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February 21, 2023 11:48 AM Subscribe
Every day the world gives me another reason to be glad I fled NYC when I had the opportunity, lol.
There's nothing inherently wrong with reservations, obviously, but just the endless "oh but who is coolest, how do we make ourselves look like we're too good for our patrons" ... guh. Makes me grateful for the corner dive bar that doesn't even have a phone number, much less a Resy, is what it does.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:33 PM on February 21, 2023 [9 favorites]
There's nothing inherently wrong with reservations, obviously, but just the endless "oh but who is coolest, how do we make ourselves look like we're too good for our patrons" ... guh. Makes me grateful for the corner dive bar that doesn't even have a phone number, much less a Resy, is what it does.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:33 PM on February 21, 2023 [9 favorites]
I remember meeting a woman of color product designer for OpenTable back in 2017 and her telling me how her white cis male managers kept passing her over and the other POC/WOC for promotions, so good riddance.
posted by yueliang at 1:02 PM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by yueliang at 1:02 PM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
TIL that Amex now owns Resy.
We don't eat out much now because of the pandemic and my health, but my take on Resy vs OpenTable in Dallas is definitely that Resy has a lot more small prestige restaurants and OpenTable has more chain places (even nice chains). But I think we're in the stage where small restaurants are about to all leave OpenTable as described in the NYC article, if that actually happens here. Dallas is desperate to appear cool but hearts here run on either neighborhood love or cash, neither of which will ever be cool.
In unrelated news, my favorite local restaurant, which was literally walking distance from my house, was killed this month by the pandemic. It was a Resy restaurant.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 1:02 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
We don't eat out much now because of the pandemic and my health, but my take on Resy vs OpenTable in Dallas is definitely that Resy has a lot more small prestige restaurants and OpenTable has more chain places (even nice chains). But I think we're in the stage where small restaurants are about to all leave OpenTable as described in the NYC article, if that actually happens here. Dallas is desperate to appear cool but hearts here run on either neighborhood love or cash, neither of which will ever be cool.
In unrelated news, my favorite local restaurant, which was literally walking distance from my house, was killed this month by the pandemic. It was a Resy restaurant.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 1:02 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
I have to check OpenTable, Resy, and Yelp (*sigh* I know…) to view maybe 50% of the restaurants for reservations in my town, and then just call the other 50% of the restaurants directly, so wouldn't call the reservation war won quite yet….
posted by inflatablekiwi at 1:07 PM on February 21, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by inflatablekiwi at 1:07 PM on February 21, 2023 [7 favorites]
Do people actually reserve tables that much? I know remembeer the WWDC demo for Siri showing off integration with OpenTable but I've never reserved a table. Heck, I didn't even order from apps until it became a requirement in 2020.
posted by pwnguin at 1:10 PM on February 21, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by pwnguin at 1:10 PM on February 21, 2023 [3 favorites]
We’re in New York, and a couple of the restaurants we go to the most have switched to the system that’s described in the article - 2/3 of their tables are on Resy and the others they leave open for walk ins. Which sounds good in theory, but means that when you try to get a table on the spur of the moment, and Resy says they’re full, it doesn’t mean they’re full - but it also means when you call and they say there are tables available, and you ask for them to hold you one till you get there, they can’t. Because that gets done through Resy now. So even though you used to be able to call for a reservation, you can’t anymore.
posted by Mchelly at 1:16 PM on February 21, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 1:16 PM on February 21, 2023 [9 favorites]
NY sure is a different world since from where I'm standing, Tock won the reservation wars.
posted by dis_integration at 1:26 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 1:26 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
In the restaurant strip near me in Toronto, a lot of restaurants don't take reservations. Someone who used to be in the restaurant business told me that's because they can fill the tables no matter what, and don't want to be stuck holding empty tables for reservations.
posted by jb at 1:32 PM on February 21, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by jb at 1:32 PM on February 21, 2023 [3 favorites]
Do people actually reserve tables that much? I know remembeer the WWDC demo for Siri showing off integration with OpenTable but I've never reserved a table. Heck, I didn't even order from apps until it became a requirement in 2020.
