1000 points open table

[nypeaches]

Overheard a guest today talking about making a 6:45 reservation, showing up at 7, having their guest show up at 7:15 so that they can eat at the time they really want and still get the open table points.
What do you think of that?

[Philly Ray]

A restaurant manager once told me that she would get two parties of 2 who would make reservations on Open Table and request tables next to each other so they could dine together and still both get the points. People are funny.

[jhopp217]

This reminds me of a place near me that used to give a free bottle of win if you ordered by 5:30, My friend would go with the menu printed out for whoever he was with and reserve the table for 5:15. All to save $18 split between two couples, haha.

[ttoommyy]

Just think about this though: all they did was waste a half hour. When you break it down:

1.How many tables are unintentionally 15 minutes late anyway? From what I see and hear in restaurants, I would venture to guess quite a few. Especially in areas where there is a lot of street traffic. I have arrived on time for reservations and been made to wait up to 15 minutes for a table. Works both ways.

2. Did they have a cocktail or a glass of wine from 7 until their guests arrived at 7:15? If so, then it adds to the bill and no one loses really. Yes, it is wrong and sneaky to set out to do this, but I bet this scenario happens a lot just due to circumstances beyond peoples' control.

[Bob Martinez]

There would be a problem if the restaurant assumed that the guests would show up at the time they booked and scheduled a followup booking 2 hours later. When the 2nd party showed up their table wouldn't be ready for 30 minutes.

We've all complained about restaurants and finding that our table wasn't ready. It's tactics like those used by the OP that cause delays like that.

[Bob Martinez]

Correction. The OP didn't pull this trick. They heard someone else talk about doing it.

[jhopp217]

If I had a reservation for a certain time and was running late, I would call the restaurant. Think about it. Restaurants that take reservations generally do so because they are busy. I also couldn't help but notice the OP said "heard today" and it was a Friday

[kengk]

Isn't a thousand points worth a dollar? I just joined open table and like it, seem to get a better table that way but don't see us making out on the points. I have 300 points, yay!

[jhopp217]

Haven't used it in a while, but it my understanding that 1000 points is worth $10, but you need at least 2000 to get your check. I actually let 1700 lapse recently.

As for the OP. Very sketchy and rude thing to do to the waiter, unless they ordered a $100 bottle of wine while they were waiting

[boogiebaby]

Agreed. Very rude. I actually hope the restaurant turned around and gave their table away when they were 15 minutes late and didn't call to let them know.