An online reservation system lets a guest request or confirm a table for a specific restaurant, party size, date, and time. Its value depends on accurate inventory and a workflow the host team can operate during service.
Model table inventory
- Tables and combinable configurations
- Party-size limits and seating duration
- Service periods, pacing, closures, and special events
- Accessible seating and guest notes
- Walk-ins and staff-held capacity
Design the guest flow
Show location, date, time, party size, availability, policies, contact details, and confirmation clearly. Provide an accessible way to change or cancel and avoid implying a table is confirmed when the restaurant still needs to approve it.
Design the restaurant workflow
Hosts need one view of upcoming reservations, walk-ins, waitlist, status, notes, and changes. Define who can override inventory, how duplicate requests are handled, and what the team does when service is delayed.
Plan communication and no-shows
Set confirmation, reminder, cancellation, deposit, and no-show policies appropriate to the restaurant and applicable law. Obtain consent for messages and keep recovery available when a guest cannot use the original channel.
Measure the operation
- Confirmed, cancelled, and no-show reservations
- Seat utilization and turn time
- Wait time and late seating
- Manual overrides and support contacts
- Accessibility and guest feedback
Reservation software is a fit when it reflects the restaurant's real capacity and service model. It should not replace the host team's judgement with unsupported automation.