Using Opentable.com
I have found that I kind of like Opentable.com. While I keep phone numbers for my favorite restaurants in my Rolodex (and most are easily available via google), I've come to find that it's really, really simple -- and amazingly fast -- to just pull up Opentable.com, select the restaurant, check the availability and book. Most managers I know who use the reservations system seem to like it, and as a company, they seem to making headway helping restaurants large and small integrate their entire reservations systems. (I also hear they're not cheap.) Restaurants, not users, are charged for reservations made online, but the convenience lies in connecting diners quickly with reservations -- including last minute openings -- since the entire web and inhouse system are one-and-the-same.
As a recent International Herald Tribune article pointed out, one of the benefits is also adding specific notes to your reservation for the restaurant to honor. (I particularly like the guy in the article who used to take different dates to a particular restaurant and noted in his opentable.com reservation "Do not treat like a regular!")
And apropos of nothing, I thought it was interesting to see Opentable.com's list of top 10 restaurants booked in Indy. Keep in mind they list only 32 Indianapolis restaurants and don't include some popular favorites such as Oakley's Bistro or Peterson's.
1. St. Elmo Steak House
2. Weber Grill - Indianapolis
3. Harry & Izzy's
4. Ruth's Chris Steak House - Indianapolis (Downtown)
5. Palomino - Indianapolis
6. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Indianapolis
7. Ruth's Chris Steak House - Indianapolis Northside
8. Capital Grille - Indianapolis
9. Dunaway's Palazzo Ossigeno
10. Elements
3 comments:
I just used opentable last night to make a reservation for a restaurant we're going to in NYC next month. I love using it here in Indianapolis, I've never had a problem with it.
I am a huge fan. When I am visiting a city, especially when I don't have a lot of lead time, I just bring up opentable and see what's available for the nights I will be there.
Opentable is great. Wish they had more restaurants here in Indy but I understand the cost factor. Another site diners should check out is Rewards Network or Upromise. They have a lot of good restaurants and a really neat program. I went to Mo's (Upromise) and spent $200+ and received nearly $15 for my childs college fund. Needless to say we'll be going back agian soon.
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