With the holiday season fast approaching, entertaining your guests at a local restaurant is one of your easiest options.
Below are some helpful tips for saving time, money and using the internet in your planning.
#1) Book early.
Even if you don't know exactly how many your party will be, you have a rough estimate.
Seats can always be added or taken away the day of your reservation.
If you wait to confirm with your sister, who always cancels at the last minute anyway, you may loose that table at your favorite restaurant.
#2) E-mail the menu or links to the menu to your guests.
This little gesture tells your guests that you care about their individual dietary needs.
They also have a direct link to the restaurant's phone number and address.
Your guests can call the restaurant directly with questions about special food issues or the availability of high-chairs.
You will also spend less time waiting for lost guests.
#3) Choose an accommodating restaurant.
For a successful holiday dinner it is so important for the restaurant of your choice to make your guests feel welcome and wanted.
With so many restaurants to choose from and the economy in flux, you should spend your money at a restaurant who appears to want to earn it.
Try to avoid restaurants that seems as though they are doing you a favor by serving you and your friends.
I am constantly shocked and horrified when I read reviews about how rude or unaccommodating a host or Maitre D' has been to a guest when the goal of the front of house staff should be creating repeat guests and "Life Long" regular customers.
#4) For the best service or best tables dine before or after the "rush.
" I work at one of the best restaurants in the theater district.
My "Rush" starts at 5:00pm.
There is a line out the door when I open but once guests leave for the theater I have much more flexibility.
I can accommodate large parties and special table requests as early as 7:00pm where from 5:00-7:00pm my hands are tied.
#5) For more savings why not host a holiday lunch or brunch! You may even want to order wine ahead of time, telling guests that there will be white, red and sparkling wine with dinner and that if they want something more they will be responsible for paying it themselves.
This way you won't be surprised by having to spend more than you planned for.
The long and short of getting together at restaurants is this, "Think like the guest you are inviting.
" What would you like to know before hand and how would you like to be treated once you arrive.
I often include press releases and reviews that I have found on the web.
and I always choose restaurants where the theme is, "No problem or consider it done.
" LeeAnne Homsey - Maitre D' at Marseille Restaurant 44th Street & 9th Ave.
http://www.
marseillenyc.
com Phone 1-212-333-2323