Kin Dining and Bar, a newly opened Marrickville restaurant, has introduced a blanket no-kids-allowed rules – a contentious decision that an increasing number of venues are opting into.

Kin is far from the first Sydney restaurant to refuse access to children. The Gidley in Sydney’s CBD does not admit anyone under the age of 18. Quay allows children over the age of seven (as long as they’re not expecting chicken nuggets and chips) and Viking-themed Mjolner in Surry Hills only allows little buccaneers over the age of 10.

Marrickville, in Sydney’s Inner West, is a famously family-friendly suburb. In the past few decades, many young families have flocked to this once affordable area to make their start. Considering this, one would think that the success of a restaurant such as Kin, located on the suburban city fringes – as opposed to within its heart – would depend greatly upon its local clientele.

Related story: Dinner debate: should kids be allowed in fancy restaurants?

Office workers, first-daters and the blissfully child-free naturally flock to the CBD when in search of a distraction-free, ‘grown-up’ dinner. In the ‘burbs – Marrickville specifically – it’s a different story. With no less than five daycares and eight schools within a 10-minute walk of Kin, it’s safe to say that the demographic is a little more skewed to the under-18s. So how have the locals reacted to the prospect of a no-kids-allowed neighbourhood restaurant in their midst?

Surprisingly, according to chef-owner Peter Wu, the response has been overwhelmingly positive – from parents and non-parents alike.

“We get a lot of feedback from the current regulars that come back again and again, that during dinner time, when they’re out to enjoy a nice meal or a few wines and cocktails, it’s nice to be able to get away from a noisy toddler in the corner, or a crying baby or a loud iPad,” he tells delicious.

Wu cites safety as another factor in his decision to keep the kids out. With waiters carrying trays of drinks and heavy plates of hot food, the prospect of a collision is one that the chef-owner doesn’t want any part of.

Related story: Australia’s first ever kid-friendly meal delivery service is finally here

“We didn’t initially set out to be an adults-only restaurant, but during opening night, we had a toddler running around, and they bumped their head on a table,” he says. “Some people said we should make the furniture more child-friendly. But, as a business owner, that’s not the vision for my restaurant.

“When we came to building Kin, we wanted it to be a nice, refined restaurant and bar for people to go out and enjoy themselves – whether it be couples, friends or family – catching up, having drinks and sharing a meal together. We wanted to create that sense of escapism, where you can have that peace and quiet.”

Of course, there is a big difference between a 17-year-old enjoying dinner with their parents and a toddler having a meltdown, but for Wu, the decision to keep dinner services just for the 18+ crowd is a matter of where to draw the line. If 17, why not 16? If 16, why not 15?

Which brings us to the crux of the conversation. Kin Dining and Bar is a restaurant open to the public, yes. But it is also the culmination of someone’s years of experience, planning and hard work. A single restaurant cannot be all things to all people, and nor should it be. There are many restaurants that do accommodate children. There are others that do not. Herein lies the beauty of choice. Yours, and theirs.

If you do want your kids to experience Kin Dining and Bar, weekend lunch services welcome all ages. Any other time? Keep the babysitter on speed dial.

Kin Dining and Bar is located at 359 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville. To book, head to the restaurant website.

Related story: Should you stack your plates at the end of a meal at a restaurant?