Originally Posted by
ksandness
I don't think I've ever seen a small child at a high-end restaurant in Japan. The only places I see small children are fast food restaurants, family restaurants, and the kinds of general shokudou-type places found inside department stores, which often have an o-ko-san ranchi (children's lunch) featuring kid-friendly foods.
I can't even imagine bringing food from elsewhere into a Japanese restaurant. It would be insulting to the owner. In fact, I can't imagine doing it in the U.S. Think about it. If you went to a high-end seafood restaurant in a Western country, would they appreciate your bringing in a bag from McDonald's for the child? No, you just wouldn't take the child to such a place.
I don't believe SQ319 was necessarily talking about high-end places. Also, there're many other types of restaurants besides what you list above where small children would be welcome. I agree that people don't take toddlers to high-end restos in Jpn. Also I wouldn't take toddlers to small mom-and-pop sushi and ramen places with mostly counter seating and expectations for fast turnovers, not to mention izakayas. But, otherwise, most restaurants are fine to bring in little kids, and it particularly helps if there's booth seating or private rooms (koshitsu). We've been going to places like Kani-douraku ever since our kids were babies.
Asides from that, I agree in general with what you said.