Kayla M.
Yelp
A deeply disappointing experience at our favorite local restaurant
Hillstone in Cherry Creek has long been a favorite of ours. My husband and I have dined here for years, and since becoming parents, we've even brought our baby daughter with us multiple times. It's been one of the few places that not only welcomed us as a family, but made us feel comfortable--so much so that I knew the layout of the restaurant, the location of the changing table, and how best to settle her car seat at the table.
Last night, we came to celebrate my sister-in-law being in town. We made a reservation and were excited to enjoy an evening together--my husband, sister-in-law, daughter, and myself. But what started as a joyful evening quickly turned into one of the most humiliating and upsetting experiences I've had as a new mother.
Shortly after our drinks and appetizers arrived, a manager approached our table. He asked whether our daughter was a boy or girl and if there was anything he could do to make sure "she was having a good time." We were a bit confused, but I responded politely. He then said he could bring her some avocado or mango to eat--because he could hear her "all the way at the host stand." I asked if she was being too loud, and instead of offering clarity or reassurance, he simply repeated that he could hear her from the front and added, "She looks happy, I guess."
For context, my daughter was not crying, screaming, or disrupting anyone's meal. She was laughing, cooing, and simply being a happy 6-month-old baby. In fact, one of the servers recognized her from a previous visit and came over to say how big she had gotten. My husband asked the manager if children were no longer welcome at the restaurant, as we've never had an issue before. The manager repeated his offer of fruit, and when I said she wasn't eating solids yet, he told us to let him know if there was anything she needed--and walked away.
I was stunned. I felt humiliated, protective, and ashamed all at once. I told my husband I wanted to leave and take our food to go. I could no longer enjoy my meal in an environment where I was being made to feel like my daughter needed to be silenced for simply expressing joy. My husband informed our server, who was kind and apologetic--she hadn't even been aware the manager had spoken to us like that. I took my daughter to the car, and as I sat crying, guests leaving the restaurant kindly smiled and told me how cute she was--only reinforcing how unnecessary and inappropriate the manager's comments had been.
As a first-time mom navigating postpartum anxiety, I've worked so hard to overcome the fear that I can't go out with my baby--that I'll be judged, shamed, or asked to keep her unseen and unheard. This experience cut deep. Not only because it was embarrassing, but because it reinforced every insecurity I've been trying to fight. And to have it happen at a restaurant that had previously felt safe and supportive made it feel like a betrayal.
While another manager later apologized to my husband and acknowledged that the situation was poorly handled, the truth is: it never should've happened in the first place. If this restaurant is family-friendly, and if no guests had complained (which we were told was the case), then this interaction was not only unnecessary--it was completely inappropriate.
I'm sharing this not to attack the restaurant, but to advocate for other parents, especially those with young children and new babies. No one should be made to feel like their child is a burden for simply existing in a public space. Joyful sounds from a baby should not be treated like a nuisance--especially in a setting where families are welcomed and where children have always been present.
Hillstone, we've loved you for years. But this experience broke our trust. I hope in sharing this, more empathy and training can be extended to your team--because no parent, and no child, deserves to feel like they don't belong.