A Bay Area restaurateur has implemented a policy charging parents for damages caused by unruly children at his two Chinese restaurants south of San Francisco. Owner You You Xue said the fees, which can reach several hundred dollars, are intended to encourage parents to supervise their children better after repeated incidents of disruptive behavior.

Xue operates Chez Xue locations in Foster City and another nearby community. He began imposing charges for damages last year, citing episodes where children ran laps around the dining room, carved into furniture with utensils, and even caused costly equipment damage. One family was billed $327.03 after their child dropped and broke a credit card reader. Another parent incurred a $109.38 fee after a child etched designs into a table, while a separate incident resulted in a $5.37 charge for a broken teacup.

The restaurant’s menu, accessed via QR codes, includes a notice asking parents to maintain control of their children, stating in part, “Chez Xue is a family-friendly restaurant. However, we are not a playground.” Xue emphasized that the charges are not levied for accidental damage but are aimed at addressing what he describes as a growing disregard by some customers for proper behavior in his establishments.

“My staff were forced to parent children on behalf of other parents. That’s not their job,” Xue said, describing what he called “insane” conduct he has witnessed. He expressed frustration with what he perceives as overly permissive parenting styles, contrasting them with his own experience growing up.

The policy has prompted a variety of reactions since becoming widely known on social media. Some users praised Xue for holding parents accountable, linking the problem to modern “gentle parenting” approaches and suggesting incentives for parents who publicly discipline their children. Others questioned whether charging small amounts, such as the $5.37 for a teacup, was unnecessarily petty.

Xue reported a significant decline in misbehavior following the introduction of the policy and the accompanying notice. As a restaurateur with a decade of experience, he said he welcomes the discussion the story has generated. “I can see we’ve definitely struck a chord,” he said, noting that the intent is to encourage parents to fulfill their responsibility so his staff can focus on serving customers.