Is Open Table very Expensive?

It is so convenient for someone who is glued to the internet to use Open Table for a reservation. I have a "thing" about calling for a reservation. Why do restaurants choose not to take advantage of Open Table? Are their charges way out of line? It would be interesting to know.

Why do restaurants choose not to take advantage of Open Table? Are their charges way out of line? It would be interesting to know.

Phil -

I can't say whether they're out of line, but these are the fees I was quoted:
$1,295 Set-up
plus 199 Monthly
plus either $1.00 per person if booked off my site or $ .25 if booked through Open Table.

Once included in the setup? Just software, or does it include some kind of terminal?

Interesting...I'm exactly the opposite: I'm much more likely to call for a reservation. I guess I inherently don't trust that a computer -generated reservation will be processed correctly...The only time I would use Opewn Table would be for a special date ( eg Derby) where availability is limited and I'm trying to see what's available across restaurants.

Deb

I am also opposed to calling for a reservation, pizza, my girlfriend, mother, ex-wife (no sh##) but more to the point. I used open table in march and made reservations at rue domaine(dayton, ever get up that way, GO) and corbetts. Everything was perfect. I am very anti-social, I just don't know how to act, so if I can get away without talking to someone I will.

If you really want to go to a particular restaurant and Open Table says they are full- CALL. PLEASE.
OT may not have all the tables to chose from or some may open up and the staff hasn't updated OT yet.
I even call after I make an OT res. just to make sure that it is secure.

by GaryF » Thu May 07, 2009 11:44 pm

If you really want to go to a particular restaurant and Open Table says they are full- CALL. PLEASE.
OT may not have all the tables to chose from or some may open up and the staff hasn't updated OT yet.

Oh yes, big time! All but one time when I have made a reservation on OT that has told me they are full, if I then have called the restaurant I have been able to secure a reservation. And I'm not talking only Louisville, but even more when I try to get a reservation at a San Francisco or Seattle restaurant.

I used OT tonight to make a reservation at Limestone. I've used it in the past to reserve tables at Lilly's, Seviche, and Jeff Ruby's here in town, and many other restaurants when traveling for business (which is often). I've never had a problem. I like the fact that I can quickly and easily see where I can get a table at a restaurant which is likely to be of higher than average quality and service.

I have to agree with Bryan, I find OT very convenient and easy to use and much prefer using it than to calling for reservations. As noted it's nice to compare what restaurants have reservations available for a specific date. You can also make reservations any time of day or night whether the restaurant is open or not. I actually wouldn't mind paying a small fee when making a reservation to pay for the convenience! Hopefully more and more restaurants will begin using it.

Mark and Bryan, I think you missed the point that Gary and I were trying to make. I, too, find OT very convenient and do use it often, but I have found that if I have my heart set on a certain restaurant and OT tells me they are booked that it pays me to call the restaurant directly because as Gary said,

OT may not have all the tables to chose from or some may open up and the staff hasn't updated OT yet

Part of my point was that if restaurants "hide" tables from Open Table they may be missing opportunities. I to have called and made a reservation when Open Table showed a restaurant was booked but many other times I've just gone else where.