Los Angeles Restaurants Fight Back Against No-Show Reservations
There are few things in this world more annoying than having to wait a half an hour for a table that you have already reserved. Many people blame the restaurants for overbooking, but a couple of Los Angeles restaurants insist it's not their fault, and are starting to fight back too.
Many in the restaurant business claim that they have to overbook reservations because of the prevalence of people who never show up. A couple of weeks ago Beverly Hills restaurant Red Medicine made national news when co-owner Noah Ellis took to Twitter in an attempt to dissuade people from making reservations and not honoring them.
"I hope you enjoyed your GF's B-day and the flowers that you didn't bring when you no-showed for your 8:15 res.," he said in one tweet. Continuing in another: "Also, big thanks to Carlos MacManus, Colin Rolfs, Allison Joyce, Sam Java, Daniella Brown, and Matt Lopez for no-showing btwn 730p-930p. All the nice guests who wonder why restaurants overbook and they sometimes have to wait for their res should thank people like those below."
Those tweets stirred up quite a bit of controversy, with some praising Ellis for taking a stand against the no-shows, while others believing it was completely out of line and would only lead to a decrease in business. One thing is for sure, other businesses feel his pain.
"I take a lot of reservations, and I'd say at least 10 percent don't show and don't call," said Lenny Rosenberg, who runs the West Los Angeles eatery called Lenny's Deli. He says it's all part of doing business.
Another restaurant in Los Angeles is taking a more proactive, innovative step in figuring out how to combat people failing to show up for their reservations. The trendy new dining establishment Trois Mec is now selling $90 non-refundable tickets to dine there.
"It's a tiny restaurant. It's 24 seats and it's really about having a business model that allows us to create the best experience for our guests," says Krissy Lefebvre, wife and business partner to Ludo Lefebvre, of ABC's "The Taste" fame.
Krissy Lefebvre says that while she has seen the ticket system implemented in other cities, she believes that Trois Mec will be the first in the Los Angeles to use such a system. She believes that by using the tickets, chefs will also be able to better prepare for each night. If she's right, this could become a trend many restaurants will follow.