A heated dispute over a Boston restaurant’s eye-popping $250 cancellation fee went viral on social media.
Last month, New York City resident Trevor Chauvin-DeCaro shared a series of social media messages from Jen Royle, a celebrity chef and owner of Table restaurant in Boston’s north end, which accused him of “screwing over” her restaurant for disputing the charge.
The post spread fast on X — formerly Twitter — with more than 4,000 comments and 24 million views as of Tuesday.
Chauvin-DeCaro said he had to cancel his Boston trip to see Madonna in concert in early January after claiming he was hospitalized. As a result, he used his credit card’s travel insurance to make a claim to be reimbursed the cancellation fee.
He said Royle contacted him on Instagram to complain about the claim.
“Hi, Trevor,” Royle wrote, according to screenshots he shared to X. “I own TABLE restaurant in Boston. I just wanted to personally thank you for screwing over my restaurant and my staff when you disputed your cancellation fee. I really hope in the future, you have more respect for restaurants, especially small businesses such as mine. Pathetic.”
Chauvin-DeCaro responded to Royle and said he was disappointed and shocked over the tone in her message.
“WOW. My stomach turns with the gross decision to search for, find, and direct message a customer like this. Despite that shock, I hope the following message finds you well.
“Firstly, I want to express my disappointment and shock at the tone and content of your message. As a patron and supporter of independent restaurants, I understand the challenges small businesses face, particularly in a post-COVID world.
“My decision to use my credit card’s travel insurance to address the lofty cancellation fee was not made lightly, and certainly not with the intention to ‘screw over’ your establishment or your staff.”
