Trend We Hate: lineups
Trend We Hate: lineups
Ever since the late aughts, when Pizzeria Libretto, The Black Hoof and Guu opened with strict no-reservations policies, lineups have become a normal part of eating out. In a new restaurant’s buzzy first weeks, waits can last three hours (see Electric Mud BBQ). Whether it’s the dead of winter or the dog days of summer, we loathe lining up.
What’s the longest you’ve ever waited for a table? And how long would you be willing to stand outside a hot new restaurant? Share your war stories in the comments below.
. Whether it’s the dead of winter or the dog days of summer, we loathe lining up.
What’s the longest you’ve ever waited for a table? And how long would you be willing to stand outside a hot new restaurant? Share your war stories in the comments below.){kind=link}
We don’t wait in lines. If there is a no reservation policy we try to arrive 15 minutes before opening and generally, probably always, get in for the first seating. So, I guess 15 minutes.
Some restaurants are going with a two teir reservation system, first come – first serve for retail clients and a mobile tech called iTendr for iPhones for corporate clients because OpenTable is becoming ridiculously expensive.
This whole lining up and the no reservation business is ridiculous. I will not wait more than 20 minutes. I think that whole attitude is terribly pretentious, not to mention inconvenient. There are a million good places to eat in this city, some places seemed to have forgotten that. The whole point of going to a smaller venue is that you want more peace and quiet, not hords of people.
I just won’t line up if there is a lineup. The worst are Sunday brunches, for which I have waited close to an hour (going with friends who don’t mind the line trend). I don’t know why more people don’t learn how to poach an egg: ‘good’ breakfast food is an anachronism – it’s all ridiculously simple and inexpensive to make at home. Some of these no-rez places (like Libretto) make truly memorable food, but you just can’t get in at normal hours – go after 10 or before 6 PM to get seated right away, and don’t let the hype and attractive people confuse your taste buds – a lot of these long lineup places put out seriously mediocre grub.