Are You Willing to Hold Tables With Your Credit Card?

January 20, 2009

The other day, I was on OpenTable to book a reservation at Range, a popular restaurant in San Francisco, and the online service prompted me to enter in my credit card number. It may not be the norm, but some restaurants — like Agave and Momofuku Ko — stand by this policy. Although it could seem risky to reveal a credit card number before any sort of purchase has been made, the practice seems to make sense for those restaurants who would have lost significant business due to no-shows.

What is your opinion on this issue? Are you willing to, or have you, plunked down your credit card number to secure a reservation?

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18 Comments

eshellmoyer 4 years 16 weeks

H*ll-to-the-no! Maybe if it was a large party, but for a regular meal- never. I understand that it's horribly discourteous to be a no-show for a reservation, and I have never in my life done it, and at a very busy restaurant I see how no-shows can really affect business. On the other hand if some horrible emergency came up, I think the last thing on my mind would be calling to cancel a reservation, and it would just add insult to injury to be charged 10 bucks a head. I generally don't like it when restaurants and other customer service places treat you guilty until proven innocent.

Pop Champagne 4 years 16 weeks

meh, there are always other restaurants.

jesssa 4 years 17 weeks

when i worked as a hostess in a 'trendy' new restaurant, we used open table. people would always be missing their reservations and we would have a waitlist a mile long of walk-in guests but because of the no-shows, we couldn't seat them. we even had people who would repeatedly no-show [especially those who made their reso's themselves using the online feature]. so i agree with the credit card system. the restaurant i worked at had a generous late policy [we would wait 15-20 minutes before marking them as a no-show] and cancellations all you had to do was call in at any time- even 5 minutes before the reservation- to cancel or reschedule. if people had to lay down something concrete then they may take it a bit more seriously or have the courtesy to call and cancel. i understand if its a major emergency, then it doesn't matter. i'm just talking about regular people who make reservations and don't show up.

jesssa 4 years 17 weeks

aimeeb 4 years 17 weeks

Nah. If it was a special occasion at an amazing place than sure but for a dinner out (casual) no.

mellie_608 4 years 17 weeks

I just had to do it for Valentine's Day reservations. Normally the restaurant does not do it but for special days I can see why.

courtneyd 4 years 17 weeks

I've had to do this at restaurants when reserving for a large group, like 12-15 people. It's not a big deal, but it did throw me off the first time I encountered this.

krissycake 4 years 17 weeks

I work at the Walt Disney World reservation center and we take credit cards for holds on several of our signature dining locations. I think it's alright to take #s when it's a source that is reputable and like other posters have said, if it is a highly coveted locations. Restaurants stand a chance of losing lots of business over no shows so it's really a safeguard.

ilanac13 4 years 17 weeks

it's only the better restaurants that like to do that since they know that reservations are hard to come by and if they don't have some type of security - then they may figure that they are losing money. it's really not that bad - i've done it before.

starangel82 4 years 17 weeks

I don't think so.

starangel82 4 years 17 weeks

I don't think so.

partysugar 4 years 17 weeks

I've done it many times and never had any problems with it. I don't think it's out of the ordinary either.

CallMeBoiWonder 4 years 17 weeks

I'd do it, if I lived somewhere that it mattered. One of my biggest complaints with Madison is that only one or two places in the city let you make reservations- so even if you plan something and know you'll be there, you're never promised a seat. Lame. :( I don't see it as any different than paying for take-out or delivery with a credit card...

CallMeBoiWonder 4 years 17 weeks

I'd do it, if I lived somewhere that it mattered. One of my biggest complaints with Madison is that only one or two places in the city let you make reservations- so even if you plan something and know you'll be there, you're never promised a seat. Lame. :(I don't see it as any different than paying for take-out or delivery with a credit card...