pictonguy
Sous Chef
The problem arises when someone makes a reservation for 6 and up then don't call to cancel and it's a busy Saturday night when you've been booked for a week and it's 8:00 and walkins are pretty much not going to happen and now you have a table or more because it could have easily been a table of 10 that didn't show up and you aren't a big seated restaurant where that might represent 25% or more of your total seating for that turn. If someone has never been in the business it's difficult to understand.I would NEVER agree to a cancellation fee when making a reservation. I just wouldn't make the reservation, and tell them I'll dine someplace else -- forever.
I do understand that there are people who cancel reservations on a whim, just as those same people RSVP to parties and don't show up. But, sometimes things happen, and you have to cancel.
If I RSVP to a party, and can't come, I will call the host, and tell them I can't come, and why. It's rude to just not show up. Likewise, if I must cancel a dinner reservation, I would call the restaurant and tell them as far in advance as possible so they can give my table to another customer. That is just common courtesy.
CD
There is a trend where a host will make reservation a few weeks ahead at multiple restaurants because that's what you have to do to ensure your actually able to dine out, then over the course you get your guests preferences then at the last moment a decision is made for that one restaurant and the other 2 or 3 are shit out of luck. Yeah, not good.
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