Tips For Bagging A Top Restaurant Table
How important is it for you to be seen in the latest ‘haute cuisine hangout’? Whether you are genuinely interested in sampling the latest cuisine in the trendiest new restaurant in London, New York or LA or you couldn’t care less about the food and are just desperate to be seen in a hot new location, here are one or two observations on trying to get the elusive table that you are so keen to sit at.
You could try giving the Maître ‘d’ fifty pounds. But it probably isn’t going to help simply because, for the popular time slots, there just won’t be a table in the house. And if there is one it will be on standby just in case Jay Z turns up.
Sometimes if he or she likes you the Maître ‘d may try to help you. Just don’t ever try to be arrogant. These guys deal with the ‘rich and famous’ every day. You can’t impress them so be nice. Genuine nice, not fake nice. I recently saw this in action. My ‘nice’ versus the coveted Black American Express card attached to a rather feisty owner. Miraculously my ‘nice ‘won!
The New York Times also suggests that some canny concierges pre-book hot restaurant slots well in advance and then sell them on to desperate diners for up to $200 a reservation. Shocking hey, but it is a way for you to get that elusive table.
You can of course get a table at most restaurants if you are willing to eat at 5.30pm or other unfashionable times. The food will be the same and after all that is the real reason that you want to go to the restaurant isn’t it? It’s just that you won’t be sitting next to Jay Z or any of the other celebs that frequent the place.
A while back Wolfgang Puck’s Cut opened on London’s Park Lane. The 8pm slots were impossible. Not a hope in hell. Until, after one phone call to a friend at The Savoy my table was confirmed.
The New York Times article by Paul Sullivan ‘Tricks To Getting A Table’ cites the case of actress and socialite Cassandra Seidenfeld wanting a table at the Ralph Lauren trendy Polo Bar. She simply mentioned her ‘mission impossible’ task to her personal shopper at the Ralph Lauren store on 5th Avenue, and yes, abracadabra table booked and confirmed.
If your life revolves around being seen eating at the latest haute cuisine hangouts and your are not an A-lister, or you can’t afford to call ahead and reserve a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild, then here are a couple of other pieces of advice on getting the table you want.
The Chiltern Firehouse, arguably London’s most exclusive restaurant, say that they get thousands of calls every week and only have thirty tables. Guests staying at the hotel do get priority where possible, so book a room. If you are unlucky on the table front you may be offered the chance to penetrate the inner sanctum and have a quick cocktail at the bar before you head on out to find an eatery that is less rammed with celebs. But at least you can say that you have been there.
Jason Atherton’s lovely Pollen Street Social books three months in advance but if you dine on a Monday they probably do have availability. But does anyone dine on a Monday?
If it all seems a bit desperate probably the best way to ensure that you get great service and a great table is to smile, be kind (yes there is an element of generous tipping here) and spend your inheritance on becoming a regular. Simple.
But if the whole thing is too depressing and competitive you can always wait a while until there is a new kid on the block and that oh so trendy restaurant that you are so determined to go to is only pretending that they still have a waiting list!!
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