A tweet from one of Chicago's top chefs stirs debate on a controversial subject- should babies be allowed in upscale restaurants? LeeAnn Trotter reports. (Published Monday, Jan. 13, 2014) 
 
 One of Chicago's top chefs has touched a nerve by sounding off on a controversial subject: bringing babies to restaurants. 
 
 Diners at Alinea, a pricey Windy City spot named one of the world's top restaurants, were reportedly put off by a couple who brought an 8-month-old baby to dinner on Saturday after their baby sitter bailed at the last minute. 
 
 Predictably, the baby caused a ruckus, upsetting the other diners in the restaurant. 
 
 Grant Achatz, Alinea's award-winning chef, appeared to be torn on the best way to handle similar situations in the future, tweeting he isn't sure whether to tell customers that no kids are allowed, or subject diners to the crying. 
 
 "Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no, but...," Achatz tweeted. 
 
 Tbl brings 8mo.Old. It cries. Diners mad. Tell ppl no kids? Subject diners 2crying? Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no,but.. — Grant Achatz (@Gachatz) January 12, 2014 
 
 
 
 The Internet is full of tips for parents on which restaurants are "baby-friendly" or "kid-friendly." Restaurants that make these types of lists usually boast space for high-chairs and stroller parking, or acoustics that can drown out a fussy baby. 
 
 Responders to Achatz's tweet, however, appear to overwhelmingly back leaving the baby at home when dining at a swanky establishment like Alinea. 
 
 One person tweeted that he'd "be livid" if he had gone to a "fine dining experience and "had to sit through a crying baby." 
 
 Another noted that "I don't bring my bottle of whiskey" to Chuck E. Cheese's. 
 
 
 
 And not surprisingly, an @AlineaBaby Twitter account has already popped up. 
 
 .@Gachatz I love kids. But I don't bring my bottle of whiskey to Chuck E. Cheese; please don't bring your infant to Alinea. — harrison (@mscripty) January 12, 2014 
 
 @Gachatz we took a 4mo to Carre de Feuillants and Grace and were very grateful to both for accommodating us. — Michael Dickler (@mgdchicago) January 12, 2014 
 
 @hels@MichaelNagrant Again, when you have kids, the world shouldn't be catering 100% to your every need. Things have to change. — Carol Blymire (@CarolBlymire) January 12, 2014 
 
 @MichaelNagrant@Gachatz I'd be livid if I came to Next, Alinea, or ANY fine dining establishment and had to sit through a crying baby — Richard LaRue (@richard_larue) January 12, 2014 
 
 @MichaelNagrant@hels@jmlenart sitterless parents stay the hell home. Made the child choice. It comes with limitations and realities. — Ellen Malloy (@EllenMalloy) January 12, 2014 
 
 Alinea is consistently rated the top restaurant in Chicago, and last year, Restaurant magazine named it No. 15 in the world. ||||| After what happened this weekend it looks like I need to drag out this article again regarding small children and social graces in restaurants.When I originally wrote it in 2013, I had restaurants like Blackbird, Naha and Perennial Virant in mind. No freaking way did I ever think someone would think to take a child—let alone an—to the likes of the three star Michelin rated Alinea (Check out this list of the best child-friendly restaurants in Chicago ).As soon as Alinea chef/partnerposted that already-infamous tweet around 7pm Saturday, the Internet exploded in response. I was pretty shocked with how many people were in defense of the parents—who allegedly had a last-minute babysitter cancellation."Which is worse...crying baby at the next table or pretentious asshole douchebag?""Wait. Someone brought an infant to Alinea? What in the actual fuck?""Charge the infant for a full menu. That will stop it quickly.""We can barely enjoy a 30 minute stretch, w/o crying, during dinner at home with a newborn, let alone Alinea. Not appropriate!!""If I'm splurging on a big ticket dinner, I guarantee I don't want a screaming baby soundtrack.""If you can afford a meal at Alinea, you can afford a sitter. How inconsiderate.""Everyone seems to be addressing the sitter issue. Why not maintain a restaurant policy governing disruptive people? Does it exist?""Our son has been out quite a bit. We eat out early. We eat out on off nights. We eat where we know the chef and know it's cool.""Speaking as a mom and a restaurant owner I would NEVER take an 8mo old to a restaurant like Alinea.""Part of lure of Alinea experience is you control all the sights/sounds/tastes. Non planned noise breaks that quiet.""I don't know how you take an 8 mo old to Alinea and not step out if s/he cries. Selfish. You take crying kid outside. Period.""I agree 100%. Little kids do not belong in high end restaurants. And they don't want to be there either. Hire a babysitter people!""If people save up to go for a special night it's hard to flush several hundred down the drain. Especially if they do it 1 x/yr.""If the kid isn't old enough to bargain for their patience they shouldn't be there. Kids mature differently though. Gray lines.""Hard when you shell out that money for non cancel able tics and lose sitter last minute. That is a ticket vs. reservation issue.""What are they supposed to do if their sitter cancelled at the last minute? $1,000 worth of non-refundable tickets.""A sad statement on society when stunts like these are pulled and ruin everyone's night.""I should start offering my #adventuresinbabysitting services to certain restaurants in the city...""I'd be furious if I fought for that ticket/experience and had to listen to a crying kid.""Fancy restos should not have to specify no babies in precisely same way they should not have to specify yes pants.""I don't bring my bottle of whiskey to Chuck E. Cheese, please don't bring your infant to Alinea. And yes. If you can afford a ticket to Alinea, then you can afford a babysitter."After this firestorm, there will likely be some policy changes regarding children at Alinea—as well as at Achatz's seasonal and theme-inspired restaurant Next. And now some silly adult with way too much time on his/her hands has actually created an @AlineaBaby twitter account. ||||| After their sitter allegedly cancelled, a couple brought their infant with them to Alinea and Grant Achatz took to Twitter to work out his feelings on the subject, according to Chicagoist and 312 Dining Diva. 
 
