but I'm going to make an exception here. I can't count the number of times I've had an otherwise pleasant meal ruined by out-of-control children at restaurants. Invariably the parents either think it's "cute" when their "little darlings" scream at the top of their lungs (I've literally heard parents say this!) or they're too tired or disinterested to care.

Most managers are very reluctant to say anything, for fear of (don't get me started on this!) "offending the offenders". That the manager did say something in this case, speaks volumes to me. I just don't believe that they would risk the ire of the typical entitlement-mentality ("I have children so everyone should love and accept them") parent if there wasn't a real problem.

Btw, perhaps it's just a sign of the times, but when I was a child, my parents never considered an establishment with a bar to be a "family place". And I was never allowed to scream, run wild, or act like anything but a proper gentleman in a restaurant.