Gimmick or need of the hour? Reservation and booking fees picking up pace at restos

Dining-out has been witnessing certain shifts in the way it operates. Whether it’s the tasting menu trend, niche experiences, fewer-table formats, or chef-led experiential restaurants. Those days when you could just walk into a restaurant to have a meal are seeming to make way for a growing trend of reservation and booking fee. Much like Paris and New York, where you need to reserve a table in advance, cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, have entered the reservation game. One, that requires diners to have patience, tests their decision-making abilities and accountability.
‘It’s like tatkal’
If you are one of those who has been waiting to get a reservation at a new restaurant on your must-try list but haven’t been able to make it there yet; or, even if you have been lucky to finally get a reservation after having tried you luck several times, you aren’t alone. “At this popular noodle bar in Bengaluru that only has eight seats, bookings open every alternate Monday and everything is sold out in 10 minutes. It’s like tatkal! We finally made it after trying for multiple Mondays,” said Shrestha Saha, a corporate communications professional. While you might scratch your head trying to figure out how the algorithm works, those who have been there done that, have varied opinions. “To get a reservation at a popular Japanese-inspired restaurant in Bengaluru, it took two of us a really long time. But a friend later told me that they didn’t have to wait that long for a bigger table than ours. It made us wonder, whether the number of people makes a difference, or was it just a coincidence,” said Naaz Gulshan, an architect.

‘We lost around Rs 5,000 because we had to cancel last-minute’
Most of the popular restaurants also charge a fee to reserve a table. Often, it isn’t refundable, but many a times it’s redeemable, or a cover charge. “Most of the popular restaurants in Mumbai charge a Rs 500/person reservation fee. And it’s usually non-refundable if you cancel within 24 hours of the reserved time. Some places even have slots, so you can’t stay beyond the time allotted. We lost around Rs 5,000 because we had to cancel last-minute,” said Pooja Sahasrabuddhe, entrepreneur. For some diners, while paying a deposit or reservation fee borders on inconvenience because not committing to a plan or last-minute changes are more common when going out, they feel it does stand for accountability. “There are restaurants that let you cancel more than 24 hours in advance, or reschedule. But there are restaurants where the concept of cancellation doesn’t exist. You don’t show up, you don’t get a refund. This does make you feel that you are accountable for your plans. This wasn’t something common in India,” said Subhabrata Pal, a graphics designer. However, well-travelled diners to the aspirational middle class, and of course, those simply with an appetite for trying new experiences, don’t mind participating in the reservation game, as long as the end result is delightful. “Honestly, it’s a pain but it’s standard practice in other countries. I had to pay a reservation fee in a lot of restaurants in New York. As long as it’s a cover charge/refundable I don’t mind paying it but it just gets frustrating when you can’t get a refund. Especially when you know that the table isn’t really going to go empty, because a popular restaurant will always manage to get a walk in,” added Pooja.

Experiencing magic to marketing gimmicks, say diners
From chef-led restaurants that have created a buzz, to more casual but trending spots, major players have a reservation game for you to get engaged in. Some charge a fee for reserving a table or a single spot, some, a deposit that’s redeemable or a cover, while some offer time slots where the time you are allotted might depend on the number of people the table is reserved for. For example, a table for two or four might get a two-hour slot, while a bigger group might be given a four-hour slot. “Booking ahead has become more like a marketing gimmick for some restaurants. They try to create some interest when there isn’t much to offer. At a place in Delhi, there were two empty tables when we were dining. We had to reserve a week in advance,” said Moushumi Ghosh, an analyst. Diners say while exclusivity is key, the marketing aspect plays a big role too when it comes to these strict reservation rules. “It’s a new mode of marketing. I have had great experiences but have had few underwhelming experiences as well. It works for me because we can plan our days accordingly, so I don’t mind the booking fees,” shared Shrestha.