Skip to content 
Reservations are a great way to help a restaurant guarantee service, increase productivity, and reduce wait time for their customers. Nowadays, with the rise of official restaurant websites and mobile apps, reservations can be made in a series of different ways for one restaurant, but not all consumers who use these resources understand how reservations work.
A restaurant reservation is a kind of agreement between the restaurant staff and a potential consumer. It allows the customer to choose a set time to arrive at the restaurant and have a table waiting for them where they can be seated and served immediately. This system is beneficial for both the restaurant and its customers, but there are a few risks.
The reservation system has been present in most restaurants for quite some time, but modern technology has slightly altered how people can make these arrangements. We’ll detail how this system works, the most common ways modern consumers make reservations, and the pros and cons of the system for both parties.
What is a Restaurant Reservation and How Do They Work?
You might be surprised to hear that restaurant reservations are a relatively old practice dating back to the 18th century. Despite the significant time gap, it still works today almost the same way it did then.
A restaurant reservation allows a consumer to make an agreement with the restaurant staff to arrive at a specified time with the intent of having a table ready for them upon arrival. This ensures the customer and their party members are serviced immediately without waiting for an open table or potentially being rejected due to a shortage of available tables or lengthy wait times.
The restaurant will typically keep a physical logbook or use an online system to track their reservations and record when certain guests are set to arrive, where they will sit, and how many members should be in their party.
Ways You Can Make a Reservation
Before the internet became the colossal resource today, customers had to go to their restaurant of choice in person to make a reservation with one of the staff members in advance. Nowadays, there are far more convenient ways of doing this.
Most restaurants allow customers to make reservations via:
- Telephone- either calling or texting the restaurant’s official phone number. Some have a number specifically for the purpose of reservations.
- In-person- you can still go ahead of time and request a reservation through a staff member (usually whoever is in charge of seating at the time).
- Restaurant website- this is common in large chain restaurants, fine dining restaurants, or popular eateries.
- Third-party reservation sites or apps- common apps like OpenTable, TableIn, and Eat App allow consumers to book reservations without contacting the restaurant.
Once the reservation is set, customers can usually arrive at their specified time and be shown immediately to their table. More modern options like texts, apps, and website reservations might send mobile notifications regarding the reservation’s status for customer convenience.
What are the Customer Benefits of Restaurant Reservations?
There is a reason why restaurant reservations have been around for such a long time, the most prominent being customer demand.
There are numerous benefits of restaurant reservations for consumers, such as peace of mind, the freedom to plan special events, and the ability to skip any wait times the restaurant might be experiencing during high-service times.
Most customers will make a restaurant reservation because it takes a lot of the guesswork and uncertainty out of the equation when eating out. It isn’t uncommon for popular restaurants to have excessive wait times and even turn customers away when they are too busy to serve them and won’t have a table available in an acceptable timeframe.
Making a reservation guarantees a customer can skip the entire waiting process and eat at their desired location as long as they arrive at the designated time with no more than the agreed-upon party members.
What are the Restaurant Benefits of Reservations?
While the restaurant reservation system certainly benefits the customer, one could argue it benefits the restaurant even more.
Offering the option of reservations benefits restaurants for the following reasons:
- Helps restaurants more accurately estimate demand throughout the day.
- Helps restaurants ensure they have sufficient product and staff members to conduct a successful service considering the number of reservations made.
- Increases customer service by reducing wait times.
- Aids restaurant workflow, especially if they run predominantly on reservations and know exactly how many customers they will have and when.
- Guarantees service as long as reserved parties arrive, which aids restaurant profits
- Allows restaurant to collect information on customers such as if they’re new or returning if they are celebrating a special occasion, and sometimes what they intend to order
The list of benefits is nearly endless, but, ultimately, reservations help restaurants gauge how busy they will be so they can provide their customers with the highest-quality service through careful preparation and management.
What are the Risks of Reservations?
Of course, there are few things in life that are full of pros without any cons. While reservations are usually beneficial for restaurants, there are some risks to using this system. As a result, it might not be an option for every restaurant.
The most common cons connected to restaurant reservations is the risk that your reserved party never shows, the party arrives late, or the party arrives with more members than their reservation is for.
Unfortunately, these are all common occurrences with restaurant reservations and can significantly hinder a restaurant’s productivity and profits.
For instance, if a restaurant reserves a table for a party that never shows, that table could have been filled by other customers who would have contributed to the restaurant’s profits. Instead, it sat ready and vacant until staff decides the party isn’t late, but rather, isn’t arriving at all. Hopefully, it isn’t too late in their service for them to seat someone else by that time.
If your restaurant is already struggling and can’t afford to have “no shows” or rejecting customers due to long waits when a table was ready waiting for an absent party, then reservations might not be the system for you.
You’re better off serving customers on a first-come-first-serve basis and turning away customers who will be waiting too long for an open table.
Final Thoughts
Restaurant reservations are typically a beneficial system for both restaurants and their customers. It gives customers peace of mind that they will be served on time without waiting, and it helps restaurants better prepare for their services and guarantee they perform at the absolute best for their patrons.
If you’re a restaurant owner who has yet to allow reservations for your eatery, consider how this system might benefit you and your customers. Especially if your restaurant is a popular hot spot that tends to have long waits at peak service times and customers are frequently irritated with wait times or disappointed by rejection. Reservations would give them the opportunity to enjoy your services and might lessen overall consumer frustration.
Also read: how to make more money in a restaurant.
Sources:
https://www.touchbistro.com/blog/complete-guide-to-restaurant-reservations/
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/should-you-take-restaurant-reservations-2888627
