Is this a new practice in restaurants? Or just new to me?
Sep 29th, 2019, 11:52 AM
#43
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Sep 29th, 2019, 12:18 PM
#44
Not being funny at all. I just know that many restaurants appreciate customers who are attracted to their establishment by the look of it and the menu. Foreign reservations by unknown people do not really impress them.
Sep 29th, 2019, 12:57 PM
#46
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I guess we just have different experience then. Both at home here in the UK and when I've lived in many other parts of Europe, booking just seems like the 'default' way to dine.
Anyway, i described my preference for the experience when booking vs. walking in. You clearly have a different preference. I also believe that restaurant owners and staff like when customers book. You believe that they prefer walk-ins. I don't have data on that and I guess you don't either so we'll just have to disagree on that.
I'm not trying to 'impress' anyone by booking. Again, it just seems to work best for both sides from my observation. That's why I do it. Better for both. And not because I expect 'better treatment'. I believe if it works best for both sides, it will lead to a better experience for both. It's not like i expect special favours because I book or that I expect that I would not be treated 'correctly' if I don't book, as ahbonvraiment is trying to make it sound.
And by the way, your reply does not address what you mean by 'locked in'. That's still a mystery to me.
Sep 29th, 2019, 04:26 PM
#47
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"foreign reservations?" What does that mean? I'm not sure anyone is trying to impress anyone by making a reservation, "foreign" or not. I'm confused now. For one thing, I doubt anyone knows I'm "foreign" when I make a reservation because I grew up speaking French and don't have much of one of those obvious ugly Anglo accents when speaking it, so people assume I'm French when I make a phone call. What do I have to lose by making a reservation?
Sep 29th, 2019, 11:13 PM
#48
Original Poster
Well, I’m lost here. Locked in? Foreign reservations?
A restaurant has to impress ME, not the other way around, but as I said, I’m not getting this, so I might be missing the point.
BTW, we went to a charming restaurant (slow roasted lamb) in La Roche Derrien last night, run by an eager young chef, if anyone's in the neighbourhood.
A restaurant has to impress ME, not the other way around, but as I said, I’m not getting this, so I might be missing the point.
BTW, we went to a charming restaurant (slow roasted lamb) in La Roche Derrien last night, run by an eager young chef, if anyone's in the neighbourhood.
Sep 29th, 2019, 11:41 PM
#49
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The points are classic Kerouac. And they make no sense for the general visitor to Paris. I nearly always book dinner, even when it’s somewhere I go often. I usually only book lunch if it’s a special place. I think it’s just considerate to the management and often prevents you from being turned away because places do get fully booked. I watch walk-ins get turned away all the time.
i think for restaurant owners the bigger problem is people who book and then don’t show up. My friends in the business say it’s getting to be a real problem. Quite a few upscale places are requiring a card now when you book. I can see Kerouac going along with that! If you book and change your mind, please cancel!
As for “ugly Anglo accent”, that is exactly the kind of thing that makes language learners afraid to try to speak. And something I have only heard from a couple of lucky Americans who were blessed with learning French from an early age. I’m sure that everyone who tells me my accent is charming is being kind but I prefer the kind to this nastiness. Just think, don’t we think a French accent is lovely when someone is speaking English? I know I do. Why is the opposite impossible?
i think for restaurant owners the bigger problem is people who book and then don’t show up. My friends in the business say it’s getting to be a real problem. Quite a few upscale places are requiring a card now when you book. I can see Kerouac going along with that! If you book and change your mind, please cancel!
As for “ugly Anglo accent”, that is exactly the kind of thing that makes language learners afraid to try to speak. And something I have only heard from a couple of lucky Americans who were blessed with learning French from an early age. I’m sure that everyone who tells me my accent is charming is being kind but I prefer the kind to this nastiness. Just think, don’t we think a French accent is lovely when someone is speaking English? I know I do. Why is the opposite impossible?
Sep 30th, 2019, 01:21 AM
#50
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Accents are unavoidable save for my wife who spent hours learning how to speak without 'Diction et declamation '
every french can tell you come from Bordeaux Marseille or Lille same as a US citizen can spot someone from New Jersey from a Texan or west coast.
Theonly accents i dislike is the one from Jane Birkin who keeps a thick English accent after spending her life in france and Trump's.
Now i think both kerouac and some others are rught : I hardly ever reserve in Paris as there are so many restaurants and reserving in the dark us no better than being attracted by a nice looking restaurant.
Hiwever close to home I learned to reserve on a Friday eve for example after calling the 4 four restaurants I like that were full and being left with eating st home with an empty fridge or going to the McDo.
