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Restaurants & a Reservation No-Show Charge? This is a Thing?
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:18 am
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:18 am
Perhaps I'm naive but I didn't realize this was a practice.
A new restaurant in Lafayette (Vestal) is currently reservation-only, they caught a bit of crap on Facebook recently because someone learned the hard way that if you make reservations and don't show up, they charge you $75 per person. It's apparently buried in their policy when booking a reservation. The restaurant, and the owner, went on the post and equated the policy to being rude and no-showing at the doctor or a haircut. He later deleted his comments but he came off a bit condescending.
On one hand I get it, you have a set number of tables for each night so a no-show could cut into everyone's wallet a little, common courtesy says you should atleast call. On the other, that just seems like part of the business, shite happens. As popular as this place is they should easily be able to fill that vacancy with a walk-up. Additionally, as a patron that no-shows, how likely are you to ever bother to go back to a restaurant after being hit with a charge like that?
A new restaurant in Lafayette (Vestal) is currently reservation-only, they caught a bit of crap on Facebook recently because someone learned the hard way that if you make reservations and don't show up, they charge you $75 per person. It's apparently buried in their policy when booking a reservation. The restaurant, and the owner, went on the post and equated the policy to being rude and no-showing at the doctor or a haircut. He later deleted his comments but he came off a bit condescending.
On one hand I get it, you have a set number of tables for each night so a no-show could cut into everyone's wallet a little, common courtesy says you should atleast call. On the other, that just seems like part of the business, shite happens. As popular as this place is they should easily be able to fill that vacancy with a walk-up. Additionally, as a patron that no-shows, how likely are you to ever bother to go back to a restaurant after being hit with a charge like that?
31
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:24 am to YOURADHERE
I don't have a problem with a restaurant charging you for a no-show reservation. It's an a-hole move to make a reservation and not show up, unless you have a real good excuse (and we're talking serious sudden illness in the immediate family) You get dinged if you no-show for a hotel reservation. And Lord knows with smartphones and apps, it's easy enough to cancel a reservation.
That said, I've never heard of restaurants doing this. I'm not surprised someone is doing this in the aftermath of COVID. I remember reading years ago about these third party reservation apps, that were gobbling up tables at hip joints in San Francisco, then not getting reservations for all of the seats - that was pissing off places to the point where they were requiring credit cards to book seats.
That said, I've never heard of restaurants doing this. I'm not surprised someone is doing this in the aftermath of COVID. I remember reading years ago about these third party reservation apps, that were gobbling up tables at hip joints in San Francisco, then not getting reservations for all of the seats - that was pissing off places to the point where they were requiring credit cards to book seats.
This post was edited on 6/2/21 at 10:31 am
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:25 am to YOURADHERE
it was a thing at La Boca and at Tsunami in nola recently
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:26 am to YOURADHERE
I don’t have a problem with it as long as it’s stated clearly up front before you book. $75 per person however seems ridiculous
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:26 am to YOURADHERE
It is relatively common, though I'm somewhat surprised to see it in Lafayette.
I went to Fredericksburg a few months ago, and every place that took reservations did this. I imagine it is because it is nothing but hoards of women in packs doing winery tours all day long and then passing out drunk at their AirBnb instead of making it to their dinner reservation.
Peche in New Orleans did it when it was newer and everyone wanted to go. A place in North Carolina that I'm going next week took my CC number for the same reason. So it isn't rampant everywhere, but definitely common enough.
I imagine if the circumstances were extenuating and you had gotten in an accident or had an emergency, they would graciously refund the money when you call later to explain.
I went to Fredericksburg a few months ago, and every place that took reservations did this. I imagine it is because it is nothing but hoards of women in packs doing winery tours all day long and then passing out drunk at their AirBnb instead of making it to their dinner reservation.
Peche in New Orleans did it when it was newer and everyone wanted to go. A place in North Carolina that I'm going next week took my CC number for the same reason. So it isn't rampant everywhere, but definitely common enough.
I imagine if the circumstances were extenuating and you had gotten in an accident or had an emergency, they would graciously refund the money when you call later to explain.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:30 am to YOURADHERE
I've come across a couple dozen bars/restaurants in Chicago that charge for a no-show. With some capacity restrictions, I can see why restaurants want to hold patrons accountable, especially if a no-show results in a vacant table for two hours. At least for Chicago bars/restaurants, policies are made pretty clear on OpenTable, Resy and Tock, so it's an easy read. Guessing we slowly see these go away with full reopen upcoming.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:30 am to YOURADHERE
It's a thing at popular restaurants, Officini in DC does it.
