How far in advance would we need to make restaurant reservations for a trip we are taking mid September? Should we make now, once we arrive, or day of?
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4438 posts
Treat it like you would at home. It really depends on the restaurant and time of day. We tended just to wander and when we found a menu we liked we stopped. If you have a place in mind you really want to eat at then no sense delaying.
Posted by
West Coast Florida
138 posts
I’ve made reservations months in advance they were for a special occasion or during an especially busy time of year. On the other hand, I’ve also made the morning of.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7944 posts
Well, in many trips, I do not think I ever made a reservation, but as mentioned, entirely dependent on the restaurant. If you are planning Michelin starred places or well known restaurants (historic, featured on a TV show, etc.) then it might be worthwhile to at least inquire, and maybe make a reservation.
Other places, as you are wandering, the day before might be prudent if you notice they are packed, also look at websites, they often indicate if a reservation is encouraged, or even required.
Aside from that, most of the places we eat are smaller informal places, not sure if they even take reservations, as another poster mentioned, if we see a menu we like, we will go in, I do not recall ever being turned away. If it is a place we found through research or reading, then we usually do a walk-by a day or two before to check it out, with the intent of determining if we needed reservations, but have never had to go that far yet.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23574 posts
Our experience over the years, especially in Italy, is that reservations are expected and will get you better service and often a better table. I don't think timing is important. We have made a reservation at 4pm while walking by and returned at 7.30. And many restaurants do not open until 7 or 8 in the evening. Dining is much later and more leisurely in Italy. We make it a regular practice to have reservations unless it is strictly a bar.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
As a general rule I make dinner reservations by early lunch hour for that evening. Many restaurants that are full in the evening have tables available at lunch, but for more certainty and better etiquette you can reserve during the prior evening's dinner service. Only a few restaurants would need reservations several days in advance, such as Armando al Pantheon in Rome. If you're reserving for a special occasion or it's a must restaurant, then reserving earlier would make sense. There are also some restaurants that take no reservations at all, so etiquette for them is to place your name on a list and then wait patiently for it to be called.