Restaurant Reservations: A Survey

[Back]

Restaurant Reservations: A Survey

What is your preferred method of making a reservation at a restaurant?

Phone?

Email?

On-line?

If on-line, do you use an on-line service like Zagat or Opentable, or the restaurant’s website?

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I always call. I like speaking to someone on the phone. It gives me a sense that the reservation is confirmed.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the internet for many things... airline tickets I don’t even think twice about and don’t even write down the confirmation number.

[Kuyuk]

call.

[Back]

Thank yew.

[Keller]

Open Table.

If Open Table doesn't show availability, I call. Most of the time Open Table is chincy with available spots.

[Sean of the Thread]

Reservations... seriously?

[Jorddyn]

I live in Iowa. Don't remember the last time I had more than a 10 minute wait without reservations. Of course, I rarely do pricey restaurants, either.

[Methais]

I always sent a singing telegram to the restaurant manager.

[Keller]

I want to call a Burger King and ask for a reservation for 2 in a quiet recess and, in possible, a view of the kitchen. Just to see how they'd handle it.

[Back]

I live in Iowa. Don't remember the last time I had more than a 10 minute wait without reservations. Of course, I rarely do pricey restaurants, either.

This may seem like a pretentious question... in my opinion a seat at Denny’s for breakfast without having to call first is awesomeness.

But there are special occasions for... well... special occasions. Calling ahead is a special thing.

Yes sir, Yes madam, your table is right this way...

Without delving further into WHY people make reservations or not, if you do, my question is HOW?

[Skeeter]

I've never made a reservation in my life, except when I was in Vegas.

Never had a problem. I also typically don't go to restaurants on Saturday night at dinner.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Call.

[Back]

Call.

Thank yew.

[BigWorm]

Call

[Back]

Thank yew.

[diethx]

Call.

[DCSL]

Call. Admittedly, I've only made two reservations in my life, but that was it for both.

[grenthor]

I always call.

[Ignot]

I call but rarely do we go to a place that requires a reservation. J-Ville doesn't have to many places, if any, that are that booked up.

[Allereli]

I use open table

[Beguiler]

Call

[Keller]

Does anyone else find this to be a terribly inefficient survey?

Why not use the "poll" feature?

[Back]

Because it is hard to count to ten?

Don’t be a Clove. For the love of God.

[SHAFT]

I always call. I like knowing I spoke to human when I get off the phone.

[CrystalTears]

There are way too many good restaurants in our area to waste time on one that needs reservations.

[Keller]

Because it is hard to count to ten?

Don’t be a Clove. For the love of God.

What's funny is I had this scathing and bile-filled post all typed out that accused you of needing to be special and "do things your own way," just like your birthday-thread blow-up with Clove.

Then I decided I really don't dislike you as much as I just wish you'd stop trying so hard and that I should try to be nice and see if you'd respond better to that.

But it does amuse me that you also saw the connection to the birthday thread fiasco independent of me. It just proves, to me, that you do recognize that you try too hard to be a unique snowflake.

[Tsa`ah]

Call ... always.

[Fallen]

I would call, though I am unsure if I ever actually have.

[AnticorRifling]

It depends. Generally I'll call but for times when things have to be perfect I go in and make them face to face.

[Jahira]

Call and get the persons name that I talked to but I get peoples names in all situations.

That way if you show up and reservation has POOF. Well I just spoke with John Doe this morning and they assured me I would have a seat..yada yada yada - you are in a seat in 10 minutes.

Works great for customer service things too. "But Jane Rep # 2104 just told me that you would fix it for free." Is much more convincing than "Some lady I just talked to from your company said you would fix it for free"

[Methais]

It just proves, to me, that you do recognize that you try too hard to be a unique snowflake.

But all snowflakes are different. Which makes them all the same OMFG PARADOX!!!!!!!!1

[Cephalopod]

Call. It takes two seconds.

Unless it's a holiday (Valentines or Mother's Day, for example) -- then I'll use OpenTable, because it's easier to do 10 days in advance.

[Atlanteax]

I can't imagine anything other than calling being the norm... particularly since (only) a human receptionist would provide the credibility of a reservation being effectively in place... so that you don't end up having wasted your time driving to the place and loitering around.

[Sean]

I order take out and pickup online but if I'm making table reservations I call. I almost never make table reservations because I'm not classy like that.

[CrystalTears]

... so that you don't end up having wasted your time driving to the place and loitering around.I think Backlash would end up doing this anyway.

Who would date Backlash long enough to end up at a fancy shmancy restaurant? Honestly?

[Keller]

I can't imagine anything other than calling being the norm... particularly since (only) a human receptionist would provide the credibility of a reservation being effectively in place... so that you don't end up having wasted your time driving to the place and loitering around.

I always use Open Table for reservations unless (a) they show no availability or (b) the place only takes in person/call-in reservations.

I've used Open Table over 100 times in the last 3 years and I've never had a single problem. You're more likely to get a busy host that says, "Smith party of 4 for tomorrow night, got it" while busy and neglects to write it in the book.

[Allereli]

I always use Open Table for reservations unless (a) they show no availability or (b) the place only takes in person/call-in reservations.

and you get points

[Keller]

and you get points

I've noticed a lot of restaurants don't offer points -- but I get them when I can, yes.

[Clove]

I can't imagine anything other than calling being the norm... particularly since (only) a human receptionist would provide the credibility of a reservation being effectively in place... so that you don't end up having wasted your time driving to the place and loitering around.Inorite? I mean you can trust electronic booking for some things like say, rentals, hotel stays and flights... but when it's a restaurant you're better off leaving that to a professional.

[Allereli]

I've noticed a lot of restaurants don't offer points -- but I get them when I can, yes.

