I’d like to speak with the manager!!!

I answer the phone today, and a woman on the other end of the line wants to know if she needs to make reservations to come in.

As always, I said, they are not required but even on slower nights we recommend them, as there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to just walk in.  

I ask her if she’d like to make a reservation.

She says, yes.

For how many?

Two people she says.

I follow up with, would you prefer a table, or seats at the bar.

She replies, I’ll wait and decide that when I get there.  

???????

I tell her I missed what she said.

She repeats, we’ve not been to your restaurant, we’ll decide where we want to sit when we get there.

I explain that that can’t happen.

She immediately wants to know why not.

I gently try to explain that it takes a bit of planning for the evening, so we must know where everyone is going to be seated.

She doesn’t like this, but chooses a table.

I make the reservation.

Two people tonight, 6:30, in the dining room.  

All set!

She called and cancelled at 6:15 tonight.