Why do kids eat free at Pinchers?

A restaurant kid himself

Grant Phelan grew up in his parents’ restaurants. When your parents work in the business, dinner service doesn’t always end at a child’s bedtime, and sometimes there’s a sleepy kid curled up in a booth while the grown-ups finish their work. Grant was that kid. As the family likes to joke, for a restaurant kid a booth isn’t just a place to sit. It’s also a perfectly good place to take a nap.

He got to see the side most children never see: someone preparing the food, greeting the guests, washing the dishes and solving whatever problem comes through the door before the lights go out.

Room to try something new

Taking young children out to eat can be an adventure. Sometimes a wonderful one. Sometimes one that involves a spilled drink, a missing crayon and a child who was starving ten minutes ago but is now deeply offended by the sight of dinner.

Kids Eat Free gives families a little breathing room, and sometimes it gives kids the chance to try something new. A child who came in expecting chicken fingers might get curious about the crab claws on Grandpa’s plate. Maybe they try a bite. Maybe they spend the whole meal trying to figure out why grown-ups are so excited about cracking shells. Either way, they’re making memories.

The next generation of regulars

Tony has heard about grandchildren who visit Southwest Florida year after year and ask to go to Pinchers almost as soon as they arrive. That means something to a family restaurant, because one day those children grow up and come back with friends, spouses and children of their own.

Somewhere in the dining room, another kid is deciding whether they like seafood. They might need a few visits. Pinchers is happy to give them the chance.