How would you like to be a business owner and you set up all day long for a customer, and he doesn’t show up? You still got to pay your workers you still have supplies that may go bad and be perishable. It’s not unreasonable
From what I have read elsewhere he or his “friend” (I refuse to write husband) did call and let the restaurant know why they would not be able to keep the reservation. That is not exactly a no show.
“How would you like to be a business owner and you set up all day long for a customer, and he doesn’t show up?”
Only one customer a night?
No wonder the restaurant owner is desperate for the $250!