Chatting to Paul at MIV today who told me about an occurrence which seems to have become the norm for Hobart Christmas diners, and which I find totally unacceptable and which we've spoken about here before.
Paul says it has become commonplace this season for workplaces to call round various restaurants to book their Christmas functions; book, say, two or three venues, decide later exactly which one to go to, then not bother calling the other two to cancel the booking.
MIV had this happen last Saturday night. They found that Moorilla also had a booking for the same number of people with the same person as the contact person. So MIV lucked out on that one! Luckily they made up the number with last minute bookings, but as we discussed a few weeks ago - for a restaurant to be half empty on a busy Saturday night is not good.
It's probably a good indication of the way these people (the ones who don't bother getting back to the other restaurants to cancel) do business as well! As a restaurant, you'd be well advised to take note of those responsible, whatever their line of business.
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Spent a lovely afternoon this afternoon celebrating the upcoming holiday with a group of hard working professionals at Pecora and Grandvewe. My extreme gratitude and undying loyalty and affection to Luke, Katrina, Nikki and our Gobbler for their assistance in making my work Christmas lunch the huge success it was.
Lukes menu was absolutely spectacular and showcased the regional food to perfection. Nikki's cheese passion shined through her cheese tasting demo. Gobblers talk on regional food illustrated to all a side of life they hadn't either known about or considered before - that of the regional food issues. All my guests literally raved about it on the return bus trip to town. Thank you SO much one and all.
Let me add there's nothing like being at a table of Grumpy Old Men - Gobbler and Food Kitty's husband Mr Bok being the prime culprits!
Friday 14 December 2007
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On the bad habits part of part of your post I can vouch for that happening a lot. I know recently that it has happened to Smolt, MIV and Peppermint Bay. These are not small numbers, they are between 10 and 20 people. Look at and average spend per head in the restaurants and you could be up for $800 to $2000 dollars. It is quite possibly the rudest thing a customer can try and pull. But be warned - these restaurants communicate daily - and your names are going on blacklists.
Last Friday at Mures UpperDeck we had 2 groups booked in. One of 30 people and another of 25 people cancel with less than 24 hour notice. More like 3-4 hours notice. It meant that all day we had been turning customers away as we were fully booked.
My manager was very very annoyed, as this is happening more and more.
So now we have a policy a booking of 7 or more, if you dont cancel giving 24 hours notice or dont show up,then the customer will be charged $100 to the credit card details taken when they made the booking. A booking of 14 or more need to give 48 hours notice.
I think some people forget that restaurants are businesses too. Looks like my work is not the only place that is being messed around.
Similar policies are being employeed by other restaurants. Don't be surprised when this becomes the norm. A Hobart restaurant recently made a decision that for groups of 6 or more a credit card would be needed to secure the booking and upon less than 48 hrs notice a $10 pp charge would be taken. Sound harsh? Maybe but the culture has itself to blame. If a hotel requires c/c details to secure a booking, why not a restaurant?
I cant understand WHY people do this. Is it so hard to get organised earlier and say "we have the option of here, here or here. Which one?" Take and vote and then book the venue and not the other way around?
It inconviences SO many people otherwise.
Guess most people dont read Miss Manners like I do.
It would appear that what Paul said yesterday is indeed happening. I totally agree with the c/c thing. Society will slowly turn round and accept the c/c thing as it usually does, but very slowly and moaning loudly and angrily as it does!
Thanks for your comments HRV, Mures Anon and other Anon, not to mention Zelda. Zelda, your Miss Manners should eb dusted down, obviously!
I must say this annoys me so much. If I ever make a booking and even one person can't make it I always ring the restaurant and let them know. If six tables have one less person show up that could mean another table becomes free.
Some places are so grateful that you do actually ring and let them know, that I've often thought, for every one who does there must be a lot more who don't bother.
If I'm unsure about the number, I always let them know this and give them a date when I will confirm exactly how many will be in attendance. This happened when booking our Christmas Day lunch and Karen at Customs couldn't have been lovlier.
I also consider my reputation as a customer. I tend to frequent the same establishments on a regular basis and would hate to get a black mark. My friends know this about me and even though I am sometimes teased for being organised to the extreme, it works for me. I can't bear lateness either and will also let a restaurant know if we're going to be a bit late.
I totally get the credit card side of things, but as I don't have one, wonder how this will affect me in the future.
{I've just re read this and I sound a bit "too bloody perfect" don't I. It's just not that hard though}
On a different note, just wanted to share that our ladies group dined at The Henry Jones on Friday night. Having heard mixed reviews I was a little apprehensive, as we had saved all year for this.
I need not have worried. Divine!!!
I had Tatanaki Beef, think thats what it was called. Beef sliced so thinly, with a wonderful wasabi dressing. Entree was a glorious seafood bisgue, then Doo Town Venison with Pumpkin Gnocchi.
Thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The terrible part is I got so wrapped up in my own food, I forgot to check what everyone else had. Did try the pork neck and that was sublime. Even better than the venison actually.
Quite expensive. My meal, with a gorgeous bottle of cab sav was $110, but on a special occasion, I did throw caution to the wind. I've relived my wonderful meal a few times now, so I am quite pleased with this.
With that off my chest, A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Thanks Christina. I too am one like you with regard to letting restaurants know about lateness, or booking numbers - but you left out a really vital point there, which I know you do - which is that when you tell them you'll call back on such & such a date to confirm numbers, you actually DO! There's not too much of that round these days, I find. It's called 'credibility'. We need more of it!
BTW Christina - if I was at Customs on Xmas Day for lunch - how would I find you to say Hi?
Rita I would really love that.
Well if you were to ask any else they would tell you that you'd hear me before you saw me, but I'll be wearing a greenish flowery top and black 3/4 pants. {Hows that for organised}. I have freckles,a gap in my front teeth, and brown hair with blonde streaks.
I'll be at a table of 8 and my husband has quite a distinctive moustache.
Also the table is booked in my name so perhaps you could ask.
Please come up and say hi.
Yep, providing credit card details is common practice in Sydney and has been for some time now. And for the same reason.
I don't know if the trade grapevine there operates to the extent it does in Hobart; the frisson of edginess and anxiety that the competition engenders in Sydney probably provides motivation enough for this practice to flourish.
Found myself in Taste of India yesterday - the one in town. (I know - not a lot of time etc.)
But it was quite good. Had the Beef Madras. (I know). But it was really good. And fresh baked naan. That was bloody good! I know.
Anyway, could've licked the polystyrene plate clean. And no I wasn't starving or anything. Surprised me!
Bit of a weirdo crowd in there though. If they're not hunkered down over their 'plate' shoving it in as fast as they can with their little plastic spoon/fork, or in some cases spoon and a fork, or in some cases, ....erm, no spoon and no fork, they're just sitting there talking to themselves. Or you.
One such customer, unprompted but clutching a shopping trolley (yes - INSIDE Taste of India. I know), informed me in no uncertain terms I look just like Clair somebodyorother from Deniliquin. Dead ringer, apparently. Which is depressing as I am a man (broadly speaking) and Clair's probably..... not.
Anyway, it was time to go suddenly. Shame I didn't get to try the Mango lassi (arf!).
Hi and welcome Mal. Interesting about the c/c info in Sydney. I'd expect that there, definitely.
Re your Taste of India experience - it's not one of my favourite restaurants, but glad you had a nice meal, with dubious company!
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