Stop the wait!

Jeremy J makes some great points.

I like to think I have eaten at all of those places mentioned without waiting by going at odd times. I like to come early or late or on odd days. I do and slip right in with no problem. It can be done. If I have to make a movie, or be somewhere I don't opt to eat at places that I know have tricky seating or places that I know take reservations. There are so many awesome places to eat in town with such a variety of seating options I don't get hung up with the big waits.

Now when I have to go out to eat anywhere with my parents...

... Just check opentable.com.

Seems that there are many restaurants on Open Table that just block out times between 6:30 and 7:30. The restaurants set up their OT system to allow no reservations between those times.

Truly a luxurious problem to have in the grande scheme of things.

22 years in Europe and I don't think I've ever waited more than 10 minutes for a table. I just don't see ever waiting an hour for a table under any circumstances. Hopefully we'll be able to manage the adjustment when we get back.

Jeremy J makes some great points.

I like to think I have eaten at all of those places mentioned without waiting by going at odd times. I like to come early or late or on odd days. I do and slip right in with no problem. It can be done. If I have to make a movie, or be somewhere I don't opt to eat at places that I know have tricky seating or places that I know take reservations. There are so many awesome places to eat in town with such a variety of seating options I don't get hung up with the big waits.

We mostly do what Adriel suggests- we eat at odd times if we really want a popular place. With small child in tow, we get to Hammerheads/ Mussel & Burger early ( at opening sometimes) or we don't go. Or if time really matters, we consider only places that take reservations. Thus, we didn't eat brunch at Silver Dollar until a couple of weeks ago, when we knew we would be eating around 2:00. And for a long time, we would only go to The Blind Pig during the week when you could get a reservation/ crowds were less.

I have no issue at all with a place not taking reservations for all the reasons pointed out (and I'm definitely peeved if you take my reservation and then keep me waiting for an hour). But we do make our dining choices based on these policies.

Deb

You have the whole place filled up and nearly all the tables blocked for reservations while non-resos are streaming in and getting extremely hostile that they have to wait while looking at empty tables. There are numerous patrons who will make reservations at numerous places to give a group of friends an option and then not call the places that aren't chosen

THIS

People love to bitch when they can't get a table but then also don't have the courtesy to call and cancel their reservations when they have no intention of showing up. This leads to tables sitting open unnecessarily in full view of an angry public. It's not always the restaurant's fault.

Open Table is a great tool for keeping track of these offenders. I just wish all the restaurants that use Open Table were linked to each other's customer notes so that information could be shared citywide. It's simply a matter of refusing the option of a reservation to those who can't abide by the rules.

One of the most notorious times for this is Derby. It can be very difficult to get a reservation at certain restaurants because so many people make multiple reservations at different restaurants. I seem to recall almost 100 no shows last year and only one party that actually called to say they weren't coming.

You have the whole place filled up and nearly all the tables blocked for reservations while non-resos are streaming in and getting extremely hostile that they have to wait while looking at empty tables.

Then as has been suggested repeatedly in this thread and others tell the person making the reservation they have a ten min window to appear (or call ahead to say they are running late as accidents do sometimes happen) otherwise the table is lost.

Or only allowing half of your tables to be reserved at any time? Holding the remainder for walk ins? By all means Im not an expert in the field but it seems to be working very well for a number of restaurants in town, even many of the hot spots.

There are numerous patrons who will make reservations at numerous places to give a group of friends an option and then not call the places that aren't chosen.

I have heard this excuse given by numerous people in the field as a problem with taking reservations. Yet in my 40+ years on this Earth have never done it nor have I ever encountered a single friend or family member doing it.
And again even if it is happening a ten min cut off would cure it.

It's a little difficult for me to accept the borderline hostile attitude that so many people in town have towards waiting, especially so many people on this message board,

Hopefully you dont feel Im one of those. Because Im not.
Im just utterly astounded by how MOST restaurants in town seem to make this process painless and smooth. For example I have never waited (longer than ten mins) on a table at Hammerheads, or El Camino, or Blind Pig, or L&N, or many other hot spots. Yet other owner/operators fail at it monstrously ie M&BB.

And Im not hostile toward those who cant or wont fix the problem. I simply wont dine there any longer. Problem solved. Doesnt mean I wont vocally point out the problem though.

