Valentine's Day reservations: 'Be specific so you're not disappointed'
PORTLAND, Ore. – Have you made your Valentine’s Day reservation?
The rush to book a table is already underway.
The Heathman restaurant and bar in Downtown Portland is already about 75 percent full.
“We have to staff up for it because the tables will turn so much faster,” said manager Randy Noia, who’s worked for years in the restaurant industry.
Noia says rule number one is also the most obvious: Call in your reservation now.
“They’re calling a week out, a couple days out, and hoping to get reservations.”
Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday this year. Most restaurants offer specials through the weekend. If you must celebrate on the 14th, Noia says be flexible with your time.
“You’ve got 60 reservations coming in for a 15 minute window,” he said. “You can hurt yourself.”
Next, think about what kind of table you want. They already know it’s a party of two.
“Whether it be a window, table or a booth,” Noia said. “Be really specific so you’re not disappointed.”
It’s more common than ever for women to call and make Valentine’s Day reservations. So ladies, if you have the night planned out in your head, but your boyfriend or husband is procrastinating instead of making the call, go ahead and pick up the phone.
Noia says if you can’t get that perfect reservation, call back -- every day if you have to. It’s common for people to cancel their reservations, and in many cases they plan on it.
“A lot of people will make multiple reservations in different places and last minute they’ll call in and say ‘we’re gonna cancel this, we’ve decided on somewhere else.’”
No, not this year,not any year. When we eat out, we don't want to be pressured into vacating so the restaurant can squeeze in another seating.
I saw this news segment  the other night and I was really disappointed to have it be so hetero-centric. I believe you're ignoring a large part of the Portland metro population when a story is not inclusive. The celebration of Valentine's Day can happen between all folks, not only couples made up of one man and one woman.  It would have been really easy on your end to just say "partner or spouse" instead of ladies and boyfriend/husband.Â
I'd like to reserve Jennifer Anniston.
My husband and I are homebodies...it would not be a treat to me to go out to dinner, I'd much rather make something at home together and snuggle up in pj's for the night. Save money, less stress and I know what's in the food!Â
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 @nomad I'd rather stay home too! Don't care much for cooking though so just pick up a pizza and some ice cream and snuggle on the couch in front of a good show or movie!
How about you cook your woman a great meal, and do the dishes. Forget all the aggravation of going out to eat dinner and pay a fortune and look for parking that doesn't exist and get run over by a bicyclist or knocked down by a bus, or getting drenched in rain. Be different and stay home! I promise, dessert may just be the same! :)