Antonio Ferrari, owner of a wine bar in Padua in Northern Italy, came up with the idea after serving a group of 11 people consisting of five children who sat quietly "with much composure", deciding to reward the party with a 5 per cent discount, or sconto.
While the majority of clientele who visit the restaurant are adults, the weekends see a large number of families, with Ferrari believing some parents did not know how to manage their children during meals, as many Italian parents encourage loud, boisterous behaviour as being part of a normal childhood.
With sittings in Italy often taking up to three hours, parents who allow their restless kids to run around the restaurant can affect wait staff moving around the restaurant and other customers, pressuring the owner to rein-in the rambunctious rascals.
"In some cases I was told that the room is public and they can do what they want." Ferrari told Corriere Della Sera.
"I had to remember that the place is 'open to the public' and I'm responsible for what happens in it."
The sconto has since been extended to two other families with well-behaved children, but the owner insists he didn't create the offer for publicity.
Antonio Ferrari serves a table in his restaurant. Source: Getty Images Europe
"I acted on instinct!" Ferrari said.
"It was a show that was too good to see how they interacted with each other in that table, with much composure.
"The parents had more or less my age, they were in their forties, children between four and six years.
"I had too little confidence to make compliments... so I opted for the discount."
The first group who received the initial discount were so pleased by the news that they left a €30 (A$41.60) tip.
