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• Feb 27, 2007 7:36 am US/Eastern
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  CBS 2 Exclusive: Restaurant Doesn't Serve Kids

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CBS 2 Exclusive: Restaurant Doesn't Serve Kids

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NEW YORK (CBS) ― Is there a growing anti-kid sentiment in this country? In a hidden camera investigation, CBS 2's Consumer Reporter, Kirstin Cole, found, one local restaurant not very tolerant of tots.

Take a look. It's a mother-daughter night out. We're headed into Luigi Q's in Hicksville. A recent review says their "service is attentive and accommodating, smoothly turning first-timers into regulars." Except for one class of people.

"Oh we got a problem. We don't serve children," said the owner.

We were kicked out and we're not alone. Rose and Joe Fusilli tried to celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary at Luigi Q's, with their family, including grandson Anthony. But the Fusilli's, with Anthony in tow, didn't get far.

"They stood three abreast and didn't let us past the reception desk. They looked at him and said, 'we don't serve children,'" explained Rose. Think it's an odd, isolated case? You'd be wrong. "I've been kicked out of stores, seminars and restaurants," said Cornell University Professor and author, Meredith Small.

Small says it's all part of a growing anti-children trend. "When they make a policy that no children are allowed, it's a little Draconian, why not say if there is a screaming child and the parents don't get up to leave the waiter can come over over and say take your child outside, I think everybody would be happy with that," said Small.

When we went back to Luigi Q's for some answers, the owner told us he is one of the friendliest restaurants. "How do you reconcile being friendly guy, but yet slamming the door on the face of kids?" asked Kirstin Cole. "Let me know where you are going and I'll send a bottle of wine that was my way to say I'm sorry, I'm not a children type of place," said the owner.

Luigi Quarto insists it's legal, but the Fusillis said, "it's discriminatory and pretentious." And Nassau County agrees.

Under local statutes, it's illegal to discriminate based on age in a public facility such as a restaurant. But interestingly it's not illegal under NY State law. If you feel you or your child are being discriminated against, complain to the Human Rights Commission.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)