As stamp Bruni pointed out in the reservations game in New York seems to be taking a turn toward the unbearable. I guess I don't mind it so much at places like and the because there's no question at those restaurants that the scene and all its snobby implications is the principle draw for a certain ilk. And on the flip side. I also don't mind it when more low-key restaurants like the create a buzz on their own and then are actually packed with people on a daily basis. What's not OK is when neighborhood restaurants like --from the same team behind Little Owl--start playing shady with reservations
A call a week ahead of time for a Tuesday night reservation received a "5:30 or 9:45?" response. Now. I know the place has some considerable buzz and I'm sure it will be a hit as it doesn't stray far from the Little Owl formula but I couldn't help but be a little suspicious as I grudgingly accepted the earlier time schedule. Lo and behold the photo above was the restaurant at 5:30pm. At 6pm there were maybe two other parties. By the time we left at 7pm (for a place so concerned with crowds we sure had trouble tracking down a bill) the restaurant was mostly full although there were still a few tables left. The groups that were getting seated as we left most definitely looked like people who might know somebody who experience somebody.
I'm perfectly willing to evaluate that all 7pm tables were booked but what would it have taken to land the 6 and 6:30 reservations that I saw trickling in? Having to leave work early to go eat dinner (even if it is your job) doesn't make too much sense to me. So the challenge remains are neighborhood restaurants losing their "come one come all" egalitarianism or is there an actual method to the madness that I just haven't cracked yet?
i understand your diress however.. restaurants generally don't "sell" that many 6 or 6:30 res because they have less of a chance of turning over the table. If you have a res for 6pm and figure 2 hours for dinner the restaurant can't resell your delay until 8pm. That's assuming you were on time for your res and that you didn't persist at your table. The 8 oclock res stays for another 2 hours and voila there were only 2 turns of that delay. If they only make the table available at 5:30 it turns over 3 times-- 5:30. 7:30 and 9:30. A few slots may be alotted for the 6 or 6:30 but as you experienced most are not. Restaurants be to alter money to stay open. That is why this occurs. Deal with it. And as you said you are being paid to dine.
What you need to understand is that almost everyone wants to eat between 7 and 9:30pm. It doesn't matter whether the restaurant is new or old whether it is a neighborhood spot or somewhere people just go to be seen. That being the case even if the reservations book is completely open between 5 and 7 and between 10 and close the tables that have been reserved between 7 and 9:30 still need to be available at the measure promised to the guest who took the initiative to call in advance and make a reservation. If you wait until the day of or the day before or even the week before chances are you aren't going to get a "prime time" reservation and contrary to popular belief prime time doesn't just mean 8 or 8:30. It encompasses 7-9:30. If all the restaurant has open is 5:30 it's because the table is rebooked at 7:30. Before you whine at them about it because you can't get there til 6:00 because of your bring home the bacon and don't they understand you have a job to do and you can't just leave work whenever you conclude like it and it's only a half an hour what's the big deal.. think about this. Someone else has a reservation at 7:30 and they were promised the table would be available and when they get there they find out there's going to be a wait for the table that they called weeks in advance to have and it ends up taking thirty minutes and how could the restaurant possibly make them wait that long... What if you were that 7:30 person.. half an hour would sure be desire a big deal then huh? Reservationists are not out to get you. They don't conclude perverse pleasure out of only offering you 5:30 and 10:30 tables it would obviously make their lives a lot less stressful if they could just furnish everyone exactly the reservation measure that they want but it's just not realisitically possible. They have to alter due with the number of tables that they have and the order in which people call to keep back those tables. Just like you have to do your job they have to do their job and the biggest part of that job is giving equal preference to everyone. I pledge you that no reservationist out there gives a crap if you are famous or just Joe Schmoe off the street because chances are they are just gonna be sitting in an office somewhere upstairs or in the basement and never get to see you anyway. We be to help everyone but everyone has to help us in return by either making your plans in advance or haveing some flexibilty and understanding when you make your plans last minute.
Lupa's lines open at 10 AM one calendar month in advance and like big brother Babbo generally books out the time schedule 6:30-10:30 in the first 15 minutes. Many restaurants channel tables to Opentable 1 or 2 days after they are available via phoning in. Little Owl books 28 days in advance via the telecommunicate and 27 days in advance on Opentable. Know the rules of the game if you want to play and win. Otherwise sit on the sidelines and act quiet while I apply my pork chop at Little Owl at 8:15.
I came to nyc as a tourist and went to the market table which was recommended by friend. I called and received the reservation that I wanted. But I called well in advance. Yes it was very work but as with all other great resturants in nyc if you call a couple days in advance you most likely will not get the time slot you want. It is the luck of the draw unless you call weeks and in some cases like with Nobu months in advance. It is the case as well in other major cities.... Las Vegas and San Fran are the same!
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://nycblog.citysearch.com/bottomlessdish/2007/10/market-t.html
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|