YOUNG customers judge restaurants on simple criteria: the balloons, the gifts and whether they serve chocolate ice cream. Sylvia's kids are typical; they love Dan Ryan's because they get a balloon and yet another key ring, and may go to McDonald's twice a day.
So restaurants which will serve chips when children turn their noses up at smoked salmon - add Grissini at the Grand Hyatt to that list - rate on the kiddies Top 10 list .
Parents, of course, have very different standards for places to bring their children. Forget about places like La Bodega. 'They would fall down the stairs and after a few drinks I would too,' says a mother of two. Scratch the Peak Cafe as well: 'They will either fall into the fireplace or crack their heads on the stone tiles. It's a nightmare,' another mother says.
The restaurants which cater best for children have made a real effort to court them and their parents.
And kids are good business, as McDonald's has proved. In addition to serving endless Happy Meals, the ubiquitous fast food outlet hosts 36,000 children's parties a year in its 99 stores in Hong Kong. At $6.50 a head for each child's party box, which includes toys and other stuff kids love, plus food, that's a fairly hefty bonus to the coffers.
Pomeroy's is also mining a relatively untapped vein on Saturday afternoons. Neil Morgan, manager of Pomeroy's in Pacific Place, says the Saturday Kids' Club has boosted business during the traditionally quiet Saturday lunches to weekday levels.
Dan Ryan's, another top-tenner, offers children the chance to play grown-up with a complimentary bottle of non-alcoholic champagne to celebrate birthdays. 'It's a concerted effort,' says the restaurant's Stephanie Hogan.