Saturday, January 31, 2009

Useful Tips on Dinner Reservation

By Doug Schlette

Folks eat at restaurants. Some dine out almost every day, while for others it's a less frequent treat. Restaurant meals are common at lunch for white collar workers. Dinner out is common for some working families and in some industries where constant schmoozing happens. Often people can walk into an establishment and find a table. But at some times, and at some restaurants at all times, a dinner reservation is needed. Without a reservation a person won't eat there.

Particularly weekends and evenings, many restaurants accept reservations. Reservations are sometimes needed months in advance. Some are so special that even having a reservation is amazing. Can you imagine food so good that people would wait months to eat it? For some it's the thing to do.

When making a reservation only make it for the number of people you're sure will attend, and make it in advance of the planned night out. There are exclusive restaurants out there. Don't wait too long or you risk missing out on an evening. You may also have to invite fewer people because only a small table is available. Reserving spots too early can mean not knowing who will show up to eat, getting the restaurant to set aside too many seats at too large a table. Restaurants don't take kindly to that. the service may suffer, or they may think twice before accommodating your dinner plans next time.

Sometimes the customers do the wrong thing when it comes to reservations. But some restaurants are pretty poor when it comes to honoring reservations. People make plans to eat at 8PM, call in the reservation for 8PM, show up at 7:30 to enjoy a cocktail before dinner, then wait three hours before being seated. This may result in customers no longer patronizing that restaurant. However, it's expected at some higher end or exclusive places. The arrogance of making people wait, even when they called months in advance to make plans, is part of the atmosphere of such establishments. For some reason some people like being treated poorly.

There are now even companies that manage restaurant reservations. Many include online booking and get very good reviews. One customer related making reservations for her husband's birthday. Upon arrival she found the host looking up the reservation on a computer. To this patron's surprise the restaurant had done some planning for the birthday meal, providing extras and even a free slice of cake.

Make a dinner reservation to ensure a spot at the table. Hopefully the restaurant honors it. If not, express your displeasure. Stop giving them your money and tell your friends to do the same.

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