A while back I was at the computer trying to find the phone number for the Baricelli Inn so that I could make a reservation for that evening. As I was searching for the number I came across opentable.com, an online restaurant reservations site, so I thought I’d check it out.
Limited in the Cleveland area
Never seeing the site before I thought I’d check around to see where in Cleveland I could use the site to make reservations. Not surprisingly, there are only 51 restaurants in the Cleveland area for which you can use opentable.com to make reservations.
Thinking about that for a minute, I realized that it was surprising they had that many! Can you think of 51 restaurants in the Cleveland area where reservations would be needed? Me neither, but opentable.com does have all of the big restaurants on the Cleveland scene: Three Birds, Lola, Blue Canyon, Dante and San Souci.
How it works
Getting a reservation is pretty straightforward. You choose a restaurant and the time you want to go. Opentable.com will check their book to see if there are openings and report back. You are either told you have the reservation or another time is suggested.
If you confirm your time, your reservation is sent over to the restaurant. It’s as easy as that. I’ve used the service twice now and it has worked flawlessly both times. When I arrived at the restaurants the hostesses had our reservations and we were seated.
Sounds great, but I already have a phone of which I am capable of dialing
You’re right, this is just one of those things that we already have a well established and efficient system for that somebody had to move online. I think that it is nice to have the alternative to make a reservation online as I am not always able to get on the phone, plus it has a real advantage when the restaurant is closed.
Opentable.com’s pitch is that you can earn points depending on the restaurants at which you book. Earn enough points and you get a stuffed pink elephant or a sweet Def Leppard mirror. Ok, maybe the rewards are a bit better than that.
Tagged with: Cleveland Restaurants • dining rewards • restaurant reservations
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May 8th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I used Open Table faithfully, but often did not get points if a) I showed up at the restaurant a _little_ earlier than the reservation or b) I called or visited the restaurant to add another person above the Open Table reservations limit.
Then I discovered that Open Table erased all of my points without an email warning or an expiration date notice. I turns out that in the original agreement (which I read when signing up 3+ years ago) that if you have no activity for a year they delete your points.
I contacted them to explain that I actually use their service frequently but they were not moved and would not give me my points back. This is not a customer-focused service, so I will no longer use them. It’s sad when I can honestly say that the airline frequent flier programs are more flexible and understanding.
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September 8th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Opentable.com can’t be trusted. I made reservations on their site for 9/7/09 at The Red Canary in Chicago. After walking 40 min to find the place, we found out it was closed for the day. My girlfriend asked, ‘Why didn’t you just call to confirm?” I said, “Because with Opentable.com, you don’t have to call, it makes calling redundant.” To which she said, “Not if they are as crappy as this.”
I will no longer use Opentable.com. In fact, I’m encouraging my friends here and in NYC to stop using it. Caveat Emptor!
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October 4th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Not impressed with my first experience with opentable. We got to the restaurant, and they seated us (and our meal was fantastic!), but I got an e-mail from opentable saying that we were a no-show. I can’t wait to see if we get billed as a no-show (on top of the $174 we already spent…:) ) buyer beware…..
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December 7th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Will never use again. They are cheats.
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February 4th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Opentable.com is stating that I have to make a reservation through a special hoop to get the extra points for “free meal faster”. They did not make a clear statement about this requirement. Instead, Opentable intentionally hide this information on a need to know basis (i.e. in FAQ) from customers. The company is trying to trick it’s customers because this is not a true and sincere offer. It seems to me that Opentable.com is only offering this hoop for their customers to jump hoops for marketing purpose without the true benefit only. I am sure not all the people will track and trace their points, therefore, not everyone will be benefit from your so called “free meal faster” promotion/gimmick. In conclusion, I think Opentables advertisrf false statement to the consumer and shall be corrected and or reported to Better Business Bureau (BBB).
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April 18th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
OTs point system is worthless unless you dine out about 5 times a week and pay attention to the details of the program. So forget the point system until they make it more appealing to average diners.
Regarding the The Red Canary in Chicago story above, I find that to be a very dubious claim. IF it is true, then it is the fault of the restaurant for not having their system configured correctly. Again I doubt this story and if it is true – not OTs fault.
Regarding the no-show email. Again that is the restaurants fault for not using the system properly. You should call OT and let them know so they can correct this issue. They will be quite happy to do so since this is one way they make money from the restaurants and by marking you as a no-show the restaurant is ‘cheating’ OT.
Brad, how about some details?
Nancy, yeah forget the point system.
I think OT is a handy and useful service. If you’ve ever worked in a busy restaurant you would know that the phone is sometimes answered by a busy staff member who is juggling 5 tasks and jotting down you reservation on a sticky note while balancing a tray of empty glasses in their other hand. That reservation has a good chance of not making it to ‘the book’. I’ll take my chances with an electronic system that sends me a email confirmation I can reference when I get there. Heck, if you reason for concern print it out and bring it with you.
Another really cool thing is that some restaurants use OT as a CRM tool (all of them SHOULD but only some do). This means well trained staff will note certain preferences you may have and notes them in the system (food allergies, food or drink preferences etc) which they can then reference the next time you come in. Savvy diners will just request that the server add in the notes if they know the system is being used properly.
Hope this well helpful.
signed,
A guy who knows a lot about OT but is not affiliated with them.
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