I guess it makes me a half nullard 🤗🤗
every french can tell you come from Bordeaux Marseille or Lille same as a US citizen can spot someone from New Jersey from a Texan or west coast.
Theonly accents i dislike is the one from Jane Birkin who keeps a thick English accent after spending her life in france and Trump's.
Now i think both kerouac and some others are rught : I hardly ever reserve in Paris as there are so many restaurants and reserving in the dark us no better than being attracted by a nice looking restaurant.
Hiwever close to home I learned to reserve on a Friday eve for example after calling the 4 four restaurants I like that were full and being left with eating st home with an empty fridge or going to the McDo.
I guess it makes me a half nullard 🤗🤗
Sep 30th, 2019, 01:24 AM
#51
I have to admit to acting as kerouac over restaurants, if the place I want to go to is known to be busy then I might book or if I'm taking lots of people to the place I book, other than that I prefer to just turn up and take pot luck. I find, especially in France, that booking far out is difficult and responding to emails, in french, seems to be a concept beyond some. Still, I feel if you are taking 15 people you should help chef and so I may book 3 months out and then send a reminder email about 2 weeks out. This allows chef to ask about preferences and even set up a special menu with nice touches. For two people, a reservation seems a little silly, after all, there is always another restaurant around the corner (or not).
I've only found two restaurants closed when I turned up with a reservation, both in France profond and both during a major French football match, surprise!
I've only found two restaurants closed when I turned up with a reservation, both in France profond and both during a major French football match, surprise!
Sep 30th, 2019, 02:10 AM
#52
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There is always somewhere that will take you. That's not really the issue. If you are interested in going to a specific restaurant or want a specific table you might want to book. There are so many online options for booking now that it's really very simple; thefork.com, or many restaurant websites have their own booking tool, often powered by zenchef. They also give you a confirmation and a reminder the day of the reservation. Even when I go to my Wednesday night jazz dinners, and I suspect Herve would be concerned if I didn't show up any particular Wednesday, I always text him to let him know how many will be in my party that specific night. That ensures I always get my regular table, set up for the number of guests I am coming with that night.
A musician friend texted me about a small event last Friday. The announcement invited one to SMS for a booking, so I did, getting a very nice reply. When I arrived precisely at 8 pm to find only one other couple dining and the three musicians standing at the bar chatting, I felt a little silly telling the bar man (with my horrible Anglo accent) that I had a reservation for one. But he graciously walked me over to a table right in front of the little "stage". I got the best seat in the house.
A musician friend texted me about a small event last Friday. The announcement invited one to SMS for a booking, so I did, getting a very nice reply. When I arrived precisely at 8 pm to find only one other couple dining and the three musicians standing at the bar chatting, I felt a little silly telling the bar man (with my horrible Anglo accent) that I had a reservation for one. But he graciously walked me over to a table right in front of the little "stage". I got the best seat in the house.
Sep 30th, 2019, 03:10 AM
#53
Even I would book in certain places for any group in excess of 4 people.
Sorry about my franglais. I was using "foreign" in the French sense -- étranger means any unknown person, no matter what the nationality.
Sorry about my franglais. I was using "foreign" in the French sense -- étranger means any unknown person, no matter what the nationality.
Oct 1st, 2019, 01:53 AM
#54
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I am firmly in the booking camp (and have benefited from one of Belinda’s Wednesday night bookings 
although I’m not one to plan meals weeks in advance. My MO, when possible, as many people do, is to pop into the restaurant a day or two before to reserve. We also eat lunch out far more than dinner, but even lunch needs to be reserved sometimes depending on the restaurant. And I’m just not fond of “restaurant shopping.” Going from place to place and getting turned away or one of just not liking what we see on a menu = not fun for me.
although I’m not one to plan meals weeks in advance. My MO, when possible, as many people do, is to pop into the restaurant a day or two before to reserve. We also eat lunch out far more than dinner, but even lunch needs to be reserved sometimes depending on the restaurant. And I’m just not fond of “restaurant shopping.” Going from place to place and getting turned away or one of just not liking what we see on a menu = not fun for me.
Oct 2nd, 2019, 08:25 AM
#60
The majority here have made it clear that reservations are not only essential but will get you better service and the establishment will probably order finer goods since they are so appreciative of the fact that you reserved. This of course enhances the prestige of the diners. Therefore, it makes absolutely no sense to talk about restaurants that are good and cheap but which do not take reservations. I prefer that the people here go and make their reservations in the expensive places elsewhere.
