Restaurants fight no-shows with new reservation policies

Restaurant owners are facing increased issues with last-minute cancellations and no-shows, impacting their business. This is particularly noticeable on high-demand dates like Valentine's Day. Some establishments are losing significant revenue due to unfilled reservations. To combat these issues, some restaurants are implementing policies such as reservation deposits or prepaid meals. This is especially common in fine-dining establishments. Other restaurants are exploring alternative methods, like overbooking and tracking frequent no-shows. The article suggests that the rise in poor reservation etiquette stems from changing social norms and increased costs for restaurants. The industry faces pressure from rising labor costs and ingredient prices. These factors are driving restaurants to explore measures to protect their revenue.