It’s never too soon to learn the value of a buck, especially if we want our kids to take care of us one day.
Fellini’s #9 turns the tables by putting our kids to work while we sit back and relax. At the Fellini’s 9 and Under monthly luncheon (the next one is Saturday, October 20), kids aged 4 to 10 play server to their parents—and there’s even a half hour of babysitting built in.
They report for their shift at 10:30am and get a debriefing, along with an apron, spiral notepad, and pen, and then set to work rolling silverware. Parents return at 11am, are seated by their kids, and then waited on with silver spoon service that may include your server eating a piece of focaccia from your plate before setting it down, taking the first slurp from your soda, or rolling a meatball onto your lap.
It’s all part of the charm, though, and it’s ridiculously cute seeing kids take a job seriously. At the restaurant’s August event, my server took a break for a hug and a sip of lemonade, wiped her hands on her apron, and said, “I need to get back to work!”
Each adult pays $20 (plus tax) for a three-course lunch and each child walks away with a full belly (they get lunch as part of the deal), a $2 tip (which, for my server, turned into a purchase from the small toys bin at Alakazam), and all their gear so that they can continue playing restaurant at home. It’s all part of the master plan.