It's really location-dependent, and even neighborhood-dependent within larger locations. Like I noted above, hardly anywhere in my immediate neighborhood would ever require a reservation. But a little ways over in a trendier area, you're going to want a reservation on a weekend. In those cases it's less about requiring a reservation to be seated, and more "if you didn't make a res, you'll wait 45+ minutes to be seated as a walk-in." So folks who can't abide a wait or have a tight schedule will definitely make reservations.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:36 PM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's really location-dependent, and even neighborhood-dependent within larger locations. Like I noted above, hardly anywhere in my immediate neighborhood would ever require a reservation. But a little ways over in a trendier area, you're going to want a reservation on a weekend. In those cases it's less about requiring a reservation to be seated, and more "if you didn't make a res, you'll wait 45+ minutes to be seated as a walk-in." So folks who can't abide a wait or have a tight schedule will definitely make reservations.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:36 PM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh, yes, and the very trendiest places won't accept a res at all, as jb notes above. And often places will not take reservations for parties of two, for similar reasons.
(Exception: high-investment theatrical fine dining, like Alinea, where seatings must be rigorously scheduled and planned.)
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:38 PM on February 21, 2023
(Exception: high-investment theatrical fine dining, like Alinea, where seatings must be rigorously scheduled and planned.)
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:38 PM on February 21, 2023
Do people actually reserve tables that much?
Pre-pandemic I hardly reserved ever, post-pandemic I reserve >50% of the time. Just got used to having to book I suppose- even the local ski resort required a lunch reservation for the privilege of paying $18 for a bowl of pretty ordinary chili from the grab and sit lunch hall. And we got burned a few times as things were opening up with no reservation anywhere and ending up getting takeout and going home on date night.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 1:53 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Pre-pandemic I hardly reserved ever, post-pandemic I reserve >50% of the time. Just got used to having to book I suppose- even the local ski resort required a lunch reservation for the privilege of paying $18 for a bowl of pretty ordinary chili from the grab and sit lunch hall. And we got burned a few times as things were opening up with no reservation anywhere and ending up getting takeout and going home on date night.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 1:53 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
This doesn’t sound very different from pre-pandemic times for me — I was going out for dinner maybe 3 times a month (at most) and making reservations almost every time. And it certainly wasn't only a NYC thing and not only for the hot, new, or expensive places.
It’s just nice having the peace of mind knowing you can show up and get a table because you’ve made a reservation instead of having to scramble to find a good alternative nearby. This is especially nice after a long day of work, when you’re with a big group, when you have other plans that evening, when you’re hosting friends and family from out of town, or when you’re on a date.
I think the ‘too cool for our patrons’ thing mentioned upthread is a bit of a red herring. Lots of places that are simply known for great food will always be tough to get into at a time that’s convenient.
Small restaurant owners working on razor-thin margins having to pay exorbitant fees to these platforms definitely sounds like a problem, however, but that doesn’t seem to be the focus of the article.
posted by theory at 2:40 PM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
It’s just nice having the peace of mind knowing you can show up and get a table because you’ve made a reservation instead of having to scramble to find a good alternative nearby. This is especially nice after a long day of work, when you’re with a big group, when you have other plans that evening, when you’re hosting friends and family from out of town, or when you’re on a date.
I think the ‘too cool for our patrons’ thing mentioned upthread is a bit of a red herring. Lots of places that are simply known for great food will always be tough to get into at a time that’s convenient.
