What do you think is the best way to make dinner reservation at highend establishments when traveling that get you the "sit with the view" that "out of the way table" etc? Through a direct call to the restaurant? Through your hotel concierge? Or through a OpenTable type reservation site?

I think a concierge at a good hotel will often have good connections, although if you explain your circumstances directly, you may have more pull. I'd put an internet reservation last if a special spot is important.

I've had excellent results with Open Table. I print out the reservation confirmations that comes via e-mail, but I've never had to use any of them.

If you're looking for a hard to get ressie - or something special in the way of a view - I would always go with your concierge.

The on-line services frequently get the bottom of the barrel stuff (presuming it's from folks staying in hotels w/o concierges).

It would be foolish of a restaurant reservation clerk to assume that a reservation made via Open Table or by telephone is for people staying at a hotel that doesn't have a concierge.

These methods are used by people who aren't staying in hotels--such as those who live in a city where an Open Table restaurant is located. It may also be used by people staying at a hotel which has a concierge, but who do not want to avail themselves of concierge service.

I expect restaurants to give priority to regular customers, but I would not book a table at a restaurant if I knew it signals out certain customers for maltreatment.

I've started booking ahead of time via OpenTable. For our recent stay in New York, I did seven Open Table bookings. When I arrived at one, they started to seat us upon arrival after simply asking "table for two?", but when I said we had reservations and she looked in the book and apparently saw it was Open Table, she changed directions to a much nicer, larger, more spacious table than originally headed for. We've been well treated and well seated with our Open Table reservations. Meanwhile, we've built up credits for a certificate for $50 to use with our next Open Table reservation.

OpenTable is the way to go.
Business or pleasure one can book
ahead of time, they will send an e-mail to your fellow diners at your
request w/a cc to you.

And the point system is grand -
I redeem points by asking for a check & voila - 2 wks later in the snail mail
which can be used at any OpenTable estab.
Restaurants love it as it cuts down on overhead & very importantly, the
possibility of a No-Show is practically
nil since one will be "kicked out of the
club" for poor manners.