Restaurant charging for non-attending guests?

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Sepeng

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So I'm looking to reserve a table at a restaurant for a birthday bash - a max of 20 guests. I call a place that looks pretty cool, it's in the Sandton area, let them know the usual details and let them know we're expecting 20 people. They reckon if 20 people don't pitch, we'll have to pay R100 for every number below 20. So if 2 of our guests cancel last minute, we'll have to cough up R200.
Is this a reasonable and usual thing? It's the first I've heard of it. We're not grossly exaggerating the guest list, but we can't account for other people not pitching surely?
 
I have seen it at a few places... its quite common.

They usually warn you so its not really an issue.

One of the places I went to had a live show, so if you didn't eat then you would have to pay a cover charge, its pretty much the same thing
 
If they reserve x amount of seating they can't make any money off that seating (have to turn away paying customers ) unless x amount of customers show up. If they're a popular enough place and can expect to fill their seating if its not booked by you why should they gamble on losing income if some of your peeps don't pitch up? Its certainly not unreasonable. If I did book and the place was half empty Id be a bit loath to have to pay for seating that would have been empty anyway, so bear that in mind. You'd be justified in asking not to have to pay if that turns out to be the case.
 
As long as they are forewarning you, I do not see a problem. You have to look at it from their perspective as it will be a loss of income on their part if they have less bottoms in seats.

We're not grossly exaggerating the guest list, but we can't account for other people not pitching surely?
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And the restaurant probably feels the same way.
 
A better way i have seen this situation managed (imo) is where they advise you that for a large table your bill must exceed a minimum of e.g. R75 per person.

If people don't show, and your bill exceeds this amount, all good, else you have to pay for the number of seats x R75.
 
Ecco said:
A better way i have seen this situation managed (imo) is where they advise you that for a large table your bill must exceed a minimum of e.g. R75 per person.

If people don't show, and your bill exceeds this amount, all good, else you have to pay for the number of seats x R75.
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R75pp :o

Organised a table for me and a couple of friends, we were sitting at somewhere over R250pp
 
Book for 16. Bring 22 people and ask for R600 discount!
 
froot said:
R75pp :o

Organised a table for me and a couple of friends, we were sitting at somewhere over R250pp
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Exactly! Yet the restaurant that I booked for a large group said we need our bill to be minimum R75 per person. Nothing i will argue about - to me its was a done deal!
 
If you want to organise a booking at a place like this you need to warn your friends.

Tell them the deal and then give them the opportunity to bail on you before you make the booking.


Its really hard for the restaurant if you make the booking and then they turn people away.
 
Thanks for the replies, guess it's just me then!
Just it's the first time I've seen it done. I'm still not 100% convinced I'm taking away from other customers though. It would be a table with 20 chairs, not sure how it's stopping them selling out the place. But I do get what everyone is saying, thanks.


Nick333 said:
If they reserve x amount of seating they can't make any money off that seating (have to turn away paying customers ) unless x amount of customers show up. If they're a popular enough place and can expect to fill their seating if its not booked by you why should they gamble on losing income if some of your peeps don't pitch up? Its certainly not unreasonable. If I did book and the place was half empty Id be a bit loath to have to pay for seating that would have been empty anyway, so bear that in mind. You'd be justified in asking not to have to pay if that turns out to be the case.
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I think that last bit, the part where the restaurant isn't full, that's where my head is at. I don't get out much but I can't remember being at a resuarant that was packed. So I've got this image of being in a place half full and paying for empty seats, when I'm surrounded by empty seats! But I hear ya.
 
If they forewarn you then its all good, though I prefer the minimum charge per guest of x value per booked seat, its a much better solution.

If they don't forewarn you then of course they can get knotted.
 
Ye if the restaurant isn't full then it does seem silly.

It all about the fact that it COULD be full. They obviously believe that the restaurant could be full.

In Cape Town most places you have to book... the popular places anyway.
If you know you are going to be full then you can order more food and get all your staff that night, so they prefer it that way.

Imagine your restaurant is fully booked out and then no one comes. 20 seats is a big risk for owners.
 
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