Restaurant blasts customers for 'disgraceful behaviour'
The hospitality industry has suffered amid the coronavirus pandemic, but states and territories are moving to relax restrictions – allowing some restaurants, cafes and pubs to open their doors once again.
Sydney’s Beppi's Italian Restaurant was one of the venues which chose to open their doors when NSW restrictions permitted up to 10 customers.
“We have had an overwhelming response from the lifting of restrictions on in house dining from zero to 10 customers,” the restaurant wrote on social media.
“It has been great to hear the sounds of diners back in our restaurant.”
However, Beppi’s took to social media to express “disappointment” following a group of people not showing up for their booking.
On Thursday night, a group of six had a booking at the restaurant, which is a considerable party when only ten people are allowed to dine in a venue.
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“60% of our revenue GONE,” Beppi’s wrote on Facebook.
Not one person from the party of six called to cancel, and the “phone just goes to message bank”, Beppi’s said, blasting the act as “disgraceful behaviour”.
The restaurant admitted they were tempted to post the name and number of the person who had booked, but ultimately decided against it.
“We have made the conscious decision not to take credit card details or deposits and trust our customers,” Beppi’s explained.
“The overwhelming majority of our customers have been fantastic. The selfish few spoil it for others & inflict further financial pain of an industry already decimated by the pandemic.
“Grazie mille to all those customers supporting & respecting our industry during these tough times.”
On Twitter and Facebook, people agreed with Beppi’s.
“Just when i thought rona would make people nice and respectable again instead they’re showing their true colours,” one person wrote on Twitter.
Another person on Twitter suggested the restaurant should take a $10 per person deposit upon booking, to deter no-shows.
“Shocking behaviour, says a lot of the type of people they are,” someone said on Facebook.
Earlier this week, another Sydney restaurant told a woman only identified as Aimee who didn’t show up for her booking of four people to “burn in hospo hell”.
Like Beppi’s, Low 302 did not require people to pay a deposit upon booking, but since Aimee didn’t show up or call to cancel her reservation, the restaurant said on Facebook they were considering that option.
“You have single-handedly set the worst of precedents for our entire industry at this most difficult time,” Owner Aref Jaroud said on Facebook.
On Facebook, Beppi’s welcomed the NSW government’s decision to allow for 50 people to dine in come June 1.
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