,,,I like to come early or late or on odd days. I do and slip right in with no problem. It can be done... There are so many awesome places to eat in town with such a variety of seating options I don't get hung up with the big waits.:

Amen! When you go to the grocery and there are five lanes open, does everyone line up and wait in one lane because it is SO GOOD? Of course not. People spread themselves out to get the show on the road. We've had many terrific experiences at Louisville area restaurants over a third of a century and none was so much better than innumerable other fantastic places nearby that we'd wait. Not. A. Single. One. We just come back another time and keep doing so until we get in with no wait while having a list of two or three alternatives ready to go immediately in case there is a wait. Well, maybe 10 minutes in the bar - if it takes longer to get to our nearest alternate that's not on a wait then waiting 10 minutes makes sense.
It ain't rocket science.

What is going on with the wait time with these newer restaurants?

Simple - the economy in this town is improving. More people have money to spend on things like nice meals at restaurants.

For as long as it has been open, my gage has been the evening wait time at the Hurstbourne Parkway Olive Garden. The best years for the entire community were when you could show up for dinner at 9 pm and find a 30 minute wait. The worst year was when I could get a seat in 20 minutes on Valentine's Day.

So, don't take it as an annoyance - be happy that your favorite restaurant is able to make a profit and stay open.

What is going on with the wait time with these newer restaurants?

So, don't take it as an annoyance - be happy that your favorite restaurant is able to make a profit and stay open.

This.

OK, I will admit that some of my favorite haunts don't take reservations, and it is hit or miss in getting seated during prime rush. Additionally, because of this fact, I tend to adjust my dining schedule accordingly (don't hit Mussel & Burger during primetime on the weekend, etc.). I also agree with Madeline about OpenTable. I love that app, but it costs the establishment to join and keep it up to date. I used it frequently, and reap the rewards of the use of it. It is not only beneficial for the patrons, but it also give the kitchen a "guestimate" for the evening prep.

I don't fault restaurants for not taking reservations. I am glad that they have the ability to handle the volume they have in a timely and efficient manner. Is it a reason for me not to go? Hell no. I don't mind waiting for something I like very much. For local establishments, I'll wait. When I can reserve, I will.

If you don't like to wait, don't sweat it....there are plenty of other customers who will gladly take your place.

We sit at the bar. Or go somewhere else. Or get something to go.
The only places we wait are on vacation where there might be a beach, or room to wait for a table with a drink.
There is one annoyance. Bar areas.
Some bars have tables near the bar. You have to ask whether they are included in the wait or not. You can never assume. Also, if they are part of the bar and are open seating, will there be a server or is the bartendar(s) also waiting on them?
And the bar areas where people wait for those open tables - really bad when they include booths - and people STAND BY YOUR TABLE WAITING FOR YOU TO GET UP.
At Wild Eggs a few years ago, with my husband. I got up to go to the bathroom and a woman hopped in my seat - the counter area that is a secret that it isn't part of the wait.
(Forced waits are difficult for everyone. Servers aren't there yet. If you start giving the early servers those tables, the later ones don't have tables when they arrive, and it's possible, the customer won't get good service.)

Now when I have to go out to eat anywhere with my parents...

And I thank MY lucky stars that my parents are the polar opposites of most older people and don't want to eat dinner before 8pm at night! (on the downside, I also can't take them to brunch before 2... )

So what have we learned, boys and girls? If there is one thing we can control in this whole discussion thread, it's this: "If you make a reservation, and your plans change, CALL THE RESTAURANT." Nowadays, with the ubiquity of mobile phones, it's never been easier. If we can convince just one of our scofflaw friends who isn't currently doing this to change their ways....guess what - we all benefit!

There, my friends, is your mission, should you choose to accept it

Now when I have to go out to eat anywhere with my parents...

And I thank MY lucky stars that my parents are the polar opposites of most older people and don't want to eat dinner before 8pm at night! (on the downside, I also can't take them to brunch before 2... )

Want to trade? I think it is legal once we are of a certain age.

I am in a unique position that I have some insight into local places, I get that. But I also have ZERO care about what I eat. I will try anything and have never been picky. Once I gave up vegetarianism I have been foot loose and fancy free on what I consume. If I hate something, I just finish it and never look back, just know not to order it again. No muss, no fuss.

That whole "where do you wanna go?" "I don't know, where do you wanna go?" game, I don't mess with that. When someone asks about places to go, I list all the joints I know open that you could sneak in on a table immediately, given the time. Also knowing what kind of chow someone likes I just start reeling off places that are close. Plus calling, or checking out their websites, or social media pages are super helpful to getting tables with ease. Open Table is pretty rock star. Also Urbanspoon and Yelp Though they have many detractors, are still handy when you are in a new town with no clue what to do. All of these have apps that make this a cinch.

Does my old part time concierge job show a little in this post? I think so.