you shouldn't have taken that step. now i have no choice but to plotterscize you: "You know absolutely zero, gurnisht, nada about running a business." there's no way a restaurant, or any business for that matter (ok, there might be a few exceptions), would pass on savings to the customer in this way. they aren't going to print new menus with lower prices. it just won't happen. i've often been comp'd a drink at the bar when the wait is unreasonable. so on that front, i have no problem with the current system. honestly, i don't see abnormal waiting times to be a problem in restaurants in and around NYC. that's not to say that i can't or don't appreciate the situation that the restaurant is in. i just don't think a fee for a no-show is *not* the answer. perhaps some sort of credit-rating for dinners would be more appropriate. if you've told 10 places in the past year that you got into a car accident and can't make it, well sorry buddy, that's 50 bucks. if you actually *did* get into a 2 car accidents (a more reasonable and likely number), then you're off the hook because the restaurant management is an understanding lot. actually, doesn't opentable.com and maybe some of the others keep data like that?