Oliva Mediterranean Restaurant begs diners not to ditch bookings
A Sydney restaurant owner has begged diners not to ghost on their bookings as coronavirus restrictions limiting venues to 10 patrons take their toll on local businesses.
St George Shire Standard
Don't miss out on the headlines from St George Shire Standard. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Hurstville crash driver pleads guilty to manslaughter
- Kirrawee paramedic now a child sex offender
- Reserve Bank employee caught in Cronulla with Xanax
A southern Sydney restaurant has pleaded with diners not to ditch their bookings during coronavirus restrictions which limit restaurants to just 10 patrons.
Oliva Mediterranean Restaurant in Menai posted on Facebook begging diners to think twice about booking ahead after they had their second no-show in one week.
“We had a booking of six people and they didn’t turn up on Saturday,” the restaurant wrote in a community Facebook group.
“This is really disgusting and hurtful when we are turning away the rest of the booking requests because we are booked out for 10 people.”
Oliva is among many Sydney restaurants pleading with diners not to commit to a booking if they cannot show up, inevitably preventing paying customers from helping keep local venues alive.
“With the current 10 people capacity we can’t afford this, this is the second time in a week people book and didn’t turn up,” the restaurant wrote continued.
“We are a small business and especially in current circumstances we can’t afford to lose even one customer.”
However, the restaurant said they would not ask for deposits before booking.
“We trust our customers,” they wrote.
“(But) please think about your actions before playing these games.”
A Surry Hills bar owner made a similar appeal after a woman who booked out almost half his venue on Saturday – but never showed up.
Aref Jaroud, the owner of bar Low 302 in Surry Hills made an impassioned address to “Aimee”, after she booked four seats at his venue and never showed.
“Maybe you have no idea the financial impact this has on a restaurant right now. Maybe you don’t care,” Mr Jaroud wrote.
“You have single-handedly set the worst of precedence for our entire industry at this most difficult time.”
In a more positive development, Oliva Mediterranean Restaurant will be open for 50 patrons from June 1 when the next round of restrictions is lifted.