Small restaurant owners working on razor-thin margins having to pay exorbitant fees to these platforms definitely sounds like a problem, however, but that doesn’t seem to be the focus of the article.
posted by theory at 2:40 PM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
It's nearly all OpenTable here in Birmigham, AL. But if the "war" gives the restaurants just an ounce or two more agency, then I say bring it on, and let it last for years.
posted by heyitsgogi at 2:44 PM on February 21, 2023
posted by heyitsgogi at 2:44 PM on February 21, 2023
There was a time when Tock cornered the most interesting places (and demanded a hefty non-refundable reservation fee). I'm pretty glad they lost that ticketmaster-esque fight - they still carry some high end sushi and fancy places like Atera but have nowhere near the cornered market they once had.
Then again, I also learned today that Amex owns Resy. Begun, the race to the bottom of rent-seeking reservations has.
posted by abulafa at 3:49 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Then again, I also learned today that Amex owns Resy. Begun, the race to the bottom of rent-seeking reservations has.
posted by abulafa at 3:49 PM on February 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Got so sick of Open Table: I would search for a table for 2 for tomorrow at 7 and it would show me restaurants that aren't open or that don't actually have any tables or that are not the cuisine I requested. Basically Open Table has become unusable for me.
And no, I'm not in NYC.
posted by suelac at 4:00 PM on February 21, 2023
And no, I'm not in NYC.
posted by suelac at 4:00 PM on February 21, 2023
Every day the world gives me another reason to be glad I fled NYC when I had the opportunity, lol.
There's nothing inherently wrong with reservations, obviously, but just the endless "oh but who is coolest, how do we make ourselves look like we're too good for our patrons" ... guh. Makes me grateful for the corner dive bar that doesn't even have a phone number, much less a Resy, is what it does.
I live in NYC, and there are still tons of places you don't need a reservation at. Granted, I live in Queens. But I dine out at least several times a month.
To be fair, my wife likes to make reservations (probably moreso since the start of the pandemic) and often does, but it usually isn't really necessary at the places we go.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 4:08 PM on February 21, 2023
There's nothing inherently wrong with reservations, obviously, but just the endless "oh but who is coolest, how do we make ourselves look like we're too good for our patrons" ... guh. Makes me grateful for the corner dive bar that doesn't even have a phone number, much less a Resy, is what it does.
I live in NYC, and there are still tons of places you don't need a reservation at. Granted, I live in Queens. But I dine out at least several times a month.
To be fair, my wife likes to make reservations (probably moreso since the start of the pandemic) and often does, but it usually isn't really necessary at the places we go.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 4:08 PM on February 21, 2023
I'm the service director at a very popular casual restaurant and 10 lane bowling venue on an island off the coast of America. We currently do not take rezzy's for the dining room, strictly first come first served (however the owners, or certain other people, can make a shadow rez) and the lanes are strictly reservation only (again, with rare exceptions). Before the pandemic and shutdown (we went curbside and never stopped) we did the reverse, reservations in the dining room and walk in only on the lanes.
We were doing it wrong. It is the deep off season here, and on the weekends we are as busy as July or August. I cleared 82 people from the wait list this past Saturday.
We never used any rezzy software in the before time, I just took phone calls or people would pop in and make a reservation. From my perspective, it boils down to what do you want to mange, a reservation list or a wait list? Both can suck, there are upsides and downsides to both. What we are doing now is working. As we roll into summer and the population goes from 20000 to 200000 on peak summer days, we shall see how long that wait list gets.
I fought against no longer taking rezzys in the dining room, and I was wrong- our food is so good, our menu so varied, and we are year round in this unique location that we are better off being first come first etc.
If I were still in NYC or working at a more fine dining place I might feel different, but right now I've got lightning in the bottle in a tight market and telling people they might wait 30-60 minutes for a table then making it happen just a bit faster than that is working.
posted by vrakatar at 10:50 PM on February 21, 2023 [5 favorites]
We were doing it wrong. It is the deep off season here, and on the weekends we are as busy as July or August. I cleared 82 people from the wait list this past Saturday.
