said.
Many fancy restaurants, however, also take extra steps to accommodate youngsters.
At Ariana on Bend's west side, owner and chef Ariana Fernandez says she offers child-friendly food items, even though none is listed on the menu. Her cozy, intimate restaurant hasn't had any issues with children, even though some patrons have brought them.
"We naturally don't have a lot of people who bring kids," she said. "We've never turned away anyone with children."
At Merenda Restaurant and Wine Bar, General Manager Michael Denton said loud children would blend in with his often noisy restaurant.
"They hide quite well here," he joked.
The restaurant offers highchairs and a kid's menu, he said.
"For our business plan, it makes sense to have highchairs," he said, adding that he has two boys and his brother and Merenda owner, Jody Denton, has two little girls.
"I understand, to some extent, how certain restaurants don't cater to children," he said. "There are places I wouldn't take my kids."
Chavez hopes his restaurant's lack of highchairs and printed children's menu will keep it from becoming a rowdy eatery. He says he supports the Central Oregon community and is actively involved in it, and he hopes he doesn't lose customers due to the recent uproar about his business and the way he handles customers.
"Of course I'm worried," he said. "I have (children) to feed."
Anna Sowa can be reached at 383-0304 or asowa@bend bulletin.com.
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