We do timeouts anywhere... Find a quiet corner and tell her it's time for a timeout. In public places we stay right with her so it's easier to keep her from playing with stuff. I have also been known to just leave if her behavior is bad enough. I once left a cart full of perishables in the middle of target as a result, but I couldn't get her to calm down so out we went. We also use consequences, like if we are eating out I will tell her, you need to stop. If you dont you don't get dessert. That kind of thing.

I agree with alh - timeouts. We have done them at restaurants (we take them to the entry way sitting area or outside and find a bench if it's good weather). When we are shopping I find a corner or quiet spot to do it in. My kids aren't quite old enough to understand delayed consequences yet (like not getting dessert), but I cannot wait until they are because that is also a great tool!

Timeouts... even in public. If I have to take them outside I just find the nearest building wall that's undecorated and have them face that. Delayed consequences are not starting to show as well... such as missed desert... or we'll threaten to skip the playground at the mall or something like that. usually brings them back in line.

If you do use tactics like that be prepared to follow through. It won't work if they know you're bluffing. A lot of kids act out in public because they know their mommy and daddy will let them have their way so that they don't draw negative attention from strangers.

if i have to do a time out i usually find a colored square in the tile and then tell them they have to keep their butts on it. i give consquences too. today my kids were AWFUL at hobby lobby (we went with a friend who has a son in the middle of their ages, so they just thought it was a blast and were tickling each other, chasing each other, etc.) all of them got a time out at some point and stern talking tos while we were there. After that we had to swing by the grocery store and they were acting better and wanted candy at the check out. I felt so mean but i said, "you are crazy if you really think your behavior today will give you a treat. you EARN treats, you do not get them." the lady in front of me in line actually turned around and gave me a thumbs up!

I think you did the right thing by removing her from the restaurant. I would put her in the back seat, tell her she is in time out and then completely ignore her. I would remove the toys also. After the timeout, tell her that behavior is unacceptable. If she's old enough to understand consequences you could take something away. I think the key is consistency. Good luck.

I think another way to do a time out when there are other distractions is to take your child where you think there might be less to look at and hold her. If you need to hold her arms down so she doesn't play do it.
My son is 2 1/2 and when we are in public, say a grocery store, I find a bench to sit down on and I hold him in my lap. If he fights me, I just hug him gently with his arms pinned. I know it sounds brutal but it's not.
If he can't control his arms, at first he is upset, but then he quickly quiets down and calms down. I know it won't work for every child but for my little man it has sure helped a lot.

I will often hold my son in my arms and frankly just pin him to me -- he HATES that and wants down but is not allowed to unless he calms down. and if he begins to kick and scream really loud, I just gently pinch his leg. It's not hard enough to leave amark, but he HATES it and it's more subtle than a big public spanking which I won't do. I only save the pinch for really severe tantrums or when I was pregnant and he'd kick my belly....but it works wonders. Between hold him in my arms, the occassional pinch, and taking away toys/treats/etc, I've got a little boy who dos pretty well in public. I find that no ONE thing alone works - he's gets used to it. So if I mix it up, he minds more.

im going through that right now my girl is 3 gets very excited and hyper when we are out, iv tried the monkey leash that straps on like a backpack to give her freedom to walk around not run. her thing is she wants it all . i try to reason with her and talk but her being very emotional its hard to reason with her. so it comes down to us just leaving the store. we feel traumatized by our trip and avoid it much as possible we get what we need not browse much.