Whether you have a busy schedule or a week off, a restaurant reservation can relieve your stress a lot. You won't have to waste time deciding where to eat or wait for a table to become available once you arrive. On the contrary, making a reservation will help you enjoy your meal to the fullest and allow you to focus on the people who keep you company.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Plan Ahead
Step 1. Choose the restaurant
Before booking, it is best to decide which venue to go to. Not everyone accepts reservations, even those that are always full. For example, some new or small restaurants may not have enough customers to set up a reservation system. Consequently, it is important to know the venue's policies before attempting to reserve a table.
Step 2. Decide how many people to book
Once you have chosen the restaurant, find out how many colleagues or friends will accompany you to dinner. Depending on the size of the group, waiting times may vary. For example, if there are only two of you, it will be easier to find a table. If, on the other hand, you want to reserve a table for 10, it will be much more difficult, so it would also be worth booking well in advance.
If you are not sure if a person will be able to come, consider them anyway when booking the table. It is easier to keep an empty seat than to add a chair to a busy restaurant table
Step 3. Choose a time and day
Depending on the day of the week, the venue may be more or less crowded. For example, booking a table for weekdays is easier than booking for the weekend. Likewise, reserving a seat for breakfast, lunch or dinner rush hours is more difficult than at less busy times.
You should always think about a reserve date and time in case there are no tables available for the originally decided time
Method 2 of 3: Call to Book
Step 1. Call as soon as possible
In many cases, you will be able to reserve a table for dinner the same day. However, if you already have dinner planned, call without hesitation. Almost all restaurants accept reservations a few days in advance, while the most prestigious ones receive reservations even with weeks or months in advance.
Step 2. Be as courteous as possible when booking a table
If you're trying to find a spot in a busy club or on short notice, remember that your attitude on the phone can make a difference. Use a confident but polite tone; avoid giving the impression that booking is your right. However, remember that even starred restaurants don't make money by turning down customers. If there are no tables available for the date you have chosen, explain your situation and politely ask for a way to accommodate you in the future.
When you call, try to say: "Hi, I'd like to book a table for next Saturday at 8pm". At that point, the waiter or restaurateur will usually ask you how many people you want to book for and tell you if there is a table available. If they say no, try asking: "Are there tables at different times on the same day?". If the answer is still no, ask when they have the first free table and find an acceptable solution for you
Step 3. Call to confirm the reservation
If you phoned a week or more in advance, in some cases it is a good idea to call on the day of the booking to check that it is still valid. Call as soon as possible, in order to solve any problems, have the opportunity to make other plans if necessary or give the restaurant time to remedy the problem.
Step 4. Call ahead or cancel your reservation if you are going to be late
Once the reservation is made, call to apologize if you will arrive up to 20 minutes late. Should the delay be longer, consider canceling the booking and postponing it. Remember: tables are reserved for a reason, which is to make sure we serve as many customers as possible each evening. If you arrive late, you will also have a negative impact on other guests' bookings.
Step 5. Try to arrive 10-15 minutes before the time you booked
This way you can let the waiters know that you have arrived, so they will not give your table to anyone else. Many restaurants have a lounge where you can sit and order drinks. However, remember to approach a waiter at the time of your reservation, so as not to risk your table being reassigned.
Method 3 of 3: Book Online
Step 1. Try the restaurant's website
Many places allow you to book directly from their site. With this method, you may be able to see the list of all available dates and times for the current week or month. It is usually necessary to create an account, provide an email or a phone number in order to confirm the reservation. However, you should not receive messages or emails that do not contain updates on your booking.
Step 2. Book using a website or mobile application
If you can't book a table directly on the restaurant's website, you can try a website dedicated to this, such as The Fork. These sites allow you to search for restaurants based on your preferences for time, date, type of cuisine and price. In addition, many of them offer smartphone applications that you can use to reserve a table before arriving at the restaurant. These are ideal solutions for last minute bookings.
Step 3. Check your email and phone regularly
Once you have made your online booking, you should receive a confirmation by email or SMS. Some of these sites and restaurants may ask you to press a link or button to confirm your reservation. In addition, they may also send you a link to cancel or change your booking if needed.
- Many online booking sites also offer discounts or rewards programs for members.
- If you can't cancel your internet booking, try calling the restaurant directly.
Advice
- Note that restaurants with a large flow of customers don't take reservations; this is why it may happen that you see endless lines outside the most famous clubs. Be prepared for a long wait if you want to eat at such a restaurant.
- Credit card companies often include restaurant discounts in their rewards programs to attract more customers. Some of the more expensive cards even offer exclusive access to the most renowned restaurants.
