I've been to restaurants where two adults and two kids are sitting at a table. The adults looking at their phones and the kids watching something on tablets makes for poor chances of an interesting little moment to happen.
Before he was even 3 my son knew the menu at the local Indian place we went to weekly and he'd pick out which curry he wanted that day. He asks about the decorations and paintings on the wall of every restaurant we go to, and generally stays engaged with us throughout the entire meal.
Yes it is more work, but it also means he is learning patience and manners.
I've been to restaurants where two adults and two kids are sitting at a table. The adults looking at their phones and the kids watching something on tablets makes for poor chances of an interesting little moment to happen.