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.
