OpenTable, Closed Minds

I’m a huge fan of OpenTable, and I’ve always imagined that restaurants are, too. They don’t need to spend hours on the phone telling people what’s free and what’s not, special instructions don’t get garbled, and it’s very easy to cross-reference the diner to previous visits. But apparently Raoul’s didn’t get the memo:

I can no longercontinue putting off talking about the back room. I’d prefer it didn’t exist, since I love the rest of Raoul’s. Actually, I’d prefer the maitre d’ didn’t exist, either.

On my second visit, with tables empty everywhere in the front and middle rooms, he instructed the hostess to take us to the garden. I begged him: Please don’t.

He looked down at us in the French style, and said, “You made your reservation online.” Indeed, my friend had used OpenTable, listed on the restaurant’s website. The maitre d’ informed us that OpenTable had assigned us to the back room, and that was that. As we were led away, no happier than prisoners in leg irons, he sneered, “Next time you should call.”

Raoul’s is an old-fashioned restaurant — that’s a large part of its charm. But if it doesn’t want diners to use OpenTable, it shouldn’t offer them the option.

I do occasionally wonder, though, what to do with my Dining Rewards Points. I somehow can’t see myself redeeming them on the website, waiting up to six weeks for delivery, taking a Dining Cheque to a restaurant, and then using it to pay for (some of) my meal. It would be great if I could somehow donate them to charity — help treat some non-profit workers to a very nice lunch every so often. But then I suppose more people would redeem them, and the business model might not work any more.

This entry was posted in food. Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to OpenTable, Closed Minds

  1. Welcome to our website You can buy something you like here.Thanks.

    The boots are great for everyday! You can just slip them on, with, out without socks and your ready to go. Just make sure that you weather proof them first! I have had one pair of UGGS for five years and I am still wearing them.

  2. fj198602 says:

    ———————————————–

    ———————————————–

  3. fgdf says:

    The world’s top luxury brands.sexy,gorgeous,fun.

    for a woman,Exudes a fatal attraction

    Noble,Elegant,Charming

    all in there.

  4. wer says:

    safest. If you satisfy with our service, please tell your friends. As a specialized web store covering all MMORPGS, we will sever you with cheap wow gold, cheap wow CD key, cheap WOW Items, cheap wow power leveling, and cheap wow account.

Comments are closed.