A small restaurant in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains is making national headlines for its unusual policy: charging customers extra for what it calls “bad parenting.”

The Toccoa Riverside Restaurant has put this bold warning right on its menu. It reads, “Adult surcharge: For adults unable to parent.”

The aim appears to be to control how customers, especially their children, behave.

This move has sparked strong reactions from the public, both good and bad.

The policy has led to a wave of online reviews, with many parents expressing anger over being either charged extra or publicly criticized by the restaurant’s staff.

One reviewer who was part of a 21-person group said, “the most disrespectful owner made a huge scene in front of the entire restaurant because our children were ‘running through the restaurant’ – they were down by the river…we were told we need to ‘go to Burger King and Walmart’ and that we were bad parents. They have a $50 surcharge for ‘bad children’.”

It’s not just about the extra charge; the public way the restaurant handles these situations has also upset customers.

Several other patrons had similar experiences.

One said, “The owner came out and told me he was adding $50 to my bill because of my children’s behavior.”

Another recounted how the owner told them their grandchildren had to be quiet if they sat by the river.

These accounts raise questions about what counts as “bad parenting” and whether a restaurant should even be deciding that.

But it’s not all negative.

Many customers have praised the restaurant for its excellent food and the beautiful views it offers.

However, the decision to act as a judge of good and bad parenting, and to charge extra for it, has clearly struck a nerve.

Critics say it’s not just bad for business; it’s also embarrassing for families.

So, the big question is, can a restaurant keep its customers if it’s turning away families with kids?

The Toccoa Riverside Restaurant has certainly started a national conversation.

It’s got people asking whether it’s right for businesses to set social norms and whether it’s ethical to put a price on parenting.

The policy is sparking debates far beyond the restaurant’s mountain setting, leaving many wondering about the bigger picture of how commerce and community standards intersect.

What is your opinion on this? Is the restaurant’s policy a good one or a bad one?

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