OpenTable for Restaurants Reviews & Product Details

I love how OpenTable for Restaurants takes care of our hostess needs. It keeps track of our customers and VIPs, including what they’ve eaten and when they last visited. It helps us manage the wait list, quote wait times, page customers when their tables are ready, and figure out where to seat people. It makes things nice and easy. I also like that it integrates with Toast and Mailchimp and saves us steps. When a check closes, the table shows as available in OpenTable, and our customer email list syncs with Mailchimp so we can send email blasts. We can also manage and reply to reviews through OpenTable. Setup was pretty easy, and the OpenTable team helped us count our tables and put the layout together. We’re really happy with it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really don’t have any qualms about how OpenTable for Restaurants works; my one concern is the pricing. Some months we pay $1,500 to $2,000, which is a lot for a small business. I think lowering the price a little, especially for reservations booked through the OpenTable website, would be great. I heard about an off-peak option, but I didn’t really understand it, and it sounded like it would only save a little, so I wasn’t interested. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The upsides are the addition of guests and the ability to control the addition of those guests by locking out times and tables from levels of the team so that you are neither under or overbooked. The interface is easy to train on and familiar to the team for the use on filling the floor. We integrated with Toast so we could see table progress live to help with turning tables. The table timer was especially helpful showing you how long guests were dining. The system was reliable as long as we had connectivity. Most of the pricing was reasonable, some of the campaigns could get pricey but the reports showed that we were getting what we paid for by the return on investment link from Toast sales. There are plenty of tutorials online that help with training new team members. I did also like how the system would anticipate the next table and server to seat based on flow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The marketing component could be frustrating to program and plan. You couldn't always set a budget during set up and there were several options for adding covers that made it confusing. This could be streamlined and made more simple to set up with simpler language and options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I appreciate is the intuitiveness of the system to pace tables. I also really love the Private Dining features! Instant booking has generated REAL revenue for our small business and the price is fair for what we see in return. The boost would be better if it were a bit cheaper but it is effective. Other highlights are mass guest messages that are customizable and a calendar view of upcoming events.

The integrations with Square were helpful but I find them cumbersome and not always helpful now that we've switched to Toast. There isn't much support with the integrations but there is quite a bit with initial onboarding. Communication was clear and quick which I appreciated as someone who has worked with OpenTable for over 20 years. The customer service has been helpful when it comes to things they can change. Longer, more 24/7 real human options for help would be more helpful. The AI that they've integrated is basic at its best. Often times just regurgitating information I can google which just doesn't do much when a restaurant is in crisis mode or if we make requests that are too detailed.

Overall it's very reliable as far as the system staying up to date across devices and we haven't experienced any crashes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The status updates NEED TO BE MORE CUSTOMIZABLE. When I asked if this could be changed the answer was "no because we have to keep things easy for everyone to use" which in theory makes sense but is still a no.

I also wish the new events options weren't behind a paywall. We already pay for it, it should grow with us.

MORE HUMANS LESS AI when it comes to customer service and troubleshooting. This is a people industry. Where are the people??

The integration with Toast is remedial at best. It starts tables that are difficult to add to and doesn't keep up with status updates that it was advertised to do. I took it off after the first day. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The platform is simple, straightforward, and user-friendly. Managing reservations and bookings is easy, and it’s also fairly simple to train new employees on the system. For a restaurant, it really matters to have a reservation platform that staff can pick up quickly and use confidently without a lot of difficulty, and OpenTable delivers on that. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest issue for us is the cost. The platform can get very expensive once you factor in commissions, advertising, and the ongoing pressure to advertise just to achieve meaningful exposure.

I also think there needs to be more accountability and transparency when it comes to guests. Restaurants are publicly rated and reviewed by customers, but restaurants have very limited ability to document problematic guest behavior or flag guests who repeatedly cause issues. A system that lets restaurants share appropriate, objective feedback about guest behavior would be very helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about OpenTable is the convenience and organization it brings to managing reservations. It gives us a clear picture of the evening before service begins, helps us manage table availability and pacing, and allows guests to make or modify reservations without having to call the restaurant.

