You might think that there is not much required to do when you need to book table at a restaurant. However, there are certain etiquettes that customers dining at a restaurant must follow to ensure a good experience for themselves and the staff.
Reserving a table in advance benefits both the restaurant and the customers. The restaurant is prepared in advance and can avoid last-minute hassles, while the customers can be assured of a table at the dedicated time. When you reserve a table for a dine out the next time, follow these etiquettes.
- Make the call:
Whether you want a table for two or a group of fifteen, it is best to inform the restaurant before arriving. You can either call the restaurant directly to make a reservation or use a dining out app, which is quite accessible these days. In any case, the first step of restaurant booking etiquette is to make a reservation in advance, possibly as early as you can. If the plan is very last-minute, try to make the call before a weekend or early morning of the same day at the latest.
- Give correct information:
Once you do your research on the dining app and find restaurants, narrow down the one you like, and make the reservation call, make sure that you have all the correct information handy. Firstly, you should decide the date you’d like the table to be booked for. Be specific about the time; don’t give a vague time period. Next, confirm the exact number of people who will be coming. Don’t book extra seats or less than required. Confirm everyone’s availability in advance and book accordingly. Specify the event if you want so that the restaurant can be better prepared.
- Arrive early:
The best time to arrive at the restaurant is 10-15 minutes before the reservation time. If you can’t be this early, at least be on time and try not to be late. Some restaurants tend to cancel reservations after a certain grace period, which is different everywhere. If it is a large group, try to ensure that all of them arrive on time. Waiting for other people will only waste everyone’s time and may lead to cancellation.
- Always communicate the changes:
After going through all the procedures, if there is any change in your plans, it is best to communicate with the restaurant about these changes. If you are running late due to some reason, or if you want to change the date, call up the restaurant as early as possible, so that the restaurant can also do their best to accommodate you. If you want to cancel, you should inform about the same instead of being a no-show. Being a good customer can get you dining deals as well.
To skillfully book restaurants and to be ethical about the process are a few things that could help all of us. These etiquettes can be learned easily and can help you with maintaining good relations with the restaurant and get dineout deals if you are a regular customer.
Dining out should be an enjoyable and happy occasion. If all the parties follow through the correct procedures, the customers can earn dining offers, the staff can worry less and everyone can have a pleasant experience.