5 mistakes to avoid when booking a gourmet restaurant

Is it really that complicated? When it comes to reserving a table in a gourmet restaurant, there are a few tricks you can follow to ensure that you have a good time and, above all, that you are accepted and given a slot. There are also implicit rules in force in certain establishments. We asked the staff at some of Gault&Millau's top addresses for their advice. Discover their answers.

Don't specify special diets

Fanny Schwenninger is a sommelier at Toulouse's Acte 2 (2 toques), and is also in charge of room service. What's the most important thing to remember when making a reservation? "Specifying allergies and special dietary requirements". Every evening, she counts at least one customer with an allergy. "Some people book without specifying it. it can be a hassle to offer our different menus if we don't know in advance. "But in any case, the chef can adapt the suggestions.

In this establishment, which opened in December 2023, 7- and 4-course tasting menus are offered. Fanny Schwenninger's knowledge of dietary requirements can enable her to guide a customer more specifically towards a particular menu.

I once had someone who said he was allergic to seafood, except lobster. We take note when people don't like certain products, but sometimes it's complicated to offer them a menu if there are a lot of changes to be made," explains the sommelier.

Some restaurants also offer a unique gastronomic menu: a sequence of dishes imposed by the chef. Some restaurants also offer blind tastings. In such cases, it's all the more important to specify your allergies and diet as early as possible to avoid any disappointment!

Book at the last minute

at La Table du Castellet (3 toques), restaurant manager Simon Durot is taking advantage of the low season to prepare for the reopening of his establishment on March 20, 2025. But his gourmet restaurant is already fully booked for certain services. "The best thing is to book before the season gets underway, when there haven't yet been any guidebook publications. "

To ensure that customers are guaranteed a table, Simon Durot explains that being a hotel guest can make all the difference.we prioritize the customer experience, so 40% of the table settings are reserved for hotel guests. "25 covers are available on reopening, and 45 two weeks later, to give the teams time to get up to speed.

And to have a slot available as a customer, "I recommend booking three months in advance and taking advantage of the offers on the website, such as the gastronomic or discovery offers. Slots are blocked for this type of experience. "

But these deadlines don't apply to all establishments and at all times of the year. On weekdays, reservations can generally be made 48 hours in advance, and on average two weeks earlier for weekend dinners or lunches.

For example, to dine on a Friday at Le Georges (3 toques) in Chartres, it's advisable to book a month and a half in advance. Two months for a Saturday.

Don't check booking conditions

at both La Table du Castellet and Le Georges, a bank imprint is now required to reserve a table online. Christophe Vuillard, restaurant manager at Le Grand Monarque in Chartres, was one of the nominees for "Restaurant Manager of the Year 2023".

Since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, his establishment has set up this reservation system to ensure that customers turn up. "It has drastically reduced our no-shows. Now we have about one a month. Before, it was recurrent to have an empty table on a Saturday night while refusing customers who spontaneously showed up because a customer with a reservation didn't show up. "

The venue manager regrets the telephone reservations that enabled him to establish initial contact with customers. These are still possible, but online reservations are to be preferred.

Not wearing the right clothes

While it's often a pleasure for customers to dress up to go to restaurants, dress is also present in the implicit rules asked of customers at certain gourmet addresses. "We don't ask for a dress code, but you do have to be properly dressed. In summer, we've already had people come in wearing shorts. It's quite frowned upon..." says Christophe Vuillard, room manager at the Grand Monarque.

To avoid any faux-pas, it's advisable to ask when booking whether a dress code is recommended. As each establishment has its own universe, the answer may vary.

Not knowing the children's policy

When it comes to bringing children to restaurants, each establishment can set its own rules. Some now offer special menus for little gourmets. Suggestions may include revisiting adult dishes and adapting them for children.

However, some restaurants restrict access to the youngest guests, recommending a minimum age.

The aim of these establishments is to maintain a calm and tranquil environment, so that everyone can enjoy a special experience. It is advisable to ask the maître d' for details when booking.