An article on no-show diners
 

This from my local newspaper so it of course ahs a local slant but thought it interesting nonetheless. I do book through OpenTable but always cancel what I won't use though it seems not everyone is so inclined.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/show+...255/story.html

I sense that the problem is out of control in Chicago. I can't think of a single reservation I've made in the last year where I didn't receive a call the day of the reservation or the day before reconfirming that I still planned to dine with the restaurant. Honestly, I think there's room for OpenTable improvement in this arena...I book the majority of my reservations through OT, so they clearly know that I have a 0% no-show rate. Wouldn't it save time if they simply communicated that to the restaurants where I make reservations? Or how about allowing me access to tables at more in-demand restaurants because I'm almost guaranteed to show up?

The flip side of this: I hate waiting for a table, so I infrequently go to places that are hot but don't take reservations. Or if I do, it involves some strange maneuvers. Yesterday I dined at a perpetually popular place--one that has lines at 3pm on a weekend--but showed up at 11:25 am to ensure I'd have a seat when they opened at 11:30. I also went out to eat on Dec. 30 in a heavy snowstorm to eat at another hot no-reservations spot. And although it's not my preferred choice, I've also had some 5:30pm dinners so I could avoid waiting for tables. :(

I think I've been called on all or almost all of my OT reservations though don't know whether they do this for all guests regardless of how the make their reservations or not.

As with all technology while it first seems like a boon it can also have unintended effects.

My Brother has a upscale restaurant in Germany and thankfully that is not a major problem so far, thanks for the link.

I'd like to see a credit card commitment for reservations. While sure there are some true mishaps that cause someone to completely miss a reservation, I think I'm very safe in assuming that the majority of missed reservations are due to people's selfish or forgetful nature.

Knowing you'll be dinged for a no-show will change some (most?) people's bad behavior.

As far as stopping some diners from booking, if the restaurant is producing quality food and has the demand, the restaurant will do fine regardless if some diners won't book due to a credit card ding for not showing up.

When a group of Flyertalkers no show
 

At the Saturday night dinner for SinDo 2010, eleven people did not show up. It turned out that all were experienced DO attendees yet not one of them called, PM'ed or emailed with regrets. As a result a table was held for 1.25 hours for them on the busiest night of the week at the busiest hour for a restaurant in Singapore.

As an organizer, some lessons were learned (fortunately there was no minimum guarantee for the dinner). Do not ask the restaurant to hold space for late arrivals. Require that payment be made in advance and non-refundable despite the much greater logistics involved in collection. Set a cut-off for payments and stick with it. Be sure to build in a considerable buffer for currency conversion costs (if at a foreign venue from one's home country), Pay-Pal and bank charges and restaurant ancillary charges particularly if a guarantee is required. Be sure that everyone pays even those who say that they are just dropping by or do not plan to eat.

This all sound rigid and tough but it has become a necessity at least at those functions that I may host and organize.

+1. Was in a restaurant the oher week where 12 out of 20 tables (2x4, 10x2 pax) were no-show: Sat so I could hear walk-ins and phone-ins beeing turned away...

Astonished over the number of no-shows, but still not surprised. I just hope the restaurant didn't hold you personally liable.

One of our local favorites does these fantastic wine dinners w/ a six course tasting menu. It usually sells out within hours of it's announcement (typically 6 weeks in advance). There was literally 40% no show at the one before last.

Flip side is the restaurants you frequent are super appreciative if you give them heads up when something comes up and tend to treat you very well when you are in.

Were these people you knew personally? I suspect it's easier for people to bail when they don't know the host. But I agree with you...unconscionable and you're doing the right thing by cracking down.

If it meant that reservations were easier to procure, I'd be all for it. My only concern with giving a credit card when making the reservation is the cancellation policy. If I can still cancel with no penalty 24 hours in advance, that's fine.

Not only do I tell them if I have to cancel, I also call them if (for example) the party is going to be smaller than I booked for. It enables them to organize their tables more efficiently.

This is my biggest worry, and that is why I don't organize Dos. Unless I know the ones who are talking about a Do.

I do the same, especially for a small place, where they rely on every table showing up.

Having lots of friends in the resto biz, I first hand the anguish they go through when someone is a no show and they have JUST turned away a walk in. And the loss of food and pay.

I sympathize with the frustration you must have felt as you were trying to get the restaurant to seat you with so many from your group not present. Years ago I was an organizer of many voluntary events and it was a constant struggle to get people to take seriously the need to commit, to arrive on time, and to notify if they could not make their commitment. One of my frequent refrains was, "This is not a gym. You can't simply decide on the way home from work if you want to drop in or not."

For something like SinDo I might be a bit more understanding of the complexity people face in making it to a foreign destination.... But then again, this is 2014, with near ubiquitous cell phone and mobile data access. Anybody who faced a last minute change of plans should have been able to tell you.

I would also suggest a public shaming. If people don't show up to an event I have planned, I will post on whatever medium was used to plan it (Facebook page, e-mail chain, etc.) a list of their names along with "we are here waiting for you, please update us on your status" or something to that effect. It seems harsh, but do it once and people will get the message.

i get very upset when we have a no show table. i book a 5:30 table for two. show up at 5:25. no table ready. , and am ushered to the bar where we cool our heels for half an hour. happens more in nyc than anywhere else i have eaten.