Restaurant Reservations

November 12, 2004 12:20 PM

Are some times of the day or week better for calling restaurants for reservations? I'm trying to get through to Babbo but am getting only busy signals.

I don't live in NYC and am poor besides so I can't easily bribe anyone.
Alternatively, if any NYC mefites happened to know a number other than the listed reservation number that I could call, that would be useful.

posted by kenko to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

... arrive at 5:30 and find 4 walk-in tables and seating at the bar for dining [from urbanbaby]
posted by milovoo at 12:34 PM on November 12, 2004

Mondays, between 2:30 and 3:30, in general. Seriously.

Having said that, it's two weeks before Thanksgiving and every reasonably high-profile restaurant is swamped with calls. So keep trying.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:35 PM on November 12, 2004

Also, as milovoo says, if you come early enough you can walk in at Babbo. I didn't know it was so difficult to get a reservation there! In fact, the night I ate there (and just walked in), Batali and his children and a gang of their friends were sitting at the next table.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:36 PM on November 12, 2004

Mid to late afternoon is usually good for most restaurants, i've found--the staff is there, but it's not like the place is busy.

I see only 777-0303, and i'm sure there are "secret numbers" but i have no clue. This TimeOut thing says Babbo doesn't have one.
posted by amberglow at 12:37 PM on November 12, 2004

Another option: having the concierge of the hotel where you're going to be staying make a reservation (because if there is a secret number, the concierges have it), or calling a concierge service in New York and paying them to walk over and make a reservation in person.

If you Google "concierge services New York" you'll find numbers for several, including some in the Village itself.
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:21 PM on November 12, 2004

You could go early, but note that Italian resturaunts get better as it gets later because the water they cook the pasta in becomes more and more saturated with the starches and flavors of previous cookings. You might want to try showing up for a very late rather than a very early dinner, as there is a significant and palpable increase in pasta quality between the two times.

I know that sounds crazy. It is 100% true.
posted by ChasFile at 9:44 AM on November 13, 2004

That sounds crazy to me. At the two open-kitchen Italian restaurants my husband and I frequent, we see them change water in the pasta pots every now and then. I don't know if that's specific to those restaurants, though, or if it's specific to Boston or what.

Also, I almost always want restaurant pasta to be less starchy, rather than more starchy. In any case, pasta is not the best thing on Babbo's menu.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:01 PM on November 13, 2004

Response by poster: I've heard nothing but good things about the beef cheek ravioli.

In any case I eventually got through, on the night in question the only open tables for my party size were at 11, unfortunately too late. Alas. Lambs' tongues will have to wait.
posted by kenko at 10:57 AM on November 14, 2004