Do Restaurants Tell Customers Not to Return?: The Red Card

A folklore colleague of mine came across this story in the Vienna Donau Kurier. As he describes, after having paid the bill in a five star restaurant a man and woman are handed a red card that reads, ‘We can not receive you in our restaurant in the future, since you have been eating from each others plates, which is against our rules.’

In the US, Germany, Belgium, and in the Netherlands, this legend has attached itself to famous chefs and restaurants. In Germany Johann Lafer has promised to pay 3.000 euros to the person who could show him a card like that. Schubeck is another German chef (or restaurant?) mentioned in connection with the legendary red card (he supposedly offered a 5.000 euro reward). In the Netherlands, Sergio Herman was targeted in 2012 (restaurant Oud Sluis, three stars). He offered a free dinner to anyone who could prove the story.

My colleague notes: As a matter of fact, a similar card has been in my possession for a number of years, but unfortunately, it got lost. My father, who was a businessman and frequently dined in restaurants, came home one time in the sixties or early seventies and showed us a calling card sized card that read, ‘Your presence here is no longer appreciated. Please be so kind as to leave the premises.’ This was a prank, but it might act out the rumor.

Some variants of the story: in the case of Dutch chef Sergio Herman, guests were said to be banned because they did not drink enough, or skipped starters and dessert, confining themselves to the main course. They were said to be given an envelope that they should open when they got home.

The story has also been told about a famous Dutch politician, PJ Troelstra (1860-1930). When he was handed the infamous card, he offered his own card in exchange, which read, ‘’PJ Troelstra, MP’. The same story is told about political folk hero Willem Drees (1886-1988).

Around 1969, long-haired men entering the Amsterdam Hilton were offered a cup of coffee and a card that read, ‘The coffee is free, but after you have finished it, please leave the premises.’ An exception was made for John Lennon.

American versions have been mentioned on the Snopes forum:

Comment: There is a high end restaurant in Seattle named Canlis. Been
around since 1950. There is a persistent rumor that this restaurant used
to hand out " please do not return to this restaurant " [or something
similar] cards to patrons who did not spend enough money. Canlis denies
it and has a standing offer to anyone who can produce one of those cards.
To date, none have appeared but the rumors persist. (11 December 2010)

The restaurant itself addresses the rumor in its FAQ:

Q: Is that whispered rumor true?
A: Believe it or not, 60 years later, we still hear of people scared to come in for fear of “the dreaded card.” Is it true that if you don’t spend enough at Canlis they give you a card asking you not to return? Peter Canlis offered a thousand dollars to anyone who could produce the card with his signature. That stack of bills still sits in our safe today, untouched and unclaimed for over half a century.

http://www.canlis.com/about/qa.aspx

I thank French folklorist Veronique Campion-Vincent for this information. Are there similar stories in Chicago? Charlie Trotter, anyone?

Fascinating! I've never heard of this, Gary, but it seems a possibility, though perhaps not based on the problem of people sharing tastes from each others' plates. The only thing I can offer is the story of a shoe store in Bourges, France (home of Michelin) that banned an unfashionable woman of a friend's acquaintance, telling her that she was unattractive and not worthy to wear the shoes they sold. This happened in the late 1970's, and my friend witnessed it.

"No soup for you. Come back in one year."

I have 86d guests, but for their grotesque behavior, not for clothing, check average, etc. And it has to be pretty egregious behavior to earn an 86.