A Monmouth County restaurant has sparked a heated debate after it announced that children under the age of 10 would not be allowed to eat at their establishment.

Nettie’s House of Spaghetti in Tinton Falls says that they love children. But the owners say it has become a challenge to accommodate them.

The restaurant announced the news on its social media pages. The new rules go into effect on March 8, and many say they are split about the decision.

“There has to be some places where adults can go to be adults,” says Gordon Cousins, of Neptune City.

“I don’t think it’s right. I think it’s discrimination against kids,’ says Michael Mellone, of South Point. “Say a family of four people comes with an 8-year-old kid. They’re going to tell them you can’t come in because you’ve got an 8-year-old kid? They’re going to lose five people who are going to order dinner?”

Nettie’s says that the reason for the new rules is due to noise levels, a lack of space for highchairs, having to clean up messes left behind by kids and the liability of children running around a restaurant.

“The acoustics in there, would not be good for kids,” Cousins says. “If there were kids in there making a lot of noise, it would be deafening. It’s just perfect for the low murmur of adult conversation.”

While Nettie’s is banning youngsters, other eateries, like Doherty Enterprises-owned Applebee’s, will be offering a kids-eat-free promotion from Feb. 19-27.

“I have kids. I remember, you always wonder where can you go? What can you do? And where are you welcomed? Everyone is welcomed at Applebee’s,” says Kurt Pahlitzsch, of Doherty Enterprises. “Every restaurant has to do what they think is right for their business and that’s what I guess they’re doing.”

The owners of Nettie’s House of Spaghetti declined to comment on this story but did apologize to customers who they save have well-behaved children.