With such uncertainty for restaurants right now I totally get where they are coming from. Even before the pandemic it was annoying.
Sometimes knowing a party of 12 coming in after work might be the difference between having two servers or three servers. But if the party doesn't show, now the place sends home the server, who (at least by law) needs to get three hour pay. But the server has cancelled plans and doesn't get tips. Not really fair for anyone.
It's not such a big deal if the restaurant is busy and near capacity anyways though. So it's the slower places (or slower times) where it really makes a difference and by forcing parties to put down a deposit you're probably going to just make people reluctant to make a reservation there.
As for me, no way I'm putting down a deposit right now. I don't want anyone (or myself) to feel compelled to show because they already put some money down. I'd rather they err on the side of caution with that small tingle in their throat or that little bit of a stuffy nose.
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