A new OpenTable feature now alerts diners if an already-booked table they want opens up, giving them the inside track to their favourite restaurants. Availability Alerts sends a notification straight to your phone so you can snag that coveted reservation and hit all the spots on your list — even with capacity limits. With people eager to get back into their communities to dine at their favourite restaurants, the ability to book a hot reservation is needed more than ever.

How it works

To set yourself an Availability Alert, simply open the OpenTable app and pick a restaurant. From there, you’ll be able to see the available reservation times in red. If your top time slot isn’t there, simply tap the blue “Set alert” button to the right of the red slots, and add your desired date, time, and party size.

If your table frees up, you’ll receive a push notification that it’s available. To book it, just tap the notification and follow the path to securing your spot. If the table has already been taken by another diner, you’ll get another alert if any more spots become available.Continue Reading

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As we all look forward to returning to restaurants, albeit in a new way, restaurants across the country are taking steps to address new health and safety concerns diners may have arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. OpenTable has added a new feature that will highlight the measures each individual restaurant is taking to help ease diner concerns. As restaurant doors get set to reopen, OpenTable is ready to help diners safely rediscover dining out.

How it works

To see what safety precautions OpenTable restaurants are following, just visit any restaurant profile on the app or website. From there, a pop-up about safety precautions will appear, if that restaurant has added them. Clicking on the pop-up message directs you to the details section of the profile, where the list appears under “Safety Precautions”

How it came to be

OpenTable data shows that diners are excited to get back to their favourite restaurants when they open, but will do so cautiously. In a recent OpenTable survey, 77% of diners said they believe that communicating cleaning policies is highly important to feeling safe when eating in restaurants again. 

OpenTable is highlighting restaurants’ safety protocols to help ease those concerns, so that diners can easily see what restaurants are doing to help keep them safe. Restaurant owners can now opt to fill out the specific procedures they are following within three major categories: Cleaning and Sanitising, Social Distancing, and Personal Protective Equipment. The full list of safety precautions that restaurants can highlight is listed below.

Cleaning and Sanitising: 

• Surfaces sanitised between seatings 
• Common areas deep cleaned daily 
• Clean menu provided to every guest 
• Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers 
• Contactless payment available 
• Sealed or wrapped utensils used 

Social Distancing: 

• Limited number of seated diners 
• Distancing maintained in common areas 
• Extra space between tables 
• Sick staff prohibited in the workplace 

Personal Protective Equipment: 

• Waiting staff wear masks  
• Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking

Whether you decide to dine-in at the restaurant or order delivery, OpenTable is here to help you navigate dining in the new normal.

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