How to get a spot at the most famous restaurants, avoiding waiting list!
Did you ever walk by a super famous, fancy place? Of course you have, we all have. I even walked by one today, during my 30 minute COVID 19 walk.
Have you tried to peek inside? Even though the lockdown is in place, these fancy restaurants are still overbooked and have a waiting lists sometimes few months long.
But there is one important thing that all of these restaurants don’t want you to know.
OK, you can stop holding your breath, it’s nothing glorious. Most of the very important, fancy restaurants even at their most crowded times keep one or two tables free, as a safety net.
Yeah, they do. Don’t think that all those Hollywood actors, or any other celebrity wants to wait for 6 months to dine for 45 minutes???
There are other reasons too, but this is the most reasonable one. And here is a thing: you, a normal, mortal, person can also book this table.
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Here are 6 tips on how to get a spot at a famous restaurant:
1. Pretend like you’ve got a connection to the restaurant owner or place itself
Well this one is our top advice for you. Don’t blame us if it fails.
Waltz up to the crowded hostess stand, and calmly explain your connection to the place. You can make up a cute love story: Your cousin used to date the bartender. You went to high school with the maitre d’. Your mom taught the pastry chef how to swim. Make it true, or failing that, believable — but always make sure you know the person’s name, and actually pronounce it right. It’s easy if he’s called Mike.
In most cases they aren’t buying it, but they aren’t getting paid to. Your table just might be ready in about 20 minutes.
2. Act like it’s the restaurant’s fault for losing the reservation you never made
Head into the restaurant and say you’ve arrived for your reservation a tiny bit too early, and are just going to grab a drink at the bar. This will surely throw the host/hostess into waves of panic and self-doubt.
She might even start to cry and give you a table right away, yeah right, we both know this is not going to happen. Play dumb and politely act like they nixed your reservation by accident, an error in the system is possible after all.
Most places call to confirm in advance — without them prompting you, say that you never got the call, then muse about how you thought it was a little odd since they “always” call you.
The host/hostess will bring it to upper management and nasty glares may ensue, but whatever — you’ll be eating in under 45 minutes.
3. Run past the hostess stand and seat yourself
If they’re not at their perch, just fu..ing go for it. There’s bound to be an open table somewhere.
You obviously run the risk of being caught, but after you’ve been given a menu and water, they’re almost definitely not going to forcibly remove you. Just expect to be rushed through your meal and get super-weak drinks.
4. Act REALLY, REALLY nice. And we mean it, be cuter than a toddler
Say you’ll sit anywhere, joke about how you really can’t wait to indulge in their insanely delicious lobster steak, acknowledge how absolutely swamped they are, and how much you appreciate their help. The kinder and more patient you are, the more they want to accommodate you.
You may have a little wait, but your name is going down in the books as a respected customer. Thank them by name on your way out.
5. Join friends at the tail end of their early meal, and try to restart the tab
This highly frowned-upon move — when executed properly — can get you the table of your dreams (also: if you consider this cool, get some cooler dreams). Con the host/hostess into thinking you’re just going to “say hi” to a friend, then order an entire meal.
You’re gonna get your food, but you’re also bound to get blacklisted mentally, so, next time you show up, just be sure to wear one of those hilarious glasses sets with the huge nose and mustache attached.
6. Know the system and try to be flexible
After all that stuff, let us say this: if you want to walk into a restaurant and get a table without a reservation, just know the times that are doable. Expecting to magically get a table at 8:30pm on a Saturday evening is often hopeless, even if you give them chocolates and a c-note. Coming in at 9:30pm or 6pm? Way more realistic.
There’s nothing wrong with playing by the rules. But how do you know when the restaurant has a “low demand” hours. Well we have a product that might actually substitute all of the above advices.
Introducing Easyvation, a simple, fast and reliable app and web(yes, we went the extra mile for you) solution for online booking that saves time, nerves and energy. With Easyvation app all of your favorite restaurants, dentists, mechanics, and many more stores are just a few clicks away.
Easyvation is a platform that aims to reduce friction between customers and shops, restaurants, dental practices or any other businesses.
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Easyvation app is the fastest way to reserve your seat, anywhere at any time, in just a few clicks — remember that.
With love,
Easyvation team
