How best to make restaurant reservations

...assuming I can not stop by the restaurant in person?

If at all possible, do try to make reservations in person. That's what we've always done as it lessens the possibility of misunderstanding. Spouse speaks some French, but still wouldn't try it on the phone or computer.

1. Do it online; if they have online capacity, send them an e-mail or a message via Facebook if they do not have a reservation page. Maybe they are on TheFork website.

2. Have your hotel book the table for you

3. Call them; anyplace with an even semi-famous name will have someone there who speaks English manning the reservation line. Certainly in Paris every restaurant will have a staff person who speaks English. If you've heard of them, other visitors have as well, which means they get plenty of foreign tourists.

Since I put a lot of emphasis on restaurant when I travel, I book as far ahead as possible. For some (rare) famous places, you can book a couple of months ahead. I do not leave it until after arrival if I have specific restaurants in mind, especially in Paris. But depends on the individual restaurant.

Yes to have hotel do it for you, I did it several times on my last trip and it's not only easier but they have more leverage to get you in when and where you want

Hotel desk if you are in a hotel and the restaurant doesn't have on line reservation system.

I rarely am so I make most reservations on line -- most places have this capacity on their website. Even the little bistro in the 17th that we like has that available.

Some don't and for those I call. I can stumble through it in French if I must but most restaurants have someone who can make the reservation in English.

If I cannot stop by for a reservation, I call to make reservations. I always reserve restaurants, not generally necessary for cafés.

How far in advance I reserve is a function of the restaurant, from 2 to 3 weeks for some, others I might call early in the day for dinner that evening, but typically it's 2 to 3 days in advance.

If the rules are different in Paris, it is that reservations are more important than other places.

I never make reservations using the Fork - restaurants it lists are not generally the most interesting locations at which to dine. I have seen a trend for better restaurants to use Zen reservations, made through their own websites.

(my thoughts here pertain to Paris)

Lots of restaurants have an on-line reservation possibility on their website, so that would be my first preference.

Some specify that they will only take reservations by phone, but I think that is pretty rare.

And there will normally be someone who speaks enough English to take a reservation answering the phone.

And yes, ZenChef and the Fork also do réservations for tons of restaurants.

As for how far ahead you need to reserve: it varies. For some coveted restaurants, you will want to be online when their reservations open (they usually note on their website when this is). For less popular places, a few days ahead or the day before may be fine.

The bottom line is, if there is somewhere you really have your heart set on eating, be sure to check out their policies /timeline way in advance so you can be prepared. Otherwise for just grabbing a bite, there will always be something.

Thanks folks, your suggestions have been very helpful.
-Bruce

For small local places we reserve the day before -- in person if we walk by or otherwise on line or call.

But many restaurants book out a couple of weeks in advance. An old favorite we visit on every trip was booked out the entire month of October one year when we tried. So for well known places we book as soon as we know when we want to go; for VERY high demand places (thinking places like Les Ombres) then a month or two is not excessive.

Last year we planned our final meal at a little bistro in Batignolles that we like for the atmosphere. I booked on line the day before. We arrived at 8 and the place was nearly empty although they asked if we had a reservation; I joked to my husband that we probably didn't need reservations. By 8:30 the place was completely full with reserved guests.

years ago before I understood how it worked, we often would drop in to places that looked nearly empty and be told they were 'complete' -- a couple of times they fit us in and then we watched the place fill up with those who had reserved and watched them turn away all the couples arriving later.

In smaller towns, online reservations are rare. And response to emails is spotty.

So, if you're not in a tourist hot spot, rely on either stopping by perhaps the day before or morning of an evening meal (unless it's a destination restaurant, of course) and do it in person.

Or call. And don't assume anyone will speak English.

Or, just show up. You might get seated. You might not.

And don't be offended if you walk into an empty restaurant soon after it opens at 7PM (19h), when every table in the place is empty, and be told that they're full. It's not you. It's not your clothes. It's because in 30 to 90 minutes the place will be jammed to the gills with people who have reservations.