Table reservation

A reserved sign on a table at a restaurant in Antibes, France
Dining table with a reserved sign in the center

A table reservation is an arrangement made in advance to have a table available at a restaurant. While most restaurants in the vast majority of the world do not require a reservation, and some do not have a policy or simply any channel for making one, so-called higher-end restaurants mainly in overcrowded cities often require a reservation, and some may have tables booked for weeks in advance. At particularly exclusive venues, it may be impossible to make a reservation on the same day as the planned visit.[1]

The modern reservation system evolved from the prior practice of arranging catering at a restaurant.[2] Today, at such venues, observes Joy Smith, author of Kitchen Afloat: Galley Management and Meal Preparation (2002): "It's always smart to inquire about a restaurant's reservation policy. Some will only reserve for large parties of six or more".[1]

In recent times, many restaurants have replaced the traditional pencil and notebook with an online reservation system,[3] such as Bookatable, Chope or Resy. Some services allow users to put their reservations up for sale.[4]

Reservations for later dining times may prove problematic, as a restaurant may have a backlog that will require the reservation-holders to wait beyond their stated arrival time. In addition, diners with a late reservation face a higher chance that the restaurant will run out of necessary ingredients for a particularly popular dish.[1]

Most restaurants do not charge a customer who fails to honor their reservations,[5] and courts have tended not to impose substantial penalties on restaurants that fail to honor reservations.[6] Nonetheless, it is generally considered polite to call and cancel a reservation once it is known one will not use it.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Smith, Joy (2002). Kitchen Afloat: Galley Management and Meal Preparation. p. 218.
  2. ^ Madrigal, Alexsis C. (23 July 2014). "Where Restaurant Reservations Come From". The Atlantic. Atlantic Media. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  3. ^ Brown, Douglas Robert (2003). The Restaurant Manager's Handbook. pp. 1–7.
  4. ^ Harris, Jenn (May 12, 2014). "Shout smartphone app can put coveted dinner reservations up for sale". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ Balasubramanian, Vidhya (based on the research of Alexei Alexandrov and Martin Lariviere) (December 1, 2007). "Are Reservations Recommended?". Kellogg Insight.
  6. ^ Barth, Stephen C. & Hayes, David K. (2006). Hospitality Law: Managing Legal Issues in the Hospitality Industry. John Wiley & Sons. p. 36. ISBN 9780471464259.