NJ Applebee’s Responds to Restaurant That Banned Kids: Come Eat Free!

Following a ban on kids at a restaurant in NJ, many Applebee’s locations in the Garden State are stepping up to welcome all kids!

Last week, Nettie’s House of Spaghetti in Tinton Falls announced that starting March 8, they will no longer permit children under 10 to dine in the restaurant. The popular retro-themed pasta spot said on social media that kids were no longer permitted in the dining room.

“We love kids. We really, truly, do,” the controversial post began. “But lately, it’s been extremely challenging to accommodate children at Nettie’s. Between noise levels, lack of space for high chairs, cleaning up crazy messes, and the liability of kids running around the restaurant, we have decided that it’s time to take control of the situation. This wasn’t a decision that was made lightly, but some recent events have pushed us to implement this new policy. As of March 8, the day we return from our winter break, we will no longer allow children under 10 to dine in the restaurant.”

The post went on to say that even though the decision would upset people, particularly those with well-behaved kids, this was the “best decision for our business moving forward.”

“Fantastic idea… having worked in the industry since I was 14, I’ve never seen anything like I have in the recent past. Kids are out of control and most parents are oblivious,” commented one Facebook user.

“That is really sad to hear … I was looking forward to trying out your place but with a well behaved 9-year-old I’m not welcome .. sad,” wrote another commenter.

But not all restaurants in NJ want an adults-only atmosphere.

Doherty Enterprises, which owns 36 Applebee’s in NJ, announced kids are not only welcome at their Applebee’s restaurants but can eat free from February 19-26, 2023. While Applebee’s often runs kids-eat-free promotions, this one is going on for longer than usual and is definitely a swift and savvy response to other establishments bent on banning kids.

Here are the Applebee’s in New Jersey where kids can score a free meal:

• Piscataway Applebee’s on Centennial Avenue
• Tinton Falls Applebee’s on Park Road
• Paramus Applebee’s on Rt. 17
• Brick Plaza Applebee’s
• Totowa Applebee’s on Rt. 46 west
• Applebee’s in the Woodbridge Center Mall
• Parsippany Applebee’s on Rt. 46 east
• Toms River Applebee’s in the Ocean County Mall
• Clifton Applebee’s on Rt. 3 East in Clifton Commons
• Applebee’s in the Manalapan Epicentre on Rt. 9
• Applebee’s in the Bridgewater Promenade
• The Edison Applebee’s on Rt. 1 south
• Milltown Applebee’s on Ryders Lane
• Linden Applebee’s off Rt. 1
• Manahawkin Applebee’s on Rt. 72 west
• Howell Applebee’s on Rt. 9 north
• Ocean Twp. Applebee’s on Rt. 66
• Hillsborough Applebee’s on Rt. 206
• Phillipsburg Applebee’s on Rt. 22
• Middletown Applebee’s on Rt. 35
• Union Applebee’s on Morris Avenue
• Butler Applebee’s on Rt. 23
• Hackettstown Applebee’s on Mountain Avenue
• Kearny Applebee’s on Passaic Avenue
• Hackensack Applebee’s on Hackensack Avenue
• Newton Applebee’s
• Jersey City Applebee’s at the Hudson Mall
• Mt. Olive Applebee’s
• Newark Applebee’s
• Rockaway Applebee’s on Rt. 46
• Lacey Applebee’s in Forked River
• North Bergen Applebee’s
• Manchester Applebee’s on Rt. 70
• Garfield Applebee’s on Passaic Street
• Applebee’s at the Jersey Gardens Mall
• Clark Applebee’s

The offer is good only at Doherty-owned Applebee’s in NJ and valid only for dine-in with the purchase of an adult entree. The limit is two kids under twelve, per adult. Children must order off the kids’ menu and the offer can’t be combined with other offers and does not include tax.

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