I think you get 100 pts with every reservation, and some give 1,000 instead

[Keller]

I think you get 100 pts with every reservation, and some give 1,000 instead

See if it'll give you points for making a reservation at Citronelle, Central, Oya, Source, etc.

Some restaurants don't pay Open Table to be listed and so therefore Open Table doesn't give points for going there. It's just a matter of the business arrangement between OT and the provider.

[Sean]

Sounds like only people from DC use OpenTable. I've never even heard of it.

[CrystalTears]

Sounds like only people from DC use OpenTable. I've never even heard of it.
Neither have I. Just sounds like getting there and asking, "That open table over there, may I sit in it?" Heh.

[NocturnalRob]

always call. always. it's easier to convince a human that they should give you a table even if they're "totally booked" than it is a laptop.

[Keller]

always call. always. it's easier to convince a human that they should give you a table even if they're "totally booked" than it is a laptop.

See above.

I always call if Open Table says they are booked.

I made that mistake once. It was Restaurant Week in 2006. I ended up making 5:00 pm reservations for dinner because I thought that was all they had available. We got there, ate until 6:30, and were surrounded by open tables.

Bonus? 4th meal at midnight!

[Allereli]

always call. always. it's easier to convince a human that they should give you a table even if they're "totally booked" than it is a laptop.

Not everyone is as picky as you

[Stanley Burrell]

I go in my ninja gear. It instantly teleports me to the hibachi table where the nanosecond-ago residents are now tasty morsels being served by my secret society of ninja hibachi chefs.

Hibachi.



And since definitely nobody has made any mention of it: I send a telegram of a barbershop quartet announcing my arrival to the restaurant manager. Laden with incendiary shurikens.

[NocturnalRob]

Not everyone is as picky as you

yeah well, there are a lot of mediocre, uncultured assholes in the world, V.

all I'm saying is that if i'm going to go out and spend more than $50/person on dinner, I want it to be at a good table at a decent dinner hour. I don't want to be stuck in the back next to the band or the cigar roller or the kitchen door looking like a schmuck. I don't want to eat at 5pm or at 11pm. And I don't want to have to apologize to everyone that I bump on my way to the bathroom from my shitty seat.

/rant

edit: i also hate making reservations in NYC. fucking H.A.T.E. it.

[petroglyph]

Open Table. Some of my friends are remarkably flaky and indecisive, and I feel a lot less guilty changing the time multiple times when I'm dealing with a computer than when I'm dealing with a human.

[TheRoseLady]

Call

[Back]

Sounds like only people from DC use OpenTable. I've never even heard of it.

THAT is a very interesting observation. Well played, sir.

Here comes the big reveal...

I am NOT the type to make reservations, typically. I am as at home at Mama Mexican’s Menudo Shack as I am at Ruth’s Chris. Yet I have found occasion to make reservations from time to time.

The truth is I am the head of marketing for a new upscale restaurant and OpenTable contacted us about their service.

This survey was my research of common people’s (please do not be offended by that) reservation habits. I must say I am pleasantly surprised and greatful for the contributions to this survey.

Thank yew.

[thefarmer]

Thank yew.

You might think this makes you seem trendy and hip.. but in reality it just makes you seem like a 5yr old with baby teeth missing and bad lisp from still using a pacifier.

[Back]

You might think this makes you seem trendy and hip.. but in reality it just makes you seem like a 5yr old with baby teeth missing and bad lisp from still using a pacifier.

Thwank thwew.

[Tsa`ah]

Inorite? I mean you can trust electronic booking for some things like say, rentals, hotel stays and flights... but when it's a restaurant you're better off leaving that to a professional.

Most hotels allow for over-booking, particularly with internet reservations ... or at the very least most hotels allow for multiple venues of internet booking, which leads to over-booking. Airlines and car rental companies keep real time inventories with internet services ... though they still often over-book due to internet services.

When it comes to dinner reservations, a phone call is often the most expedient and trustworthy method of securing a table.

[Miscast]

This may seem like a pretentious question... in my opinion a seat at Denny’s for breakfast without having to call first is awesomeness.
You've, uh, made reservations at Denny's? I'm misreading this, right?

[Clove]

Most hotels allow for over-booking, particularly with internet reservations ... or at the very least most hotels allow for multiple venues of internet booking, which leads to over-booking. Airlines and car rental companies keep real time inventories with internet services ... though they still often over-book due to internet services.

When it comes to dinner reservations, a phone call is often the most expedient and trustworthy method of securing a table.Please, I worked in hotel management for 10 years before I went into corporate accounting. Overbooking will occur if it's the establishments policy, regardless of how you book.
In high-demand areas (such as where I live) a hotel can overbook up to 20% (with or without internet booking). Come here around 11pm on Saturday night in July with a reservation and you've got a 1 in 5 chance of sleeping in the parking lot. Saw it all the time. Also any PMS being used these days handles real-time booking.

Bottom line if you can feel comfortable booking a room or flight a restaurant isn't any LESS reliable.

[Clove]

Speaking of airline reservations:

A guy gets on a plane and sits down next to another guy with a big dog. He doesn't seem blind so he asks, "What's with the dog?". The man with the dog replies, "Oh I'm a DEA agent and this is a drug-sniffing dog. As soon as we take off he's going to search the plane."

The plane takes off and the dog goes away for a few minutes and then returns, places his paw on the man's left shoulder and woofs. "What's that all about?" he asks, "Oh, the passenger in A12 has marijuana, so I'll arrest him when we land."

The dog goes away for another few minutes and then returns, places his paws on the man's lap and woofs. "The passenger in B29 has heroine, so I'll arrest him when we land."

The dog goes away again and then runs back and climbs in to the man's lap and pisses all over him. "What does THAT mean?" the man asks. "Uh, the passenger in D5 has a bomb."