Owner says he’s fed up with guests changing their group size at the last minute.
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Imagine you made a restaurant reservation for ten people, but three friends couldn’t make it. So, just seven people arrive there and you are immediately charged €45, €15 for each missing person.
Sounds harsh? It could be a new reality, as a small restaurant in Amboise, France, has sparked debate after introducing a controversial new fine. From now on, diners who show up with fewer or even more people than they originally booked for have to pay a €15 per person penalty.
€15 per person fine for unannounced reservation changes
Chef Olivier Vincent, owner of L’îlot, a 20-seat gourmet restaurant, says he’s fed up with guests changing their group size at the last minute, or simply not showing up at all.
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He says this is a “weekly” headache for his restaurant, which has a 4.7 star rating on Google. “We’re here because we need to make people responsible,” he said in a Facebook post that quickly went viral.
“We work with fresh products. We do not pay employees and suppliers with Monopoly tickets. My restaurant is a business,” he later told French publication ici.
Is the restaurant right — or going too far?
The move has divided opinion. Some internet users praised Vincent for encouraging basic respect. “I totally agree with you! It takes 2 minutes to notify someone of a change,” one commenter wrote.
Others accused the owner of being inflexible or punishing customers for situations beyond their control.
Still, in France, it’s not unusual for restaurants to charge for missed reservations. But fining for unannounced size changes? That’s a rarity, and L’îlot’s policy could set a precedent.
And here’s where the question gets interesting:
Could this happen in Spain?
If you’ve ever tried to book a table in a small, family-run Spanish restaurant, you’ll know just how tight margins can be. Staff numbers are often low, ingredients are bought fresh daily, and there’s not much room for error or empty seats.
So, could Spain follow France’s lead?
Many restaurants here are already quietly frustrated by similar issues. No-shows, last-minute cancellations, or showing up with fewer people are not uncommon at all, especially in tourist-heavy areas.
With the summer season in full swing and table turnover becoming more crucial, don’t be surprised if a few bold Spanish restaurants start taking Olivier Vincent’s example.
It’s not about being rude, it’s more about sustainability in hospitality. When tables go unused, fresh food goes to waste, and staff stand around unpaid, something has to give.
Restaurants are changing their rules all the time. For example, a restaurant in central Valencia recently introduced a rule requiring customers to spend at least €40 per person. Their place, their rule, of course.
So, next time you book dinner for ten and three friends don’t show, you might face a €15 per person fine for their absence, like in France.
Tags: €15 fine, L’îlot