A restaurant has gone viral after introducing a bold new policy to fine parents for their children’s “unruly” behaviour.

Fed up with chaotic dining rooms, California-based Chinese restaurant Chez Xue posted a strict notice to its website warning that families will be kicked out and fined if their children act inappropriately.

“[We] are a family-friendly restaurant, however we are not a playground,” the post read.

“Please ensure children REMAIN SEATED at all times and respectful of fellow guests around the dining environment.

“Running around, shouting, making noise with utensils WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.”

The post went on to warn that guests who fail to uphold the policy will be “asked to leave” and held “financially liable” for any damage caused by their children to the property.

Etiquette expert Jo Hayes told news.com.au that she fully supports the controversial move.

“I applaud this restaurant for its policy on unruly child behaviour and wholeheartedly encourage them, and others, to be bold in enforcing this,” she said.

“Sure, kids will be kids, but one of the main jobs of a parent is to discipline one’s children, and teach them right from wrong.

“Disorderly, unruly behaviour — especially if it causes damage to property — is completely unacceptable.”

She added that children need to be taught appropriate consequences for when behaviour boundaries are breached.

Parents hit with massive fines

The owner, whose sister restaurant Wonderful has been recognised in the Michelin Guide, went on to publicly call out several incidents of damage caused by children, and the subsequent fines issued to their parents.

One family was charged a whopping $327 USD ($470 AUD) after a child dropped a credit card machine on the floor, causing it to shatter.

Another family was hit with a $109 USD ($157 AUD) bill over a child graffitiing a tabletop with a utensil.

A third parent was also charged just under $10 for a broken teacup.

The post has since been shared on X, racking up more than one a half million views.

And while the rules might sound extreme, hundreds flocked to the comment to praise the venue’s zero-tolerance stance.

“If your kids are smashing credit card machines and carving things into furniture, they don’t belong in restaurants. End of conversation,” one supportive user commented.

“Rule of parenting: you remove your children from public spaces when they are not acting civilised,” another shared.

“You already know they were pushed to their limits,” a third wrote, adding ‘kudos’ to the venue for actually doing something about it.

“Too many parents believe ‘kids will be kids’ entitles their kids to be obnoxious and destructive,” a fourth chimed in.

But while most were highly supportive of the broader policy, the strict enforcement over minor accidents, like the broken teacup, had some arguing the restaurant was taking things a stretch too far.

“The tea cup fine might have been a bit much. Restaurants should expect stuff like that to get damaged,” one person argued.

“I can understand charging a family for drawing on the table with a fork and breaking a machine, but the tea cup, come on, that’s just petty!” another shared.

“Honestly, it just sounds like this person shouldn’t run a restaurant. Charging people five dollars for a broken cup is insane,” a third added.

Despite the backlash over the smaller fines, Ms Hayes said that ultimately, other diners have a right to the peaceful enjoyment of their meal without being disturbed by “unruly children” at the table next to them.

“Restaurant staff have enough on their plate as it is, without adding child-minding to their job descriptions. This is not their responsibility,” she added.

So, what do you think? Should parents have to bear the brunt of their child’s behaviour, or is the restaurant out of line?