The Fat Duck, Bray - why so hard to book?
Discussion
What does it take to get a table at The Fat Duck? The OH has tried from the second dates were released on online and is offered nothing but the waiting list. In fact, the whole booking system seems as clear as mud. I can well imagine demand being very high but seems odd that nothing is available now until new dates are released next?
I've just upset the OH though, and said if someone makes it so hard to eat somewhere I don't want to go anyway. Might see what availability at Royal Hospital Road is instead. ETA: Just learnt this is a 6 month wait for Friday night dinner.
I've just upset the OH though, and said if someone makes it so hard to eat somewhere I don't want to go anyway. Might see what availability at Royal Hospital Road is instead. ETA: Just learnt this is a 6 month wait for Friday night dinner.
Edited by FunBusMk2 on Tuesday 3rd January 15:39
FunBusMk2 said:
What does it take to get a table at The Fat Duck? The OH has tried from the second dates were released on online and is offered nothing but the waiting list. In fact, the whole booking system seems as clear as mud. I can well imagine demand being very high but seems odd that nothing is available now until new dates are released next?
I've just upset the OH though, and said if someone makes it so hard to eat somewhere I don't want to go anyway. Might see what availability at Royal Hospital Road is instead. ETA: Just learnt this is a 6 month wait for Friday night dinner.
At least you can book, my local posh place (not Starred but very good) does a no booking policy, so you have to guess the best time to go and hope you're not sat around for an hour waiting.I've just upset the OH though, and said if someone makes it so hard to eat somewhere I don't want to go anyway. Might see what availability at Royal Hospital Road is instead. ETA: Just learnt this is a 6 month wait for Friday night dinner.
Edited by FunBusMk2 on Tuesday 3rd January 15:39
I guess its saves them having booking not turn up, but its damn annoying for the rest of us.
ReaperCushions said:
At least you can book, my local posh place (not Starred but very good) does a no booking policy, so you have to guess the best time to go and hope you're not sat around for an hour waiting.
A lot of quite decent places in the US do that - but they seat the locals first. It's nothing to wait an hour at the popular places.I suspect there must be some of that at the Fat Duck - I have a colleague who lives in Bray and has some sort of connection and has eaten there a few times.
Plotloss said:
The trick is doing lunch at another restaurant. Both for Ramsey and Blumenthal.
We tried for months to get Hospital Rd back when they only had a 3 week list, no dice.
Lunch at Claridges, asked at the end of the meal for a Hospital Rd booking, no problem.
a double hit?We tried for months to get Hospital Rd back when they only had a 3 week list, no dice.
Lunch at Claridges, asked at the end of the meal for a Hospital Rd booking, no problem.
she'd love that
Timing and patience (plus an auto-redial button).
I've managed to book The Fat Duck twice, had to cancel both times, though got the table back on the second occasion with just a few days to spare (first cancelaltion was we had some drop outs and yuo book a specific table, they can't reduce the sizes, second was down to a death, buth the recent widower wanted to still go as it was his first time out since his wife's death and he was hoping it would help start him back on the road to properly dealinjg with his loss).
The trick is you need to start dialling just before the 10.00 booking line opening time, get on to the menu, then select the booking time just as it goes past the start of the hour and hope they do not turn the phonse on late - only discovered that trick by accident, but have had a fair few "we're not open yet" messages followed by joining every one else in with the 2 hours of dialling and hoping.
Another option is to look at midweek and lunch time - more chance then.
I've managed to book The Fat Duck twice, had to cancel both times, though got the table back on the second occasion with just a few days to spare (first cancelaltion was we had some drop outs and yuo book a specific table, they can't reduce the sizes, second was down to a death, buth the recent widower wanted to still go as it was his first time out since his wife's death and he was hoping it would help start him back on the road to properly dealinjg with his loss).
The trick is you need to start dialling just before the 10.00 booking line opening time, get on to the menu, then select the booking time just as it goes past the start of the hour and hope they do not turn the phonse on late - only discovered that trick by accident, but have had a fair few "we're not open yet" messages followed by joining every one else in with the 2 hours of dialling and hoping.
Another option is to look at midweek and lunch time - more chance then.
Plotloss said:
We tried for months to get Hospital Rd back when they only had a 3 week list, no dice.
Lunch at Claridges, asked at the end of the meal for a Hospital Rd booking, no problem.
So to book a table in one of his restaurants, you have to eat in another one of his restaurants first and book from there?Lunch at Claridges, asked at the end of the meal for a Hospital Rd booking, no problem.
He's not fking stupid is he.
FunBusMk2 said:
What does it take to get a table at The Fat Duck?
Perserverance, and date flexibility, I'd suggest. I tried in the summer for about 3 weeks solid, calling at 10am and all that. Absolutely nothing happening. The missus phoned up once in November and got a booking straight way - but it is for a weekday lunch sitting, there was (apparently) nothing else.I tried booking a few times previously and gave up. However last year the other half managed to get a mid week lunch booking which was relatively easy to get by all accounts.
Have reservations at the waterside inn on a Saturday evening next month and that was straight forward to obtain.
Have reservations at the waterside inn on a Saturday evening next month and that was straight forward to obtain.
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