I could understand people bailing out on a root canal; but do people really bail out on a chance to savor fresh grilled swordfish at Toronto's Scaramouche or truffles at Ottawa's Beckta? Apparently they do, not only at those two fine restaurants, but at establishments from one end of the country to the other.

Restaurant owners, please listen up: we're all really busy, so we cannot gamble on the fact that your swanky eatery will be able to sit us at 7 p.m., because everyone eats at 7 p.m. We're going to a place where we've booked a table, knowing we can go right in, sit down and relax.