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Restaurant Reservation Deposits Have Gone Mainstream

Cover Image for People dining on the patio of Big Star in Chicago
By Ryne Estwing

Restaurant reservation deposits help decrease no-shows and they’re now widely accepted by guests at all kinds of restaurants, from dive bars to Michelin-starred fine dining establishments.

Diners understand that restaurants were hit hard by Covid, and now more than ever are willing to use a deposit to secure a table when making a reservation. A nominal deposit of $5 can massively decrease no-shows to under 3% of bookings. Tock allows you to charge variable deposit prices based on seasonal demand, the day of the week, or for specific sections of the restaurant. Use deposits for patios, rooftops, a special experience, or in the dining room, and as a result, your hospitality — and profits — will rapidly improve.

Tock was the first restaurant reservation platform to allow variable pricing for reservation deposits, quickly demonstrating they’re an easy and effective way help reduce no-shows and protect your restaurant’s bottom line. Today, that has never been more important.

Take a look a few restaurants and bars on Tock that are using restaurant reservation deposits to decrease no-shows and drive revenue.

Nisei Lounge – Chicago, IL
Nisei Lounge, Chicago, IL
Baseball Dive Bar – $5 deposits inside and on the patio.
Frasca Food and Wine - Boulder, CO
Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO
Elevated Italian Restaurant – $25 deposit per person.

“BECAUSE WE TAKE A SMALL, NOMINAL DEPOSIT AT FRASCA, OUR NO-SHOWS HAVE BEEN GREATLY REDUCED.”

–FRASCA FOOD AND WINE
Redbird - Los Angeles, CA
Redbird Los Angeles, CA
Modern American Restaurant- $20 deposit per person for the courtyard or garden.
Seven Reasons - Washington, DC
Seven Reasons – Washington, DC
Latin American Dining – $10 deposits for brunch, $25 deposit for dinner reservations, and $110 prepaid reservations for the chef’s table experience.
Alma - Minneapolis, MN
Alma – Minneapolis, MN
Cafe, Restaurant, & Boutique Hotel – $50 deposit for the dining room and bar seating.

“WE HAVE FOUND THAT GUESTS ARE MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR RESERVATIONS, BEING ON TIME AND WE HAVEN’T HAD ANY NO-SHOWS SINCE STARTING THE USE OF THE DEPOSIT.”

–ALMA
Flea Street - Menlo Park, CA
Flea Street – Menlo Park, CA
New American Restaurant – $50 deposit per person on Fridays and Saturdays.
Osaka Miami - Miami, FL
Osaka Miami – Miami, FL
Peruvian Nikkei Restaurant – $25 deposit per person for dinner in the dining room, on the terrace, at the sushi bar, or in the lounge.
>RPM Italian - Chicago, ILRPM Italian – Chicago, IL
Modern Italian – $50 deposit for the main dining room.
Xiquet by Danny Lledó - Washington, DC
Xiquet by Danny Lledó – Washington, DC
$25 deposit per person for the dining room (à la carte and tasting menu reservations).

“TOCK’S ABILITY TO COLLECT A DEPOSIT AUTOMATICALLY WHEN A GUEST MAKES THEIR RESERVATION HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL FOR XIQUET.”

–XIQUET
Death & Co. - Los Angeles, CA
Death & Co. – Los Angeles, CA
Cocktail Bar – $15 deposit per person for indoor reservations.
Kalaya - Philadelphia, PA
Kalaya – Philadelphia, PA
Authentic Thai Cuisine – $20 deposit per person for the dining room and patio.
Hathorne - Nashville, TN
Hathorne – Nashville, TN
New American Restaurant and Bar – $10 deposit per person for the dining room or patio.
Big Star - Chicago, IL
Big Star – Chicago, IL
All-Day Taqueria & Bar – $15 table deposit for Wrigleyville or Wicker Park location.
Muse - London, England
Muse – London, England
Intimate Fine Dining – £50 deposit per person for lunch and £100 deposit per person for dinner.
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