Here, children are welcome. At a time when the “no kids” trend is spreading everywhere (hotels, restaurants, SNCF…), the Cocina in Chatelain, Ixelles is going against the current.
“This is our most neighborhood-like restaurant. We wanted to reconnect with the family audience we had lost a bit”, explains Antoine Bradfer, one of the managers. “There is a no kid trend at the moment and we don’t feel aligned. On the contrary, we represent Italian cuisine which is a family cuisine. We want it to live and move.”
Two meals per table
The concept is designed for children. In concrete terms, the child can choose between three pasta varieties and a drink. The offer is limited to two children per table.
“It’s not a child that we make a living from. It doesn’t cost us much to offer a half portion. We limited it to 10 years old because afterwards we consider they start eating like an adult. With a half plate of pasta, the kids are happy”, details the co-manager. “We know that parents hesitate to go to the restaurant because they have to pay for a full portion when the child often does not eat everything.”
The “Bambino Pasta Club” is not just a meal. It includes small surprises to delight the children. “We created a loyalty passport for the children, not the parents. On each visit, they receive a stamp on the passport and at the end, they get a tiramisu or another treat”, presents Antoine Bardfer. “We designed the whole concept to make life easier for parents. The children have a placemat to play, we will do on-site activities like a workshop to make their own pasta.”
To access this article, please connect to the internet.
