Thanks for your answer @Trish. Consider that it's been written in the message section that the time of arrival is at 8-8:15. In case they couldn't fulfil the thing written in the mssage section, they supposed to reply. So actually the reservation is from 8-9, not 7:30-9, isn't it?

@MichelGokanKhan no, you requested a 7:30. the field doesn't matter.

The message field was together with the reservation, my name, phone number and other stuff. So the fact that they didn't read the message is really not the customer's fault. Staff supposed to read the reservation details before confirming it, isn't it?

it is not the staff's fault that you did not tell them "I come at 8" properly. Besides, you did not have a contract for warm dinner. You had an agreement to come and get a table. It is not even guaranteed that any staff read your text: such message systems can be automated.

The customer wrote in the designated message filed clearly "we will arrive at 8-8:15". Shouldn't restaurant staff suppose to read the message before confirming a reservation? The confirmation email had been received several hours before arrival.

@MichelGokanKhan If you want a table reservation for 8-9:30 PM, then you should not make one for 7:30-9 PM. A reservation is not binding, therefore no consequences for a no-show (either for them or you).

@MichelGokanKhan If there is no contract, you are not entitled to anything.

@MarkJohnson I understand your point but in the "message/special request" part it's been mentioned that arrival time will be at 8, and it's been "confirmed" by restaurant staff! So technically the reservation was for 8, and the customer was in the restaurant on time! If the resturant couldn't fulfil the customer's wish, they should have called them and informed them or cancel the reservation!

Your argumentation fails: you failed to properly choose the time you wanted to start and send a request for 8. You also might have missed the terms of service of the restaurant saying "Last Call is 7:45". If you order a Green Cardboard Box and write a comment of "Please send an orange steel barrel", nothing obligates them to even read the comment.

@Trish Thanks for your answer again! Actually the restaurant kitchen, according to their website, supposes to be closed at 8:15! The cashier said today we had to close sooner, and can only provide takeaways. they even apologized! Regarding your other example: it was not a "comment" field! if you order a green cardboard box, and in the ordering form they specifically have a "message/special request" section, and after ordering there is going to be a second "confirmation email" afterward, then it's just not acceptable for them to not read the "message/special request" section.

@MichelGokanKhan Let me repeat in even more plain language: YOU HAD NO CONTRACT FOR A TABLE AND FOOD. THE RESTAURANT OWES YOU NO PERFORMANCE AT ALL! A Reservation is an offer of both sides to begin negotiations about a transaction at a later time: once you are at the restaurant and have seen the menu, and decided what to eat..

@MichelGokanKhan - if there was a contract they would be damaged and be able to recover the loss of you not showing up and ordering. You would would find that ridiculous, demonstrating there was no contract.

Thanks for your answers

'Actually the restaurant kitchen, according to their website, supposes to be closed at 8:15!' In otherwords you knew beforehand that a reservation at 8 was not possible but tried anyway without getting an confirmation from them that they would accept this. Then you are surprised that this ploy didn't work and want some form of damages? You should add that information to you question that tried to bypass their system.

@MarkJohnson In this hypothetical question, the kitchen supposed to be closed at 8:15, customer arrived at 8 so serving supposed to be possible. Also, they confirmed the order, and for them not reading the “message/special request section” before confirming is just not acceptable.

@MichelGokanKhan In this hypothetical question, the reservation that was confirmed was for 7:30 PM. It has not been stated why 8:00PM was not selected in the first place. The hypothetical reason could bethat 8:00PM was not available. What could the reason for that be? the questioner should have asked. And the hypothetical answer to that would probably be because the kitchen closes at 8:15 PM and an arrivalplus reading the menu and selecting the meal leaves not enough time to cook the meal before the kitchen closes.

@MarkJohnson All your points are valid, except that you are neglecting the fact that the reservation was separately CONFIRMED for 8-9 PM NOT 7:30-9 PM.The point of this question is not whether their staff missed the special request field or not,there is no question on that since they also apologised.The point is whether or not someone is entitled for damages caused by breach of agreement.Also consider the opposite scenario:what if someone book a table for 10 people and then they don't show up at all?I can refer you to many legal cases that the customer gets fined for no show!

@MichelGokanKhan Let me repeat it for you one final time: YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO IT. You had no contract. You can't sue. You have NO recourse via the legal system. The laws in Germany are pretty clear: unless you paid something beforehand or ordered a meal via phone, a reservation does not bind either party to perform. And now: I don't want to see another of these comments, as they become hounding.

@MichelGokanKhan the reason why your noshow is punishable is because in those cases where there was a suit they directly resulted in a loss by being a noshow. The restaurant could have given your place to others, if they knew you'd not come, especially with a large group. The moment they have to put in money (e.g. make a meal, or send customers away), you have a contract and are bound to perform.

@Trish Thanks Trish. You are of course right. No extra punishment apart. but if you put in money then story might be different. E.g., the group travel half a city to reach the restaurant paying 10€ each for taxi (10x10=100€ in total) and restaurant just simply say “no service” then it can be a form of putting money in. At least in Sweden, even if you don’t put in money, some restaurants fine you in case of no show, so I suppose it’s the same the other way around too. But you don’t have to repeat about the contract argument, Ive got your argument