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Started By
Message
Open Table Reservation Experiences
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:00 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:00 pm
Once again, I looked to OT for reservations at some New Orleans restaurants for early April. For one particular restaurant, OT showed nothing available from 6:15 to 8:45pm. Called the restaurant and was told "no problem" and that I could come any time between 7 and 7:30, so I made the reservation. This has happened to me more than a few times at this point.
I know restaurants will sometimes hold prime times open for special guests or whatever, but I'm not a celebrity, so it doesn't make sense to me.
A friend of mine recently had the same experience.
Anyone have any info on why this happens? I've gotten to where I don't want to use it even if there is an opening because I don't feel confident that it's going to work out.
I know restaurants will sometimes hold prime times open for special guests or whatever, but I'm not a celebrity, so it doesn't make sense to me.
A friend of mine recently had the same experience.
Anyone have any info on why this happens? I've gotten to where I don't want to use it even if there is an opening because I don't feel confident that it's going to work out.
10
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:03 pm to Gris Gris
Best guess is they don't allow all tables to be reserved on OT for whatever reason. In your case, all the OT were probably taken but the other tables not yet reserved.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:04 pm to Gris Gris
quote:
Anyone have any info on why this happens? I've gotten to where I don't want to use it even if there is an opening because I don't feel confident that it's going to work out.
If it tells me a restaurant is full and I have my heart set on it, I'd call the restaurant.
I expect that and really don't mind at all.
Otherwise, I've never had an issue with booking a reservation and it not going through or being there when I arrive.
And believe me when I say I use the heck out of that website
I have 2000 points from this year alone.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:06 pm to hiltacular
quote:
Best guess is they don't allow all tables to be reserved on OT for whatever reason. In your case, all the OT were probably taken but the other tables not yet reserved.
That would be my guess as well. I had the reverse experience in that when I called on New Year's Day to get a reservation at a local place (Proof on Main) they were booked but they had a reservation open on Open Table. Staff called the day before to confirm and it worked out great.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:07 pm to hiltacular
quote:
Best guess is they don't allow all tables to be reserved on OT for whatever reason. In your case, all the OT were probably taken but the other tables not yet reserved.
This too.
I imagine it is no different than using Priceline for hotels in the sense that they only allot a certain # to those sites to make sure they don't overbook.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:12 pm to LouisianaLady
Okay, I guess that explains. Maybe this restaurant doesn't allow prime time on OT. I've had more experiences not getting tables on OT, but getting them when I call than I have otherwise. I'm not frequent user, though.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:37 pm to Gris Gris
A friend of mine owns a restaurant here in NYC and was explaining the opentable process. Essentially, the restaurant will decide how many tables they want to put on opentable. They hate it, because they lose a certain percentage of the table to opentable.
That being said, my friend said that as a small restaurant, they would not dare not allocate at least a portion of their tables to opentable because it does bring in customers.
That being said, my friend said that as a small restaurant, they would not dare not allocate at least a portion of their tables to opentable because it does bring in customers.
This post was edited on 3/4/15 at 6:39 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:45 pm to Gris Gris
Damn glad I clicked on this thread, whenever open table says full I assume it's booked and go elsewhere, will start calling now
Posted on 3/4/15 at 6:50 pm to Gris Gris
Always call just to back up what you see online. What the other poster said about them only putting a certain allotment of their entire tables on OT is true. Depending on the restaurant they can have tables set aside for regulars, walk-ins and such. I found out recently that at JCT Kitchen in Atlanta they always keep 2 tables right next to the kitchen off open table and give them to last minute calls or walk-ins. Makes sense, I'd be pissed if I booked a rez 2 months in advance and my table happened to be next to the bathroom or kitchen.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 7:02 pm to hiltacular
quote:
Best guess is they don't allow all tables to be reserved on OT for whatever reason. In your case, all the OT were probably taken but the other tables not yet reserved.
They use open table specifically to get people booking the times they are not busy, since they know they are going to be full during their busy times anyways, which is why they almost always only show shite times on open table.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 7:17 pm to LSU-MNCBABY
quote:
Damn glad I clicked on this thread, whenever open table says full I assume it's booked and go elsewhere, will start calling now
That was my thought. I've always called the restaurant directly when no tables were available on OT. Not everyone will know to do that, so they lose potential customers, in my mind.
I can understand trying to get folks in when they're not busy, but if they're missing out on people because there aren't enough primetime tables listed, they can lose out. I suppose smart restaurant owners/managers have looked at the stats on customers they get and figured out, it's still worth it. I'm sort of surprised I haven't seen a review which stated they got a res when OT said there were none.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 7:24 pm to LSU-MNCBABY
Always call. I love Open Table, but I have learned that if Open Table shows no reservations it does not mean the restaurant is completely booked.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 7:33 pm to Gris Gris
quote:
I've always called the restaurant directly when no tables were available on OT. Not everyone will know to do that
I can't see anyone who would be considered a "seasoned" diner not calling after seeing no reservations available on a website, except for maybe people trying to go to Applebee's or Red Lobster.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 7:37 pm to lsu480
quote:
which is why they almost always only show shite times on open table.
While I have no doubt they only allot so many tables, this is simply not true. I've reserved Peche at 7pm on a Friday night. Hell, I reserved it for dinner during Krewe du Vieux and it is on the route!
I've gotten various restaurants around the city during dinnertime on a Friday or Saturday night.
Even got Atchafalaya brunch on a Sunday at 12:30, and that place has a 1-2 hour wait during brunch.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 7:47 pm to LouisianaLady
It's interesting. I've had it happen both ways. OT doesn't have tables but you can call restaurant and one, OR I've had the exact opposite happen. I have to say my satisfaction rate with OT is 90%.
Also, every restaurant owner/operator I've asked likes OT.
Also, every restaurant owner/operator I've asked likes OT.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 8:00 pm to Gris Gris
Restaurants are business. They would prefer 100% of a check over 90%.
If they have a high confidence level to have near full capacity from 7:00-8:30 you don't need OT's assistance.
It's risk management and profit maximization.
If they have a high confidence level to have near full capacity from 7:00-8:30 you don't need OT's assistance.
It's risk management and profit maximization.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 8:07 pm to LouisianaLady
quote:
While I have no doubt they only allot so many tables, this is simply not true. I've reserved Peche at 7pm on a Friday night. Hell, I reserved it for dinner during Krewe du Vieux and it is on the route!
I've gotten various restaurants around the city during dinnertime on a Friday or Saturday night.
Even got Atchafalaya brunch on a Sunday at 12:30, and that place has a 1-2 hour wait during brunch.
It isn't true for all restaurants but in my experience a lot do it. You know because if you call they have tables open during times that are booked on Open Table....that and one of my friends is a celebrity chef out here that owns 5 restaurants and he told me he does what I described whenever he opens a new restaurant that is in demand. He would rather book the shitty times for tourists and be able to accommodate locals that come during busy times without too much of a wait.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 8:15 pm to lsu480
quote:
that and one of my friends is a celebrity chef out here that owns 5 restaurants
But, of course !!
Posted on 3/4/15 at 8:17 pm to TigahRag
Posted on 3/4/15 at 8:21 pm to Gris Gris
quote:
but I'm not a celebrity
But you are GG. Like others said I would call this far out and follow up with a call closer to the date.
And you know not to listen to VOR, he doesn't know how to use an app.
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