It seems to me that the error at the bottom of all this was their booking of two large groups on the same night. Had this been otherwise all might well have gone swimmingly.
Is the restaurateur to be dammed for this single misjudgement?
Might I make a suggestion? [Is there likely to be the slightest 'might' about it? No.]
(Albeit this rather depends on the party being local)
An approach could be made to the restaurateur that he offer half price deals (with one free bottle of wine?) for four groups of four, such an offer to be taken up over the next six months or so. With the pledge that the dining experience shall be wonderful.
We are each only human.
