Not going to a restaurant despite your reservation can be very expensive. Three guests at the two-starred Amelia in San Sebastian found out the hard way. The restaurant charged them 510 euros, while the trio did not come to honor the reservation, without warning, as pointed out by L’Indépendant.
A solution increasingly chosen by establishments, which are facing an increase in rabbits posed by their customers, the so-called “no show”. The tables decide, for example, to require a bank imprint when booking, in order to be able to debit the customer if necessary.
“It was not at all an excessive amount, since the average price on that date was 283 euros”, justifies the director with local television, while one of the customers wanted to dispute the amount in court. Justice ruled in favor of the Amelia. The double star warns on its website: “We accept cancellations or changes in the number of guests free of charge up to 96 hours [4 days] before the day of your reservation, any cancellation, modification after this time or no-show on day of booking will be subject to a charge of €291 per person. »
Paulo Airaudo, chef at Amelia, earned his second star in the 2022 edition of the Michelin Guide.
This practice of bank imprint, deposit, or penalty is completely legal. However, it is necessary that the sign specifies from the reservation the conditions of cancellation, and the sums claimed in the event of an appointment not honored.