Plenty of ink — and pixels — are spent recommending restaurants. Less talked about, but equally important, are knowing how to score a table and why not to be a cheapskate tipper.
Indeed, scoring a table at a hot new restaurant can be maddening. While this might not be as much of a challenge in Tampa Bay or Sarasota as, say, New York or Miami, knowing how to navigate the politics of getting a table is a fine skill to have.
Here’s what really works:
- The best times to call about making reservations are on the day you want to dine, at the moment the reservation phone lines open and at 1 p.m. What’s so special about 1 o’clock? That’s when most restaurants make available all the tables they’ve held back in case regular customers and other VIPs call to reserve them.
- If no tables are available the day you’d like to dine, ask if you can be added to a wait list. Also, make it known how flexible you are about times. If you’re a stickler for 8:30 p.m. and a 9 p.m. opens up, they may skip to the next name on the list. And give a phone number where they can actually reach you, such as your cell. Better yet, assure them that even if they get voice mail you’ll definitely want the spot.
This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2011.