Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Restaurant Information & Reviews
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-07-2021, 07:13 PM   #1
LakeDad
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 127
Thanks: 2
Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy View Post
Thanks. Not familiar with them…I am 80% eating at W’boros 6-10 places.
I’ve never been to O’s bistro but they take reservations and it looks good. I’ll try it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
LakeDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2021, 08:46 AM   #2
SAMIAM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 2,912
Thanks: 338
Thanked 1,690 Times in 594 Posts
Default

Dealing with reservations is challenging.
When you don't take them, people dine, leave, the table is cleared and a new party is immediately seated so there is no down time during busy periods and scheduling staff is easy.
Reservations very often show up late.....as much as 1/2 hour in some cases. If that happens several times in a night that restaurant is down several hundred dollars and staff is standing around. People that walk in see empty tables and get angry that they can't be seated
There are also last minute cancelations and no-shows, thus the request for deposits.
People often want to add to number because someone wants to join them. If the reservation is for 6 or 8 there are a limited number of tables and any change is going to affect another party.
Years ago, before deposits came into play a favorite trick was to make a reservation at several restaurants and then decide at the last minute.
All in all it's very stressful on a busy evening and restaurants that take reservations deserve your patience
SAMIAM is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to SAMIAM For This Useful Post:
Biggd (09-08-2021), camp guy (09-08-2021), FlyingScot (09-08-2021), TheTimeTraveler (09-08-2021), TiltonBB (09-08-2021), tis (09-08-2021)
Old 09-08-2021, 10:14 AM   #3
BroadHopper
Senior Member
 
BroadHopper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Laconia NH
Posts: 5,592
Thanks: 3,233
Thanked 1,109 Times in 798 Posts
Default Not a problem

Live here and avoid Fridays thru Sunday. Enjoy cooking for a crowd and its a favorite among guests. Lobsters are a favorite and Belmont Shaws had cooked chix lobsters at 9.99 a pound! I'd rather burn the money for boat gas than feed an army at the ridiculous price!
__________________
Someday may never be an actual day.
BroadHopper is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to BroadHopper For This Useful Post:
BoatHouse (09-08-2021), MeredithMan (09-08-2021)
Old 09-08-2021, 12:13 PM   #4
MeredithMan
Senior Member
 
MeredithMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH
Posts: 964
Thanks: 263
Thanked 819 Times in 336 Posts
Default totally agree...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BroadHopper View Post
Live here and avoid Fridays thru Sunday. Enjoy cooking for a crowd and its a favorite among guests. Lobsters are a favorite and Belmont Shaws had cooked chix lobsters at 9.99 a pound! I'd rather burn the money for boat gas than feed an army at the ridiculous price!
We don't even bother eating out Memorial Day through Labor Day. In fact, Pandemic aside, we don't eat out nearly as much as we used to. Both the wife and I enjoy cooking and now that our two kids are legal drinking age and eat as adults as well, it's $200+ every time the 4 of us go out to dinner. Ouch..!
MeredithMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2021, 01:39 PM   #5
baygo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 696
Thanks: 187
Thanked 531 Times in 227 Posts
Default

It’s dormant now due to Covid, but I operated what became a reservations only restaurant four about 11 years here in the lakes region. My reservations were typically about six months out. I knew I arrived when I received a call in July for a reservation in November. It was extremely rare for people not to show up for a reservation however if they didn’t I would easily be able to seat the table with walk up traffic.

On the most part our operating system and business model was better suited for reservations. The only downside was that we typically allowed for two hours in between seatings. Occasionally people would get done in an hour and a half and the table would be generating $0 at those moments.

Our Covid pivot has included the emergence of a very popular outside bar. When the day comes for our tavern to re-open I have a feeling we will change our ways and only Take reservations for half the restaurant and the other will be first come first serve. People will be able to wait at the outside bar.
baygo is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to baygo For This Useful Post:
joey2665 (09-08-2021)
Sponsored Links
Old 09-08-2021, 07:57 PM   #6
LakeDad
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 127
Thanks: 2
Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by baygo View Post
It’s dormant now due to Covid, but I operated what became a reservations only restaurant four about 11 years here in the lakes region. My reservations were typically about six months out. I knew I arrived when I received a call in July for a reservation in November. It was extremely rare for people not to show up for a reservation however if they didn’t I would easily be able to seat the table with walk up traffic.

