A mom was asked to leave an Ottawa restaurant by another patron. Was her baby wailing so loud that he disturbed other diners? Nope. Simply babbling.
According to an article in the Ottawa Citizen, Vanessa Ettinger was having dinner with a friend when she was confronted by another person eating at a ByWard Market restaurant.
“Can you take your baby and leave?” a man at a nearby table said of Ettinger's four-month-old son, Gabriel.
It took a moment for her to realize the comment was directed at her. There were approximately 10 people at the man's table, and 25 in the restaurant. All eyes locked on Ettinger.
“Yes, and I’m serious,” the man went on. “We’re having a conversation here and we can’t think.”
No one said a word. Ettinger was dismayed that the baby talk should disturb a table whose volume was considerably louder than that of little Gabriel.
So Ettinger paid for her unfinished $85 meal, packed up her baby, and took leave. Staff did nothing because they hadn't witnessed the exchange, though they later refunded the cost of her meal.
The ByWard Market restaurant claims to be child-friendly, with high chairs, booster seats and infant carriers provided.
The trendy wine bar, also in Ottawa, that pitted tots against foodies was taken to the Human Rights Tribunal.
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