Chez panisse reservations

[johnq]

I'm not optimistic here, but thought I'd at least check. Does anyone know of any way to score reservations at Chez Panisse (the main room), other than clicking frantically on OpenTable 30 days out?

[Robert Lauriston]

You could phone them at 9am. That there are no openings on opentable does not necessarily mean they're fully booked.

Except for special meals, it's not usually that hard to get a reservation.

[bbulkow]

I have found this to be more true than ever! The number of tables that a restaurant gives to OpenTable varies restaurant by restaurant. I was stressing about one of my favorite restaurants and a particular occasion, which was showing very limited availability on OT, but called in and "no problem, sir!", showed up and the place was half full as well as not even using two extra rooms. I'm sure they were limited by wait-staff, but by calling over the phone they were able to make an exception.

Now, I use OT when I'm scanning for restaurants a few hours in advance, or I'll check there first, but if I have my heart set I use the old-fashioned-phone.

[johnq]

Thanks. I called and got in for Sept. 15 even though OT showed no availability.