Hello -
I wanted to see if anyone had any tips or suggestions when trying to secure reservations for restaurants that only take reservations by phone. I have no problem calling but do not speak French. I have read some reviews where people make reservations and then show up at the restaurant to find they have reservation. I am staying in an Air B&B so I can’t leverage a concierge. Are there any services that you can leverage a local to make reservations on your behalf? Thank you!
No experience with this -- we usually go to places where you just walk in -- but you could try "Bon jour. Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ?" Many, many people in the hospitality industry speak English, especially in Paris, or they can find an associate who does.
(Our cab driver yesterday asked me "Parlez vous français?" and when I replied "un peux, un petit peux" he switched to "Do you speak English ?" which was clearly superior to my years-ago college French.)
If it is a very special restaurant you want to dine at, you could go there a couple of days ahead and make the reservation. It is easier to communicate face to face than on the phone when you have no French. Failing that, just choose a place where you can reserve on line. AirB&B does have its negatives, doesn't it?
Try the reservation service of The Fork (La fourchette). It doesn't cover all places but does have a big and varied assortment. It can be used in English to make and/or verify reservations. An address or phone number may be requested. Sometimes it will later ask for feedback on how the reservation worked. As part of TripAdviser, its recommendations should be approached cautiously. Even so, I have found the service to be efficient and quite useful.
For places where a reservation might be desirable (and assuming that it's not a holiday or special event) a couple of hours is fine. For places where reservations are absolutely necessary you need to be doing it months (if not years) ahead.
Like most French people I only do reservations for personal dining on very VERY special occasions.
I rarely reserve at cafés. I always reserve for restaurants. One or two days in advance is adequate for most restaurants but a number require 7 days or more. Reserving is a courtesy that restaurants appreciate, allowing them to plan service accordingly.
You can often use the restaurant's own website to reserve, there is also the aforementioned www.thefork.com or www.fourchette.com, you can call (even using English), or you can simply stop by a restaurant and reserve in person for some later date.
One of the many advantages of staying in hotels is their additional services such as having a concierge or front desk reserve for you.
Thank you - appreciate your insight into the most likely reason behind the “lost reservations”. I will also take a look at the online bookings. Some restaurants I am looking at have online and some don’t. Trying to target those restaurants that are not overly tourist in the Bastille area. Staying in the 4th near Place des Vosges
Tocard - just wondering how making a reservation helps restaurants plan - do you order your meal when you make your reservation?
@ Simon, I have heard of places where reservations have to be made weeks or months in advance but not years. Which restaurants require reservations years before the date?
@ Andrew (OP), Do you mean to include a no in this sentence in this sentence: "I have read some reviews where people make reservations and then show up at the restaurant to find they have reservation." I sometimes ask a friend who lives in Paris to call places that do not take online reservations. I also call myself. So far, thank goodness, I have not had a single "lost" reservation. I do not think that any of your reservations will be lost if you call and if you want to be doubly sure, just call again the day before to confirm. I do know of concierge services in Paris but they are a waste of money if all you want are restaurant reservations.
JHK
I'm not 100% up to date with Paris restaurants yet this year, but the restaurants you need to book so far ahead you question the likelyhood of living that long are the latest buzz restaurants opened by (usually) Michelin starred chefs. Often they don't last much longer than the bookings taken in the first 3 or 4 weeks. Can't remember the name of the last one, but it created such a buzz on the internet they had bookings for 18 months but shut after three. That was 3 or 4 years ago.
The OP isn't likely to be bothered by those restaurants unless he reads foodpron
Call the restaurant and say (phonetically) "parlay voos Anglaise, seal voo play". That should shift them to English.
"That should shift them to English." Unless, of course, they do not speak English. Surprisingly, many do not. I know, shocking.
