If you’ve noticed it’s getting harder and harder to get reservations at your favorite restaurant, you can’t imagine – the demand for dining has grown after the pandemic, with few resources to keep up.
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Online reservations are up 9% from January through June this year compared to the same period in 2019, according to OpenTable data reported by The Wall Street Journal. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get a seat at even the most coveted tables.
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Despite the renewed enthusiasm of diners, only one in four restaurant owners believe their restaurant will be more profitable this year than last year, per the national restaurant associationwhere recruitment and retention are mentioned as key issues.
Of course, widespread staff shortages mean it’s harder to get reservations if you don’t know how to get creative.
First? Try to keep an eye on the social media page of your desired restaurant, said 34-year-old San Francisco product designer Tim Kim. WSJ; often restaurants there post last minute cancellations.
Kim also suggests snagging a four-person table, which is easier to secure than a two-leaf table, then figuring out who will join you later.
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Walking into restaurants to inquire about reservations can also be a solid strategy (especially if they stop answering the phone), as can signing up for notifications on the booking platform Resy or establishing yourself as a regular at your favorite place.