Booking smart - tips and tricks on how to get the best table in a restaurant

Whether you live your life on a tight schedule or not, restaurant reservations can save you a lot of stress. You can save time wasted on queuing and choosing a restaurant and get the most out of your dining experience with a well-managed reservation. So why not make a reservation? Here are some tips and tricks for making a reservation!

Book as soon as possible
In many cases, same-day reservations are possible, but if you can, plan ahead and book as soon as possible. This is especially important if you have a large party or special requirements - such as special dietary requests.

Most restaurants are flexible with reservations, but more exclusive fine dining venues often require reservations weeks or even months in advance.

If you book more than a few days in advance and by phone, it's a good idea to make a confirmation call on the day of your lunch/dinner.

If availability is limited, book in the less popular time slot!
Here's a pro tip: scheduling an early or late dinner can get you a table at even the most crowded and hard-to-reach restaurants. By avoiding the main time slot, which is on average 18.00-21.00, you can increase your chances of getting a table, even on a popular day.

Be polite!
While respect is always essential when trying to make a difficult reservation over the phone, being confident and firmly polite will certainly hit the mark and make things easier.

Important: of course, no Michelin-starred restaurant likes to lose potential customers, so if you are told that there is no table available in your preferred time slot at the restaurant, try to outline your situation and politely ask if there is any other way to make a reservation.

Visit the restaurant in person
For hard-to-get reservations, a good strategy may be to try to get a table in person rather than by phone or email. This shows that you're willing to put in a little extra effort to secure your table, and chances are the host will be even more willing to accommodate.

If you're running late, call or cancel your reservation early!
If for some reason you need to cancel your reservation, be sure to call the restaurant as soon as you can. If you are expecting a delay of more than 10 minutes, please also let us know. If you will be much later than that, when you call, ask about availability and consider cancelling or rescheduling your dinner - remember, restaurants make reservations to serve as many people as possible. If they have to manage a delay, it will affect the reservations of other guests.

Book online if possible!
If your restaurant has an online booking option (e.g. OpenTable, Restu, restaurant's own website), book your table virtually! These systems give you an easy overview of which time slots are available, so you can browse freely at your leisure. If you book online, you will often receive an automatic confirmation of your reservation, but if this is not the case, you should call for confirmation one day before arrival.

+1: Choose the best table!
Are you in possession of pro information such as "where is the best place to catch the chef at work" or "which table has the best city view"? Take advantage and ask for a specific table reservation, maybe you'll succeed and have an even better experience! J