On the most part our operating system and business model was better suited for reservations. The only downside was that we typically allowed for two hours in between seatings. Occasionally people would get done in an hour and a half and the table would be generating $0 at those moments.

Our Covid pivot has included the emergence of a very popular outside bar. When the day comes for our tavern to re-open I have a feeling we will change our ways and only Take reservations for half the restaurant and the other will be first come first serve. People will be able to wait at the outside bar.

Sounds fair to me. This covers all types.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
LakeDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2021, 01:58 PM   #7
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,413
Thanks: 1,366
Thanked 1,636 Times in 1,068 Posts
Default Use it or lose it

Quote:
Originally Posted by SAMIAM View Post
Dealing with reservations is challenging.
When you don't take them, people dine, leave, the table is cleared and a new party is immediately seated so there is no down time during busy periods and scheduling staff is easy.
Reservations very often show up late.....as much as 1/2 hour in some cases. If that happens several times in a night that restaurant is down several hundred dollars and staff is standing around. People that walk in see empty tables and get angry that they can't be seated
There are also last minute cancelations and no-shows, thus the request for deposits.
People often want to add to number because someone wants to join them. If the reservation is for 6 or 8 there are a limited number of tables and any change is going to affect another party.
Years ago, before deposits came into play a favorite trick was to make a reservation at several restaurants and then decide at the last minute.
All in all it's very stressful on a busy evening and restaurants that take reservations deserve your patience
The airlines solved this issue years ago. You're not there? Stand by's get your seat. Change of plans? Fine, that will be $25.

For those who go to the same place frequently, we like reservations so we can request to be seated in our favorite staffer's section.
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2021, 06:38 PM   #8
LakeDad
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 127
Thanks: 2
Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Descant View Post
The airlines solved this issue years ago. You're not there? Stand by's get your seat. Change of plans? Fine, that will be $25.

For those who go to the same place frequently, we like reservations so we can request to be seated in our favorite staffer's section.

You mean so you can support them and tip them well?
You entitled savage!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
LakeDad is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to LakeDad For This Useful Post:
CubRun (09-20-2021)
Old 09-08-2021, 07:44 PM   #9
camp guy
Senior Member
 
camp guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro
Posts: 1,193
Thanks: 303
Thanked 529 Times in 296 Posts
Default Reservations

Everyone is pretty wound up about this topic, maybe because of the weather, maybe because of COVID-related stress, maybe because of a region-wide lack of help, and maybe because of "who knows why", but the best post on the topic was by SAMIAM explaining some of the problems with reservations. I would venture to say that at some time of a person's life they have probably worked in a restaurant, in some capacity, so with that as a background, try to view some of these issues through the lenses of the industry and maybe, just maybe, some of the vitriol will go away. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but, remember, it is only, and just, that - an opinion.
camp guy is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to camp guy For This Useful Post:
Newbiesaukee (09-09-2021), tis (09-08-2021)
Old 09-08-2021, 07:55 PM   #10
tis
Senior Member
 
tis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,771
Thanks: 755
Thanked 1,463 Times in 1,019 Posts
Default

I agree. It seems to me I see entitlement and lack of consideration as a huge cause for restaurant issues. I wouldn't dream of being late for a reservation but I know some people make a habit of being late for anything. I know one person who was 2 hours late to her own wedding.
tis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2021, 08:10 PM   #11
LakeDad
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 127
Thanks: 2
Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tis View Post
I agree. It seems to me I see entitlement and lack of consideration as a huge cause for restaurant issues. I wouldn't dream of being late for a reservation but I know some people make a habit of being late for anything. I know one person who was 2 hours late to her own wedding.

To preface this response, none of this is THAT serious.
It’s just eating out.

And isn’t entitlement. It’s preference, customer service and choosing where one spends money.

Many restaurants can handle it, so they get my business, positive reviews, and recommendation.

Reservations work, but they take work.

And on that very note, I could argue that some of the restaurants are entitled:
“We don’t need to accommodate. They’ll line up at the door anyway.”

I observe this and choose not to support those types of restaurants when the season slows..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
LakeDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:26 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.13533 seconds