10 August 2014

Restaurant bookings

| Lucy Wilson
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ricardos-reserved

I went to one of my favourite places on Sunday morning for breakfast – Ricardo’s at Jamison. I haven’t been there for several months now so I was somewhat surprised when I turned up at 10am to find a lady out the front taking names. Apparently Ricardo’s now take bookings. The lady was very friendly, took my name, and told me it would be about 10 mins. It did take about 20 mins for a table, but I didn’t have an issue waiting.

ricardos-seating-sign

It has always been very busy on a weekend, but I have never had much of an issue getting a table. One of the things Ricardo’s have done traditionally well, is fast service, and the ability to turn tables over very quickly.

I guess what surprised me were the number of tables that were sitting in the restaurant empty (well with a reserved sign) from the time we initially put our name down to the time we left after finishing our breakfast (this would have been about an hour). They could have served another 15-20 happy customers during this time, instead tables sat empty.

I have been coming to Ricardo’s for years. It has been great watching the business grow, and go from strength to strength. I’m not convinced why they have changed a winning formula. For the record, the breakfast my wife and myself had was great as usual. Mushroom bruschetta and a big breakfast!

ricardos-mushroom-brushetta ricardos-big-breakfast

What are fellow rioters views on restaurant/cafes accepting bookings or not?

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dungfungus said :

It’s very noisy but that is probably because they don’t ban mobile phones.

Are there many cafes that ban the use of mobile phones? Can’t imagine they’d be very successful in this day and age…

Might have been short handed in the kitchen hence the empty tables

I had lunch there last month and I booked a table. Glad I did – the place appears have become too successful.
Food is still great but staff were stretched. It’s very noisy but that is probably because they don’t ban mobile phones.

fabforty said :

I believe some restaurants have adopted a ‘no bookings’ policy because they have suffered too many losses due to no-shows by those who have reservations.

Take bookings, if the reservation is late give them a certain time frame (say 15 minutes) and then give the table away.

I believe some restaurants have adopted a ‘no bookings’ policy because they have suffered too many losses due to no-shows by those who have reservations.

This is a cafe , and cafe’s should not take bookings, it it trying to be a restaurant? place is overrated anyway.

Bookings. I want to know before I rock up whether I’m going to get in. Not everyone enjoys the thrill of the table hunt.

Mess said :

Restaurants should always take bookings, it baffles me that some restaurants have a “no bookings’ policy.

It obviously works for some of them though. If you’re popular enough that there’s a line to get in, why go to the time and expense of operating a reservation system? I understand that some restaurants have given up on bookings simply because they were sick of reserved tables sitting empty when people don’t show, while they’re turning away people without a booking who could have been spending money.

pink little birdie4:26 pm 11 Aug 14

Mess said :

Restaurants should always take bookings, it baffles me that some restaurants have a “no bookings’ policy.

I understand that some restaurants don’t take bookings for 2-4 people and are fine with walk ins.
But I’m not going to rock up to a restaurant with 5+ people and hope for a table.

We went to Ricardo’s for Breakfast at easter. We booked ahead cos it’s busy and we had 7 people. It’s hard for restaurants to arrange a table for that many if it was walk in… it’s disruptive and annoying for the staff.

Ghettosmurf874:19 pm 11 Aug 14

davo101 said :

What are fellow rioters views on restaurant/cafes accepting bookings or not?

They are businesses and provided that they are not breaking the law they can choose to do what ever they like. If they want to not accept your hard-earned money then that’s entirely their prerogative.

I don’t think there was any suggestion that have a policy one way or the other is illegal in any way, the OP was simply trying to gauge what other peoples opinions on the matter were. Perhaps spark up a debate on the pros or cons of both policies and gain an understanding of why one business might choose one method, while another might choose the other?

Restaurants should always take bookings, it baffles me that some restaurants have a “no bookings’ policy.

What are fellow rioters views on restaurant/cafes accepting bookings or not?

They are businesses and provided that they are not breaking the law they can choose to do what ever they like. If they want to not accept your hard-earned money then that’s entirely their prerogative.

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