But, how do they charge you? You can book a reservation there on OpenTable, do you have to enter your information when you reserve?
I don't mind the practice at super busy restaurants. Vestal is fantastic, and has been booked solid on weekends. If you make a reservation and don't show up, you're taking a spot from someone else who would show up and enjoy their time there.
We're going back on the 19th.
ETA: it's a pretty small restaurant with a seating capacity of 75
But, how do they charge you? You can book a reservation there on OpenTable, do you have to enter your information when you reserve?
I don't mind the practice at super busy restaurants. Vestal is fantastic, and has been booked solid on weekends. If you make a reservation and don't show up, you're taking a spot from someone else who would show up and enjoy their time there.
We're going back on the 19th.
ETA: it's a pretty small restaurant with a seating capacity of 75
This post was edited on 6/2/21 at 10:32 am
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:30 am to YOURADHERE
quote:
As popular as this place is they should easily be able to fill that vacancy with a walk-up.
If they are reservation only then I wouldn't think they would have many walkups.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:31 am to YOURADHERE
Pretty common these days. $75 per person seems steep. But usually it's clearly stated on OpenTable or whatever app you use to book the reservation.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:32 am to YOURADHERE
I've seen 25-35 but never 75... I've had it when I've traveled but that is it, never in Louisiana
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:33 am to YOURADHERE
quote:
someone learned the hard way that if you make reservations and don't show up, they charge you $75 per person
Giving your credit card information is not standard practice for regular reservations. So if these people didn't realize while typing out their credit card information that it may be used for something, I don't know what to tell them
Secondly, when you click "Make A Reservation" on their website, a list of policies appears before anything else. Yes, it isn't #1 on the list, but if you're ignoring the bolded list of policies that appear before you when you click to make a reservation, that's on you. This isn't fine print. It is a full page that appears before you make a reservation.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:34 am to xXLSUXx
quote:It's an expensive restaurant that has a pretty big focus on steaks. I want to say we spent $170, and that was with only 1 cocktail.
$75 per person seems steep
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:35 am to Epic Cajun
quote:
But, how do they charge you? You can book a reservation there on OpenTable, do you have to enter your information when you reserve?
Yep. Everywhere I've been that does it asks for your CC information when you make the reservation.
The places in Fredericksburg actually charge you outright when you make the reservation. Not a "hold" or anything. They fully charged us $100 ($25 per person) on my card and the refund process was not initiated until we came in on time for our reservation.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:37 am to LouisianaLady
Yeah I had a place in DC that did that and adjusted once my meal was complete and tip was included. Wasn't 100 maybe like 50 though
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:46 am to Epic Cajun
We're going to try to book something probably next month, any recommendations?
I had never heard of the practice before that, I guess Lafayette is on the up & up. I'll need to be mindful when I pregame at Legends.
I had never heard of the practice before that, I guess Lafayette is on the up & up. I'll need to be mindful when I pregame at Legends.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:46 am to YOURADHERE
Fairly common practice in NOLA. I think GW Fins does this regularly and I have no issue with it. They ask for a card and tell you the policy.
This post was edited on 6/2/21 at 10:48 am
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:49 am to YOURADHERE
I've never seen it locally, but I have in high end restaurants in larger cities. I'm shocked the people who got charged were surprised. If you're making a reservation and you have to give a credit card to hold that reservation, that should be a pretty good indication that there may be some penalty for not showing or cancelling. Sounds like it was their own stupidity.
And overall, I don't have a problem with the policy. Hotels, dr. offices, there's all kinds of places that charge for a no show.
And overall, I don't have a problem with the policy. Hotels, dr. offices, there's all kinds of places that charge for a no show.
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:52 am to YOURADHERE
quote:We had the tuna crudo, carrots, pork shoulder, and Wagyu Zabuton. Everything was very good. The crudo was probably my favorite course, but I'm a sucker for a well executed crudo.
We're going to try to book something probably next month, any recommendations?
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:54 am to YOURADHERE
quote:
and the owner, went on the post and equated the policy to being rude and no-showing at the doctor or a haircut. He later deleted his comments but he came off a bit condescending.
Which owner?
Posted on 6/2/21 at 10:59 am to YOURADHERE
Lots of places do this, especially if you book a large party, which makes sense. I don't buy that this person was charged a cancelation fee without knowing - they would've had to provide a credit card in advance in order to be charged.
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