 In his tweet, Achatz asked, "Tell ppl no kids? Subject diners 2crying? Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no,but.." From the high number of responses, the overwhelming opinion is that the couple should have stayed home and made arrangements to return another night. 
 
 In other Alinea/Next/The Aviary news, co-owner Nick Kokonas discusses the company's hiring practices with Chicago Grid, stating that intellectual curiosity is the most important quality a person can bring to an interview. 
 
 [UPDATE: This article has been updated to reflect the 312DD article's statements that the parents' sitter allegedly cancelled on them.] 
 
 · Grant Achatz Writes Conflicted Tweet About Parents With Crying Infant At Alinea [Chicagoist] 
 
 · 'BabyGate' Happened At Alinea Saturday & Twitterverse Explodes In Response [312DD] 
 
 · You Don't Necessarily Need Experience To Get A Job At Alinea [Grid] 
 
 · All Alinea Coverage [~ECHI~] ||||| Couple criticized for bringing crying baby to 3-star restaurant BY BRIAN SLODYSKO Staff Reporter 
 
 Chef Grant Achatz posed a question on Twitter after diners at Alinea complained about a crying baby. | Sun-Times file photo 
 
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 Updated: 
 
 Diners at the upscale Alinea restaurant were treated to an unexpected serving of whine Saturday night, after a couple with reservations at the three-star restaurant brought a crying baby to dinner. 
 
 The dilemma over whether to allow babies at the vaunted restaurant, where a meal cost $235 Sunday before tax and tip, prompted Chef Grant Achatz to pose a question on Twitter. 
 
 “Tbl brings 8mo.Old. It cries. Diners mad. Tell ppl no kids? Subject diners 2crying? Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no, but …,” Achatz tweeted, noting that the couple dined with the baby on the mother’s lap. 
 
 The response from prominent voices in the food community was swift and unforgiving. Over the weekend, Twitter shifted into high gear with debate focused on the propriety of bringing children to fine-dining restaurants such as Alinea. 
 
 Michael Nagrant, who reviews restaurants for RedEye, tweeted in capital letters: “IT IS ABSURD TO BRING YOUR BABY TO ALINEA.” 
 
 He continued: “You do not take a baby to Alinea. Unless the babysitter canceled last minute and Alinea would not refund your ticket. No other debate.” 
 
 The restaurant-scene website Eater wrote a story about the incident with a headline reading: “Breeders behaving badly.” And food writer Carol Blymire, who writes the blog Alinea At Home, tweeted: “When you have kids, the world shouldn’t be catering 100% to your every need. Things have to change.” 
 
 By Monday morning, the matter took a life of its own, with the birth of the Twitter parody account, @AlineaBaby (bio: I’m a baby who likes fine food, fine drinks, and crying). 
 
 A tongue-in-cheek review on Yelp said the baby decried the lack of highchairs and complained that the sippy-cup was not refilled. 
 
 At issue appears to be the way restaurant-goers make reservations at Alinea. Like Next, another restaurant run by Achatz and owner Nick Kokonas, Alinea issues prepaid tickets — often sold months in advance. 
 
 It was not known whether the couple tried to cancel their reservation or work out an alternative arrangement with restaurant staff. 
 
 The couple reportedly had a baby-sitter cancel at the last minute but decided to go to the restaurant anyway, according to WMAQ-Channel 5 news. 
 
 While Alinea does not refund tickets, they may be resold. “Just like a sporting event, concert or theater ticket, all sales are final,” the restaurant states on its Facebook page. 
 
 Neither Kokonas nor Achatz could be reached Monday. But on Sunday, Kokonas questioned the wisdom of parents who bring kids to Alinea. 
 
 “We’ve had babies before. It’s never about the kids. It’s always about the parents,” his tweet read. 
 
 Achatz summed up his position with a picture he posted to Twitter of two fish heads prepared on a serving platter. 
 
 “Definitely not baby food,” he tweeted. 
 
 Email: bslodysko@suntimes.com 
 
 Twitter: @BrianSlodysko
– It all started with a cranky baby. But this particular baby happened to be with mom and dad as they dined at one of the nation's swankiest restaurants, Chicago's Alinea. As the baby kicked up a fuss, chef Grant Achatz says he could hear it from the kitchen. He took no action, but later tweeted this: "Tbl brings 8mo.Old. It cries. Diners mad. Tell ppl no kids? Subject diners 2crying? Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no,but.." Since that Saturday night tweet, Achatz and his restaurant have been at the center of what's become a national debate on fine-dining etiquette, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Do babies belong at ritzy restaurants? Much of the sentiment seems to be of the 'no way' variety, observes the Chicago Eater blog. (Sample tweet: "If you can afford a meal at Alinea, you can afford a sitter. How inconsiderate.") But 312DiningDiva is surprised at how much sympathy is out there for the parents. (Sample tweet: "Hard when you shell out that money for non cancelable tics and lose sitter last minute.") For the record, the parents' sitter did cancel at the last minute, reports NBC Chicago. And Alinea does indeed sell "tickets" to diners, usually weeks in advance, and those diners won't get their money back if they cancel. So what now? Achatz is reportedly considering a baby ban, something that surely won't sit well with the AlineaBaby parody account on Twitter.