I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Someone mentioned yesterday that they’d never heard of taking reservations at the bar.

The restaurants I know who do this, started during COVID.

Guests know when they arrive they have seats at the bar.

They are also reserved for dinner so they aren’t just coming in for a cocktail.

More importantly because they don’t belly up to the baevthe folks who are dining aren’t being interrupted with people reaching over them for drinks.

We turn our 23 seat bar at the older restaurant 2.5 times a night. It really is the best bar in town.

The other reason we don’t let people sit at the bar prior to dining is it makes everything harder.

They’ll order drinks, but before they get them their table is ready. It takes forever to get them seated.

If they sit before dinner they’ll end up starting with an app which won’t have come and they’ll have to deal with the check, get the food to the table etc.

Or. They’ll sit at the bar, decide they like it, stay now the server loses covers and the people reserved at the bar have nowhere to sit.

PS. Remember this is all fine dining.

And

More than anything, last night I had one bartender doing service bar for 100 seats, plus serving a 16 seat bar, and it’s just too much to serve the oyster bar. Or people to hang out before dinner.

Ultimately though, I’m in the business of generating revenue. If I say no, I’m not being a dick. I want the business. But not if it slows down and hinders everyone else.

More importantly, take no for an answer. You are not a toddler. These aren’t hard concepts.

Know there is a reason and accept it.