My husband and I have just moved to the Suffolk area from the US. We have been exploring the area and a big part of that is trying out the various restaurants in the area, and several times the staff has either asked us if we have a booking or apologized for the wait and mentioned that next time we could call ahead. It’s not a common practice in the US to make a reservation unless you have a large party, so it hadn’t crossed my mind to book ahead but of course I want to make life easier for all of us. Is this something we should be aware of?
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Yes, I’d say especially on a weekend we’d book in advance. Might risk it during the week but good restaurants in particular tend to be fully booked on a weekend.
Yeah it’s pretty standard if you’re going somewhere popular or live in a city.
If you go to a cheaper place, or during the week you should be ok.
If it’s a half decent returant on a Friday or saturday. Best to book.
Hugely varies by place and time but
> Is this something we should be aware of?
Well, if it’s something you’ve come across several times already, then that’s a clue that yes, it’s something you should consider.
Generally, if a place is small (<20 covers) or it’s Friday/Saturday night, then I’d usually book to avoid being turned away, unless I don’t really mind what time I eat or whether I get in, and then I’d be OK turning up as soon as they open and just seeing how the availability stacked that evening.
ETA: also would 100% book for Sunday lunch anywhere that does Sunday Lunches/Carvery, etc.
It seems like you’ve answered your own question.
If you want to make sure you have a table at a particular time – then book a table. If you don’t mind the possibility of having to wait for a table, or having to go elsewhere – then don’t bother booking a table.
It’s always been expected to guarantee a table, since Covid though it’s become a lot more expected by the venues. I can see why and no doubt they are really keen to stick with bookings and just a few tables for walk-ins.
It really really depends on stuff like how important it is that you eat there at a particular time.
It’s pretty common to book for popular times- Friday / Sat nights, Sunday lunch, or for anywhere that is at all posh, so might have limited space.
So it is a lot to do with how willing you are just to take “pot luck”
FWIW we are going out for Sunday lunch to a pub in the Yorkshire Dales that is 75 minutes drive away, and we are doing that partly because it is very nice and partly because Mrs tmstms needs to go to a clothes shop nearby to change a jumper that she found had a hole in it. So we booked, not to get stuck out there with our first choice of meal gone and a significant drive to get to anywhere else nice. But yesterday, we needed to eat after work, somewhere in Bedfordshire we didn’t know. We just turned up, to check out the place in case we did not like it. As it was 4 p.m. though, no problem getting a table- no-one else was eating.
Yes, more so since covid I’d say.
We always book in advance.
Popular places and pretty much everywhere on a weekend I would book ahead. Had it too often where I’ve turned up and been told I’d have to wait half an hour or whatever.
Yes.
Even in small towns.
Plus it helps the restaurant plan. But yeah, very normal.
I get anxiety at Wagamamas because they don’t have it and now the weather has changed I don’t want to stand in the wet and cold.
It’s not always necessary outside of busy periods, but whether it’s a busy time or not, a restaurant will always appreciate booking where possible. It makes it much easier to have appropriate levels of staffing on, which in turn affects the quality and speed of service you receive.
Yes, book, especially for an evening and weekend. If a restaurant can only fit 20 to 50 people, you can predict the necessity. Even big places get full at popular times.
When I visited the states I noticed that there’s a culture or eat, pay and leave. Whereas in the UK (and even more so in parts of Europe) we eat at a more leisurely pace and don’t leave right away. So a restaurant may not have the high turnover of tables you are used to. I always book even if I expect it won’t be busy as it’s just easier, you can often reserve a table online.
Edit: welcome to Suffolk!
Restaurants you need to book, same for most Gastropubs.
Regular pubs that serve food, not so much but they can vary from place to place and at busy times (Sunday lunch etc.)
They ask “do you have a booking” because, if you do, they need to mark it off in the book/computer. Otherwise you’re down as a no-show, or you end up sitting somewhere other than the table that was reserved for you. They’re not making a subtle hint that you should have booked.
However. Yes, it’s generally a good idea (and indeed very common) to book for any restaurant, especially at busy times like weekends or Fridays.
It never used to be the case. But since covid where everyone was space limited and booking was necessary it has seemed to carry over to now. Right pain when you are spontaneously out and want somewhere to eat but everywhere is fully booked.
Depends on the type of restaurant and time of week. I would always book on a weekend night, holiday or occasion like that when they’ll be busy. I would also tend to book any kind of medium to high end restaurant. The only places I wouldn’t expect to need a booking are large chain places (like Nando’s, Wagamama’s, any of the Italian chains).
Fridays or weekend nights yeh
Yeah it’s common in the UK for most restaurants worth eating at
If you want to go to a really good restaurant you may have to book 3 months or more advance.
On the weekends it’s advisable to book. It’s a lot more of a slow pace here- we take our time with eating when we are in restaurants. When I stayed in the US, the check (bill) was given to me before I’d even finished my main course!
Always book in advance.
Friday, Saturday definitely. Sunday if its a 4 day weekend. Anytime in the run up to Christmas or the New year’s. Anytime mid week you’re probably fine.
Where in Suffolk are you?
You might not need a booking at the Suffolk food Hall, Jimmy’s Farm, or somewhere with loads of covers/capacity but a small concern like a country pub or… (adopts culturally insensitive Texan accent) ‘a good ole mom’n’pop diner’ (sorry) then it’s probably a good idea to book.
If you are partial to seafood, I highly recommend taking a trip to Orfordness. Pinneys does some fanbloodytastic smoked fish.
https://www.pinneysoforford.co.uk/our-restaurant/
Seems like you’re experience has given you your answer.
It is becoming less of a thing to do anything spontaneous anymore. Everything has to be booked in advance which takes a bit of the fun out of life.
If it’s worth eating at make a reservation. If it’s really worth eating at as soon I’m advance as possible.
I wouldn’t even think of going to my preferred restaurant without booking.
The idea of not being able to get in, then waiting for ages, or trawling the streets looking for an alternative, is totally alien to me.
Yeap if popular places some might need month
As others have pointed out, if the place is worth eating at then it’s going to be busy, so booking in advance is adviseable.
There’s also the fact that, if you have booked, it’ll be in a register and the member of staff will be able to usher you straight to your table. Asking if you’ve booked lets the member of staff know whether to look you up in the register or ask you to wait for a table to become free.
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Having lived in the US and Canada for a while the difference between there and the UK is choice and size.
If you live in a big city in the UK you can probably just turn up at almost any restaurant and get in but that won’t be the case for smaller places.
Pretty small towns in the US would have several places to eat with huge car parks and loads of tables.
That just doesn’t happen here.
Eating out in American culture is much more prevalent so there’s a load more places to cater to that demand.
I manage a pretty upscale restaurant and would highly recommend always booking when possible.