A Saboteur in the Kitchen? Michael’s of Dublin Alleges Bogus Booking Plot
Prominent chef Gaz Smith recently disclosed through social media that his restaurant, Michael’s, located in Mount Merrion, County Dublin, fell prey to a “methodically planned” bogus reservation. Smith insinuated that the offender might be a competitor within the hospitality industry…
In a detailed tweet, Smith expressed: “We were disappointed/duped by what we suspect to be a significant fake reservation for today [Sunday, June 25]. They kept us on our toes with questions and continued to amplify the numbers. It was intentional and well-thought-out.”
“We devoted so much effort to catering to their needs, rearranging the seating plans, ordering additional food specifically for them, and in the process, we had to decline genuine reservations from our regular and local patrons.
When it was time to collect a deposit, they merely attempted to deceive us. If it weren’t for a bit of instinct, we would be faced with an unoccupied restaurant, a surplus of food, and a disheartened team. It’s tough. We strive to keep our guests satisfied, only to be let down.
Yes, it’s our mistake.
We should have asked for a deposit right from the start. But they were so persuasive that they got us engrossed in menus and allergen considerations,” the tweet continued.
Smith implied that the incident might be something more malicious than just a jester trying to dupe the restaurant: “I personally think it was someone from the industry being treacherous, and I intend to uncover the truth…”
Following this, he urged his nearly 39,000 followers to express their support by reserving a table at the seafood and steak restaurant and make sure they honor the reservation.
While Smith didn’t supply any evidence to substantiate his claim that a rival restaurateur was plotting to disrupt his eatery’s Sunday service, or identify a suspect, such tactics aren’t unfamiliar in the fiercely competitive world of hospitality. In 2014, Gordon Ramsay alleged that the launch of his Heddon Street Kitchen restaurant was obstructed by an envious competitor who made 100 counterfeit reservations.
