A NYC hostess says she canceled two of a family’s three reservations, then left a voicemail saying ‘don’t even bother trying to come back’
She said it was for the best.
An NYC restaurant hostess claimed that she canceled two reservations belonging to a family that made three bookings on consecutive days. According to the woman, consecutive reservations usually mean the diners “don’t know which day they’re going to come,” so she said she made the decision for them.
Hostess Sophia Rowan claimed that diners made multiple bookings for consecutive days and would “feel out the vibes” when it came to deciding which day they would actually come. She said that they likely wouldn’t come on the other two days, something which is usually referred to as a “no-show.” But Sophia claimed she “picked the day for them,” allegedly canceling the Saturday and Sunday reservations. “Hopefully they show up,” she said.
Sophia also claimed that she called the customers up after canceling the two bookings and left a voicemail. “Just so you know, I saw that you made three reservations; I made it easier for you, I made the choice,” she allegedly told them. “You guys have to come in on Friday at seven; if not, don’t even bother trying to come back.”
“Hopefully they’ll appreciate it because I usually don’t do favors like that,” Sophia added. In the description, she also claimed that she felt it was “for the best.”
How restaurants handle no-shows
If Sophia was right about the customer’s intentions to only show up on one of the three days they booked, then that could mean that the restaurant would end up with an empty table on the other two days. A single no-show could cost a business roughly $35 to $60 for a casual restaurant, $75 to $120 for upscale casual, and $150 to $300 for fine dining, according to the Washington Times.
When the cost of the food that was ordered and prepped, the staff hours, and the cost of turning walk-ins away in favor of the reservation, it can reportedly cost restaurant owners a lot. According to the outlet, the rate of no-shows has increased in recent years, with the ease at which diners can do things such as tipping and booking via their phone and the lack of punishment for not showing up being pointed to as part of the reason.
However, many businesses employ methods to deter diners from making a reservation but not showing. Booking deposits have become more common, and many businesses take the customer’s card on file, stating that diners will be charged a fee if they do not cancel and fail to arrive.
The deterrent was reportedly effective, with restaurant operators claiming that the rate of no-shows had fallen by roughly half. Diners also called in to cancel, which allowed operators to free up the table and either re-book it or give it to a walk-in.
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