No-shows have become a topic of conversation in Toronto’s restaurant scene. ย According to Mandoe Media’s latest study, a staggering 94.29 per cent of top global restaurants now enforce cancellation fees, with some charging as much as approximately $670 CAD per diner for late cancellations or absences. In some instances, the cancellation fee can be as much as โ or more than โ the actual cost of dining.
For restaurants like Michelin-starred Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto, which offers only three tables per night with no walk-ins allowed, each reservation is crucially important. With a dining experience priced at $350 per person plus a 23 per cent auto gratuity, last-minute cancellations or no-shows on the day of the reservation incur a full charge of $350 per person.
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At Daphne in the Financial District, renowned for its contemporary take on American cuisine, handling reservations is crucial. Unlike establishments like Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto, where cancellations incur a steep $350 charge per person, Daphne implements a more manageable $25 cancellation fee per person for reservations cancelled within 48 hours of the booking time.ย Over at Matty Matheson’s modern steak house, Prime Seafood Palace, ensuring reservation integrity is paramount. To manage this, they require cancellations to be made at least 48 hours in advance. Failure to do so results in a $35 late cancellation or no-show fee per guest.
But emergencies happen. We asked Daphne Restaurant if their $25 cancellation fee still applies in such cases. According to a guest services associate, they review notes on reservations for emergencies before charging the card on file.
Reservation fees might seem like a good idea for restaurants aiming to reduce no-shows, but they can deter potential diners. When Tamara Jossa tried to book a table for three at a local hot spot, the $50 deposit requirement made her think twice.
“You never know if something might come up last minute,” she said. “I’d rather take a chance and show up without a reservation pick a place that doesn’t have a cancellation fee.”
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At Toronto’s esteemed Sushi Masaki Saito, the city’s lone two Michelin-starred spot, reservations are serious business. For parties of two to four, they demand 48 hours’ notice for changes or cancellations; for groups of 5 or more, it’s a week. Fail to comply, and you’re looking at a hefty $400 per person charge.
While hefty cancellation fees might make you think twice, there’s more at stake. No-shows and last-minute cancellations disrupt a restaurantโs entire operation. Chefs plan and prep meals, and staff schedules hinge on reservations. A single no-show can lead to wasted food, overstaffing, or empty seats that could have been filled. For high-end spots like Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto or Sushi Masaki Saito, each seat lost means a significant hit to potential earnings.
So youย may want to think twice before cancelling last minute or not showing up. Your empty seat means more than just a missing guest.
