Nov 29, 2015, 9:49 am
Last edit by: crabbing
opentable wiki
the basics:
1. create an account at opentable.com. i believe you assign your default metro area when you make your account.
2. use the website to find restaurants in the neighborhood of your choice. you can pick a specific neighborhood if you know it. there is a hidden map feature, accessed through an upside-down raindrop.
3. pick the location, time, and number of people in your party. note that some places impose min/max party size.
4. you can also find 1000-point times for certain locations, which appear on the list of times with a "+."
using points:
tips and tricks:
the basics:
1. create an account at opentable.com. i believe you assign your default metro area when you make your account.
2. use the website to find restaurants in the neighborhood of your choice. you can pick a specific neighborhood if you know it. there is a hidden map feature, accessed through an upside-down raindrop.
3. pick the location, time, and number of people in your party. note that some places impose min/max party size.
4. you can also find 1000-point times for certain locations, which appear on the list of times with a "+."
using points:
- start here to access the list of restaurants that accept opentable gift cards.
- gift cards are sent via email.
- OT gift cards are either tied to a specific restaurant, or you can choose a generic card that can be redeemed later (if anyone has done this, please update the wiki as to whether you still have to choose the restaurant and redeem online)
- note: the number of restaurants that accept OT gift cards is significantly smaller than the number of restaurants that award OT points.
tips and tricks:
- if a location is not busy or the receptionist is forgetful, they might not remember to check you in, so it doesn't hurt to ask.
- you often can be early or late and still get points, but the flexibility depends on the specific restaurant.
- sometimes they can be flexible on the party size - this is particularly useful if it's just yourself (for places with a min of 2), or you have a large party.
- if a place doesn't credit, usually an email to OT will get it credited. you might need a receipt as proof.
- some places credit your points as soon as you check in with the restaurant, while some can wait until several hours later.
- some restaurants allow reservations but do not award points. some have point-earning times and non-point-earning times. and some really sneaky places give points made through OT, but not through the OT/reservations link on the restaurant's own website. worse, they may set a "session cookie" that ensures your reservation is flagged "no points," so your best bet is to close and reopen your browser to reset the session cookie before making the reservation (or canceling and rebooking).
- don't forget that OT has nothing to do with how you pay for a meal. so it "stacks" with chase first friday bonuses, rewards network, restaurant.com certificates, coupons, etc.
Consolidated "Open Table" thread
Nov 23, 2006 | 8:44 am
#61
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego Area
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA Gold MM, FB Gold, Marriott Plat LT, HH Gold, IHG Plat, WoH Discvst, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,871
Originally Posted by gleff
There are no benefits to VIP status. I'm a VIP. The website says they flag your reservation so that the restaurant may choose to offer special services (of some indeterminate form). But has anyone ever gotten anything out of being an OpenTable VIP? 
But overall I still like very much like the service and have had all my (very few) "disputes" rectified with a quick email. In looking at the lists of participating restaurants, we have ended up going to places we never knew about and finding EXCELLENT places.
At 100 points per reservation, you are effectively only accumulating $1 toward a future dining check, but, hey, a buck is buck! Regrettably, the 1000 point ($10) dines are rarely at times when we can go ... but I guess that's the point: Get people to a restaurant at times when most people aren't there, but the kitchen is open.
Bottom line: Join OpenTable. Doesn't cost anything, and can be very convenient.
Nov 26, 2006 | 11:15 am
#62
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: usually DCA
Posts: 1,839
Originally Posted by amsNYC
Each restaurant has a lot of leeway in deciding what % of their inventory to upload at any given moment. If you have a strong preference in place/time and you don't see availability on OpenTable I find 50% of the time I can get my preference by calling.
YMMV
YMMV
Feb 6, 2007 | 10:01 am
#63
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Posts: 3,780
A couple of weeks ago I went to Open Table to make a reservation for Morton's Steakhouse. Even though I was choosing a weeknight a month or more out, it would only offer me 6:30 or 8:30 
I checked a few different nights, so it was just the default times. Finally, I gave in and called the restaurant and made the reservation for 7 pm (my preferred time).
Has anyone else come across this situation?
I checked a few different nights, so it was just the default times. Finally, I gave in and called the restaurant and made the reservation for 7 pm (my preferred time).Has anyone else come across this situation?
Feb 6, 2007 | 10:06 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA - 1K 1MM; Hyatt - Explorist; Marriott - Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,587
I use opentable all the time. It's great in big cities like Chicago where they have a pretty extensive restaurant list. I usually mention to the host or hostess when checking in that I made the reservation on opentable and on the few occasions where I've missed a credit, it's quickly resolved. Have never had any problem redeeming for gift certificates - at this point, I've probably used $400 - $500 worth over the course of a couple of years. Much of this has come from taking advantage of the 1,000 reservations (usually off hours) which will instantly earn you $10 of certificates.
Feb 6, 2007 | 10:51 am
#65
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: usually DCA
Posts: 1,839
A couple of weeks ago I went to Open Table to make a reservation for Morton's Steakhouse. Even though I was choosing a weeknight a month or more out, it would only offer me 6:30 or 8:30 I checked a few different nights, so it was just the default times. Finally, I gave in and called the restaurant and made the reservation for 7 pm (my preferred time).
Has anyone else come across this situation?