We never used any rezzy software in the before time, I just took phone calls or people would pop in and make a reservation. From my perspective, it boils down to what do you want to mange, a reservation list or a wait list? Both can suck, there are upsides and downsides to both. What we are doing now is working. As we roll into summer and the population goes from 20000 to 200000 on peak summer days, we shall see how long that wait list gets.
I fought against no longer taking rezzys in the dining room, and I was wrong- our food is so good, our menu so varied, and we are year round in this unique location that we are better off being first come first etc.
If I were still in NYC or working at a more fine dining place I might feel different, but right now I've got lightning in the bottle in a tight market and telling people they might wait 30-60 minutes for a table then making it happen just a bit faster than that is working.
posted by vrakatar at 10:50 PM on February 21, 2023 [5 favorites]
Just as a NYC-specific side note, since it seems to be the focus here, I think a lot of this is pandemic-related. Restaurants here can be really small because real estate is crazy expensive and buildings are narrow, and when people wanted to eat outdoors the number of tables available were even fewer. Then (as mentioned above) Resy gave the option of reserving outdoors vs indoors, which was important for a lot of us since the outdoor space was still at a premium. It wasn’t about exclusivity as much as it was about securing a place to go, especially if there were more than 2 of you. And then it sort of stuck.
posted by Mchelly at 4:47 AM on February 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Mchelly at 4:47 AM on February 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Darn, I thought this was about landback
posted by BlunderingArtist at 4:47 AM on February 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by BlunderingArtist at 4:47 AM on February 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Do people actually reserve tables that much?
(This isn't an NYC answer but I do wonder if it might be a city answer.) If the restaurant takes reservations, and is popular (at least on the night you are going), then yes? Otherwise you just most likely won't get in. Also, if you want to eat out with reliable timing it's useful even if it might not be strictly needed; example: I've been going to a bunch of dinners with job candidates lately.
On the flip side, one of my favorite restaurants where I am right now doesn't do reservations and is incredibly popular; I went there recently on a Fri at peak time and we had a 1hr 45min wait. So yes, of course if they took reservations I'd do it (though Fri would probably be booked a week+ out and it would then just be completely impossible to go spontaneously).
posted by advil at 5:42 AM on February 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
(This isn't an NYC answer but I do wonder if it might be a city answer.) If the restaurant takes reservations, and is popular (at least on the night you are going), then yes? Otherwise you just most likely won't get in. Also, if you want to eat out with reliable timing it's useful even if it might not be strictly needed; example: I've been going to a bunch of dinners with job candidates lately.
On the flip side, one of my favorite restaurants where I am right now doesn't do reservations and is incredibly popular; I went there recently on a Fri at peak time and we had a 1hr 45min wait. So yes, of course if they took reservations I'd do it (though Fri would probably be booked a week+ out and it would then just be completely impossible to go spontaneously).
posted by advil at 5:42 AM on February 22, 2023 [3 favorites]
I would be fine with this if resy wasn't one of the worst websites, with incredibly annoying login processes and a lot of bugs. They had issues looking for reservations for any day but today for months, the JavaScript was just broken. Months! I have seen restaurants moving back to OpenTable lately and I am skeptical about the likely future dominance of resy.
posted by ch1x0r at 6:48 AM on February 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by ch1x0r at 6:48 AM on February 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Mod note: One comment removed. Please remember the guidelines and read the article/links before posting a comment.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 11:14 AM on February 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 11:14 AM on February 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Do people actually reserve tables that much?
For meals Thur-Sat nights? Absolutely, I wouldn't even attempt to do a walk-in anymore.
posted by borges at 10:44 AM on February 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
For meals Thur-Sat nights? Absolutely, I wouldn't even attempt to do a walk-in anymore.
posted by borges at 10:44 AM on February 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
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I just checked and it seems that OpenTable has this feature now, but I'd swear it didn't until recently. On the other hand I have mostly stopped looking there for reasons the article mentions—too many chain/hotel/steakhouse restaurants, which aren't typically what I'm looking for.
posted by nev at 12:27 PM on February 21, 2023 [2 favorites]