You know you want to bring in the new year singing “Auld Lang Syne” with a crowd of happy revelers, but you have a few questions.
There’s not a lot of time, and you aren’t sure whether you’re up for a huge crowd in a cavernous restaurant, or a smaller group at a more intimate bistro. Is it a good idea to make reservations at multiple places and decide at the last minute where to go, depending on your mood? Are reservations even necessary?
The Colorado Restaurant Association represents, educates and promotes Colorado’s food-service industry. Pete Meersman, president and CEO of the association, says there are thousands of members in the association, which represents everything from casual bars to intimate restaurants.
Pick a place you know and would love to bring in the new year with style, Meersman says. He offers more advice, along with a few etiquette tips, to mark Jan. 1 with joy and grace:
Q: How does business on New Year’s Eve rank in terms of dining out?
A: It’s in the top five for sure, and most likely third behind Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. It’s a big day, and it’s a day that people want to have reservations.
Q: And what kind of luck would you have if you didn’t have reservations?
A: Most restaurants leave seating open for walk-ins, but that wait may be very long.
Q: If you’re not sure where you want to go, is it a good idea to make reservations at multiple restaurants and decide then?
A: If you do that, cancel as soon as you decide, and the earlier the better. But even if it’s five minutes before your reservation, call and cancel.
Q: What’s the big deal if you don’t cancel? Surely there’s a crowd of people willing to take that table.
A: Pretend it’s your house. You have a table that seats 14, and you’re cooking for all those people, making a big dinner. Without any notice, only 10 show up. The food’s cooked. Where are they? You’re not happy. That’s how a restaurant operator feels.
Q: But it’s a restaurant, not a home. Isn’t it simple enough just to seat other people?
A: It’s simply inconsiderate. Keep in mind that most restaurants will hold that table for a half an hour, and everyone waiting for a table is looking at that empty table, and they’re getting impatient. It causes ill feelings when there are empty tables and also a wait.
Q: How do you feel about Open Table, where you can go online and make reservations? There’s been some talk that it’s hurting smaller places because of the fee charged, whether guests show up to the restaurant or not.
A: Well, they’re a client, so I’d have to point out that Open Table does provide a service beyond simply reservations. They can store information like what table you like, birthdays and so on. That said, it’s like any other service provided to restaurants. What do you get out of it? That’s up to the restaurant to decide. And most restaurants have the capability of taking reservations from their websites.
Q: What with all the champagne, wine and mixed drinks being passed around, bartenders and servers must have to face a few drunken customers. What do they do?
A: Our saying is that we serve food and drinks, but not drunks. Anyone who is intoxicated or becoming intoxicated has to be cut off. It’s actually against the law for us to serve them.
Q: How do you do that?
A: In most cases the bartender will see who else is in the party with them. In some cases, management is brought in to assess the situation. If the person is with a group, hopefully someone will take care of them. If they’re alone and it’s clear that they’re driving, serving them nonalcoholic beverages and getting food into them will help.
Q: Any tips for their friends?
A: Look for the signs: slurred speech, overly boisterous behavior, motor skills off. Keep your eye on that person. And if you’re in a group, be sure to have a designated driver.
Q: What if service is really slow in that crowded restaurant?
A: Most people understand not to take it out on the staff, especially on a busy night. Around half of all adults have worked in the food industry at some time, so nearly everyone is great about treating people nicely. But if service is a little slow, relax. Enjoy the holiday.