I checked a few different nights, so it was just the default times. Finally, I gave in and called the restaurant and made the reservation for 7 pm (my preferred time).Has anyone else come across this situation?
Feb 7, 2007 | 2:25 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM/AA ExecPlat & 1MM/HH Diamond/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,068
As a VIP, I've gotten the worst table in a restaurant (Ruth's Chris in Bethesda) and one of the best (Indique Heights in Chevy Chase).
Some tips-
If you want a table for 6 but they will only accept for parties of 4 or less, make the reeservation online and then call to change. It almost always works.
If you want 7:30 and they only show 7:00 or 8:00 online, make the online reservation and call to change, again should almost always work.
When I call to change an online reservation, the change is then reflected on the website for most restaurants but not all.
Some tips-
If you want a table for 6 but they will only accept for parties of 4 or less, make the reeservation online and then call to change. It almost always works.
If you want 7:30 and they only show 7:00 or 8:00 online, make the online reservation and call to change, again should almost always work.
When I call to change an online reservation, the change is then reflected on the website for most restaurants but not all.
Jul 27, 2007 | 10:42 am
#69
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Erie, CO USA
Programs: UA, M&M, AA, AS, Marriott, et al
Posts: 1,565
I recently used it for a local restaurant I was not familiar with. Even though I was dining alone that night, I thought it might be prudent to use it in case this was a brand new restaurant and was thus packed. OpenTable couldn't find any tables for 1 at the restaurant, but as soon as I changed the number of people to 2, there was plenty of availability. A few other restaurants also appeared with availability when I changed # of diners to 2, so there may be some bias against single diners. As others have mentioned, if one particular request doesn't get you the time you want, it may be worth a few minutes to try changing some of the specifics of the request to see if the result is any better.
When I made the reservation (for 2), in the comments, I noted that there would only be one person. As it turned out, it was a small restaurant and I was the only diner there for most of my meal. The manager mentioned that they were very happy with their relationship with OpenTable. And I did mention that the restaurant appeared to be full when I tried making a reservation for 1, so I hope he worked to change that.
When I made the reservation (for 2), in the comments, I noted that there would only be one person. As it turned out, it was a small restaurant and I was the only diner there for most of my meal. The manager mentioned that they were very happy with their relationship with OpenTable. And I did mention that the restaurant appeared to be full when I tried making a reservation for 1, so I hope he worked to change that.
Jul 27, 2007 | 1:02 pm
#70
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: LAS
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Southwest A-List Preferred
Posts: 2,846
Almost all restaurants on OpenTable don't allow reservations for one person...they will show zero availability instead of saying, "this restaurant does not take online reservations for less than 2 diners".
Apr 14, 2010 | 2:16 am
#71
Used to be bulldoggolfer05
Join Date: May 2007
Location: So Paulo, BR/Miami Beach, FL/NYC/DXB
Programs: HGP DMD, HHonors DMD, SPG PLT, MR PLT
Posts: 2,295
Digging up a pretty old thread here but have a question regarding the dining certificates. Have a couple on the way of varying amounts (have never used them before) and read somewhere that they are essentially like using a travelers check at the restaurant and the restaurant even processes them as such. That being said, if the bill is just slightly under (i.e. $96 bill) can I use a $100 certificate or does it have to be equal to or over the amount of the certificate? Can the certificate be used to cover tax and gratuity as well?
Apr 14, 2010 | 7:15 am
#72
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego Area
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA Gold MM, FB Gold, Marriott Plat LT, HH Gold, IHG Plat, WoH Discvst, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,871
Question
If I don't use the full amount of the Dining Cheque, do I lose the remaining value or do you issue me a new Dining Cheque?
Answer
The restaurant should give you change if the bill is less than the Cheque amount.
Can I use my Dining Rewards Cheque toward the tip?
Answer
Dining Cheques are just like cash and can be used to cover the tip.
"Search" is your friend...
Apr 19, 2010 | 11:28 am
#73
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: LAS
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Southwest A-List Preferred
Posts: 2,846
Lavandou in Cleveland Park gives me a free glass of champagne when i dine there due to my OpenTable VIP status.
Apr 19, 2010 | 12:40 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,934
Same seems to be true for parties of three. When I have 3 diners I just reserve a table for 4 and space magically opens up. I've never had an issue when I showed up with 3 instead of 4.
Apr 19, 2010 | 10:16 pm
#75
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT EXP; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
The restaurant is told to handle the OpenTable check basically as they handle a traveller's cheque. No problem using it to apply for any portion of the bill, in my experience.
We have a number of 1,000 points restaurants in the Sacramento (California) area - several of them actually very good restaurants, like Bidwell Street Bistro in Folsom and Paul Martin's American Bistro in Roseville. And a few OpenTable restos around here are also part of the Rewards Network program, nothing like double dipping and using a newspaper, online or Entertainment coupon in combination!
I enjoy getting my fifty dollar OpenTabel checks and love spending them. ^
We have a number of 1,000 points restaurants in the Sacramento (California) area - several of them actually very good restaurants, like Bidwell Street Bistro in Folsom and Paul Martin's American Bistro in Roseville. And a few OpenTable restos around here are also part of the Rewards Network program, nothing like double dipping and using a newspaper, online or Entertainment coupon in combination!
I enjoy getting my fifty dollar OpenTabel checks and love spending them. ^