 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (August 2013) |
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] Some websites exist which provide this service for multiple venues, such as Hostme,[4] Tock,[5] Bookatable, Chope, EZTABLE, Dimmi, Killer Rezzy (which also offers “rogue” reservations, which members can sell),[6] OpenTable,[7] Resy,[6][7][8] Appointment Trader (which also allows users to buy reservations that are typically difficult to obtain), Yelp Reservations (formerly known as SeatMe), Shout (which allows users to either make a reservation or put the one they have up for sale[9]),[6][7][8] Zomato, ResDiary, Zurvu[6] and Tablein.
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,[10] and courts have tended not to impose substantial penalties on restaurants that fail to honor reservations.[11] Nonetheless, it is generally considered polite to call and cancel a reservation once it is known one will not use it.[1]
- ^ a b c d Smith, Joy (2002). Kitchen Afloat: Galley Management and Meal Preparation. p. 218.
- ^ Madrigal, Alexsis C. (23 July 2014). "Where Restaurant Reservations Come From". The Atlantic. Atlantic Media. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ^ Brown, Douglas Robert (2003). The Restaurant Manager's Handbook. pp. 1–7.
- ^ FSR (January 4, 2019). "Hostme brings innovation restaurant to restaurant reservations". FSR Magazine.
- ^ Sweeney, Brigid (September 23, 2017). "How Tock aims to get bigger piece of the restaurant reservations market". Crain's Chicago Business. Chicago.
- ^ a b c d Schuster, Dana (January 17, 2015). "5 apps to help you score a coveted restaurant reservation". New York Post.
- ^ a b c O'Loughlin, Marina (June 17, 2014). "Why the new restaurant booking apps leave me with serious reservations: New services such as Resy and Shout charge customers for prime dining slots before they have even picked up a menu". The Guardiantitle. London.
- ^ a b Harris, Jenn (December 2, 2014). "Resy reservation app launches in L.A., puts a price on coveted tables". The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Harris, Jenn (May 12, 2014). "Shout smartphone app can put coveted dinner reservations up for sale". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Balasubramanian, Vidhya (based on the research of Alexei Alexandrov and Martin Lariviere) (December 1, 2007). "Are Reservations Recommended?". Kellogg Insight.
- ^ Barth, Stephen C. & Hayes, David K. (2006). Hospitality Law: Managing Legal Issues in the Hospitality Industry. John Wiley & Sons. p. 36. ISBN 9780471464259.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search