Your table is ready
If you eat out a lot, it's well worth your while to make your reservations through OpenTable.com. I don't use it in Baltimore because of my job (I'm a little paranoid that somehow the restaurant will know it's me), but I do when I eat in D.C., and it's always been very convenient. Here's how it works...
(Barbara Haddock Taylor/Sun Photographer)
Right now there are 45 restaurants in Baltimore signed up, 17 in the burbs and 14 in Annapolis. You select the date and time you want the reservation for, and there's a space for special requests (that cozy table in the corner, for instance).
The reservation goes straight into the restaurant's computerized reservation book, and you get a confirmation e-mail.
If you're a registered user, you get 100 Dining Rewards points every time you use OpenTable.com -- and in some cases as many as 1,000. Once you get 2,000 points, you can redeem them for a $20 gift certificate that you can use at any OpenTable.com restaurant.
I haven't found a catch yet. The service is free, and I've had fewer screw ups with my reservations through OpenTable.com than I have when I've dealt with people taking my reservation over the phone.
If any of you has had a different experience, please let me know below. (Or if you've had a good experience.)
Interestingly, McCormick & Schmick's was the top-booked restaurant on OpenTable.com last week (in Baltimore). Maybe that's because tourists coming to Baltimore are booking their tables there from their home computers.
Comments
I'm so glad you brought up Open Table. I feel like no one knows about it! The other thing to note is that on the site (at the bottom of the Baltimore restaurants list) you can suggest new restaurants for them to add...
Posted by: Kathryn | May 18, 2007 6:07 PM
You're welcome to use MY OpenTable account when you make Baltimore reservations. I'm happy for the extra points. :)
Posted by: Kathy | May 19, 2007 12:55 PM
We found using OpenTable very convenient, very easy to use, like a one stop shop for all restaurants listed. We realize that since we eat out so much, might as well get rewarded for it through the points system. The best part was suggesting a restaurant. I discovered that Tersiguel's wasn't there at one point, and I suggested it. It was great to see it the next time I logged on.
Posted by: ERIC | May 23, 2007 12:04 PM
Thanks for blogging about "Open Table." My sister, a dedicated foodie from California, swears by them. She used the reviews
to choose a DC restaurant when she was out here, and we had a fine meal at Acadiana, a place I had never heard of. We plan to try the system soon.
Posted by: Darlene | May 24, 2007 2:15 PM