Customers furious over local restaurant's sign towards families

MONTEREY, Calif. -- One of the busiest restaurants on Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey offended some parents when it posted a sign prohibiting strollers, high chairs, booster seats, loud kids, and crying babies.

The signs at Old Fisherman's Grotto also say that if children or babies make loud noises, they will be asked to leave.

Tourists on the wharf believe the signs are offensive.

"I think it's ridiculous," tourist Teresa Colombani said. "I think kids need to know how to behave in restaurants, and if you don't take them to them, they don't know how to behave and they shouldn't be kept hidden away, so I think it's ridiculous. Kids should be allowed in restaurants."

By banning strollers, high chairs, and booster seats, babies would have a very tough time at Old Fisherman's Grotto. The restaurant's owner, Chris Shake, said if customers don't like the rules, they can go somewhere else for dinner. Shake added that he isn't backing down.

"If a place has the rules, that's what the rules are," Shake said. "You go in and abide by the rules or you find a place more suitable for you."

Customer Niki Riviere was turned away from the restaurant because she couldn't get a high-chair for her 6-month-old child. "I'm completely shocked because I never had that happen," Riviere said. "Usually they cater, at least have a high chair for the child, but it seemed like they didn't want any child. They said the child can't make any noises so they turned us away."

Tourist Kelly Lozano said, "I would probably not go there to not deal with that sort of atmosphere. It surprises me because this is a family place -- where you go with your kids for vacation."

Shake said not only does he stand by the signs, but said his business has never been better.

"Well, let's put it this way -- I haven't had a down year for over 20 years and our business continues to grow," Shake said.

The restaurant put two signs up two years ago and added a third sign last month.