The guest database and reservation history are also extremely helpful. Being able to see previous visits, guest notes, preferences, and reservation patterns allows us to provide more personalized service and recognize our regular guests.

The automated confirmations and reminders are another major benefit, particularly for a small, reservation-driven restaurant where a no-show can have a significant impact. Overall, OpenTable helps streamline the reservation process, reduces the amount of time our staff spends on the phone, and gives us useful information to help manage service more efficiently. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest downside of OpenTable is the cost. Between subscription fees and other charges, it can be expensive, particularly for a small independent restaurant.

I also think the platform sometimes gives guests the impression that every aspect of a reservation can simply be changed online, regardless of the restaurant’s size or availability. We have a limited number of tables, so seemingly small changes in party size or reservation time can have a significant impact on the entire evening.

No-shows, last-minute cancellations and guests making multiple reservations are still frustrating issues. While OpenTable provides tools to help manage them, I would like restaurants to have stronger protections and more control over repeat offenders.

Customer support and restaurant-side functionality could also be more responsive and intuitive. When there is an issue during service, we need a solution quickly—not another layer of technology to manage.

Overall, OpenTable is extremely useful, but I would like to see more emphasis placed on the needs of the restaurants that are actually providing the tables being reserved. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It is easy to make and manage reservations and keep track of our guests. The platform is user-friendly, helps us stay organized during busy periods, and gives us valuable insights into guest behavior and reservation trends. I also like that it makes it easy for customers to discover our restaurant and book a table, which helps drive additional reservations and business. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest downside is the cost, especially when you have multiple locations and a high volume of reservations. The fees can add up quickly. Need more detailed reporting on where reservations are coming from so it is easier to measure ROI and make marketing decisions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I love how OpenTable for Restaurants streamlines reservations across all our seven restaurants, helping us recognize repeat customers and make special events more inclusive. Personalizing every guest's profile to build long-lasting relationships is a standout feature that I appreciate. The way it integrates seamlessly with pop menus to ensure contact syncing is impressive. I find the platform extremely inclusive and easy for customers to find us, read reviews, and leave feedback. The personalized engagement and integration are definitely my favorite features, making it easy for our hosts to use the platform, which is the most straightforward and least buggy solution I've experienced. The initial setup was effortless, with a seamless process from the team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I do wish that the floor plan process was a little easier. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like that it reaches guests who may have not heard about us otherwise, it has an app that is commonly known and used. It's easy to use by our staff. Also that it integrated with our POS system which simplifies things for us. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I think the cost is actually too high for our restaurants. There should be an umbrella fee for having multiple locations under one group. Support is ok, but not the best. I would like to be able to chat within guest center to be able to resolve issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like the experience function. It allows us to sell ticketed events and special menus. It also just brings attention to things we want to highlight. I also love the customer service at opentable and how user friendly it is. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I'm an expert now, but special days are a little confusing at first. I think blocking specific party sizes at specific times (like no parties over 8 between 6-8pm) is confusing. I also don't like that I have to manually block each table. I wish I could select multiple tables and block all at once. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate how OpenTable for Restaurants keeps us organized, allowing us to run a smooth shift with its reservation management and note-keeping features. The accessibility to manage and view reservations from anywhere is a big plus for me. The integration with our POS system, Aloha, for automatic table status updates is also incredibly useful for maintaining a smooth operation during busy nights. Additionally, the transition from the old terminal to an iPad was smooth, with helpful support and even financial assistance for the iPad, which I found very thoughtful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are small things that could be improved, like the ability to plot a map and move things around with just one or two touches. Right now, it requires several steps to move a reservation from one table to another, which can be a bit cumbersome. This complexity sometimes makes new users hesitant to adjust things as needed. A plotting mode for easier rearrangement would be really helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.