Quartiere in Stamford Implements “Adults Only” Policy

ADULTS ONLY!

That’s exactly the policy Martin Bates put into effect on January 4, 2023, at his Downtown Stamford hotspot, Quartiere.

And surprisingly, when “The Q” posted their new grownup policy on social media, the response was way more positive than negative. As for Bates, he always saw Quartiere as a more mature haunt when he opened it in the former Cotto Wine Bar space in March of 2021.

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“I always envisioned it as a neighborhood spot that you’d find on the Upper West Side or in The Village,” Bates explains. “We’re a small restaurant, maybe 10 tables and a bar. I always saw it as a couples place for dinner—which is why we’re affordable. It was never for kids, but more of an after work stop, or to come have cocktails, snacks, or dinner. The feel when we’re full, without kids, but rather with groups, friends, date nights, that’s what I want it to be about. A more mature feel. Not a playdate place. And because we’re so small, having a handful of kids in here totally changes the vibe.”

Bates, who is a father with two children, both of whom work at Quartiere, mentioned his decision to go “no kids allowed” wasn’t made lightly, and that it caused him plenty of agitation on his train rides from New York City back home to Connecticut. In fact, when The Q opened its doors, even though he never saw his restaurant as family-friendly, he still bought high chairs to accommodate parents.

Well, now. The restaurant’s namesake drink, “Quartiere” (that they renamed from a classic Boulavardier) is certainly a grownup libation.

“Some nights it started to feel like playdate rather than date night,” Bates says. “I knew I had to make some kind of formal statement about it and thought I’d be public enemy number one. But it’s been 90% positive so far. Even my staff said, ‘You can’t do that!’ Now they’re saying how great it is.”

Bates also mentioned that because The Q is adults only, it minimizes the risk of liability since broken glassware and dishware is a more common occurrence when children are dining in the restaurant. And again, because they’re a small space, servers have had to swerve and dodge toddlers that may stray from their parents’ table. “When it’s packed in here, there’s not a lot of room for the servers to get around,” he says. “A week before Christmas, I had to ask these parents to keep their children in their seats because they were running around while my servers were carrying bowls of hot pasta. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. I’m a small business owner. That’s the last thing I need.”

Crispy potatoes dusted in pecorino and rosemary, garlic aioli and ketchup on the side.

As for all the support Quartiere is getting after implementing the policy, you can read the comments on that Instagram post. What you’ll notice and what Bates noticed is that many of his customers that have children are all for it. “Regulars with kids are really liking it,” he says. “One couple that comes in all the time, usually with their kids, tried to make a reservation (even though we don’t take reservations). I mentioned the policy. They hadn’t seen it. They were like, ‘Fuck yeah. I’ll be in every week now.’”

Post “no kids” policy, The Q has had to turn only a few families away that garnered a funny incident.

“My daughter, who’s a server here, had to turn away a woman who walked in with her kids for brunch,” Bates says. “My daughter said, ‘I’m so sorry, but we’ve made the restaurant adults only.’ The woman replied, ‘That’s ridiculous! Who came up with that stupid idea?’ She goes, ‘My dad…’ To which the woman responded, ‘It’s empty now, it’s gonna stay empty!’ We had one of the busiest weekends we’ve had since we’ve been open.”

And if you’re not feeling the no kids allowed rule, that’s fine with Bates. He’ll tell you that there are plenty of great restaurants in Downtown Stamford that you can go to that are bigger and better equipped to accommodate families. Ultimately, he’s finally putting a rule in place that was always his prerogative for Quartiere.

“Do what you think is right,” he says. “And I always wanted Quartiere to be a place I would go to, and it is.”

51 Bank Street; Stamford
203.892.6757; thequartiere.com