A table reservation is when a guest reserves a table at a restaurant, café or similar venue, typically for a specific time and number of people. It can be done digitally via an online platform or an app, or manually by phoning the venue. For restaurants, table reservations are an important part of planning, as they give an overview of the day's number of guests and help with staffing, purchasing and efficient table setting.

In a restaurant, a table reservation might look like this: A guest visits the restaurant's website and chooses a date, a time and the number of people. When the reservation is confirmed, it is registered directly in the restaurant's POS or booking system. On the day, the staff are prepared and can welcome the guest straight away – with no waiting or confusion.

Table reservations play an important role in relation to a till system (POS system), because they bring together guest information, table capacity and time management. When combined with the system's other features such as online ordering or a full restaurant system, you as a restaurateur can easily get an overview of the whole operation, including how many tables are reserved, which guests are arriving when, and whether the kitchen is ready for the job. This strengthens both the guest experience and the bottom line.

Flexybox and table reservations

In Flexybox's booking system, table reservations are easy and digital. The system supports both online and in-house reservations, so table reservations are automatically registered and synchronised with your table plan and staff rota. This saves time and reduces errors. Guests book easily via your website or an online booking platform, and you stay in control of capacity and flow in your business. The result is professional, clear handling of the flow of guests.

Frequently asked questions

A table reservation is made in advance for a specific time, while a walk-in guest arrives without having booked beforehand.

Yes, you can easily change or delete a table reservation directly in the POS or booking system, for example if the guest calls and asks to change the time or the number of people.

Many restaurants choose to have a no-show policy, such as charging a fee or releasing the table after a certain time limit. Such functions can be automated in the system.

Yes, with an integrated POS system like Flexybox, guests can both book a table and pre-order food, making the experience faster and more efficient.