Lack of reservations

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by joey2665

I agree it would be nice if seasonal places like Pops, Lukilani, Sawyer’s ect stayed open a weekend or two after Labor Day like Town Docks does.


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Town Docks is always busy, but I've never waited more than 15 minutes for a table. They seem regularly prepared to handle the volume coming their way.

And absolutely: Staying open at least a couple of weeks into September is a great way to gain loyalty from locals.
It's foolish to shut down the very day seasonal traffic leaves.
"Local business doesn't matter. We'll see you vacationers again next year!"

Don't they know locals tell people where to eat?

This weekend, I'll boat over to Town Docks as a way of thanking them.
I'd go to Wolfetrap, but, you know..

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by LakeDad

I'd go to Wolfetrap, but, you know..

It's too crowded, nobody goes there anymore...

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

It's too crowded, nobody goes there anymore...

I've had ok luck at Garwood this year.
The food is "decent". The menu is limited and a little heavy on sweet chili everything, but it's right on the water and they have their own dock.

If I see it open, sometimes I grab it and go there just to avoid a hassle.

[WinterHarborGuy]

As a 1 1/2 year new resident to Wolfeboro who eats out three times a week, I have a lot of comments on this topic.

But first of all, what is O’s? Is that O bistro?

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

As a 1 1/2 year new resident to Wolfeboro who eats out three times a week, I have a lot of comments on this topic.

But first of all, what is O’s? Is that O bistro?

O Steaks & Seafood in Laconia.
The steaks are actually a little bit disappointing but the seafood is good and so is the environment.


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[WinterHarborGuy]

Thanks. Not familiar with them…I am 80% eating at W’boros 6-10 places.

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

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!


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[SAMIAM]

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

[BroadHopper]

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!

[MeredithMan]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

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..!

[baygo]

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.

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by baygo

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.


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[Descant]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

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.

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by Descant

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!


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[camp guy]

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.

[tis]

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.

[LakeDad]

Originally Posted by tis

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..


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[Biggd]

Originally Posted by LakeDad

O Steaks & Seafood in Laconia.
The steaks are actually a little bit disappointing but the seafood is good and so is the environment.


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I've never had a bad steak there in about a dozen visits.