Gourmet recently received several James Beard Foundation Journalism Award nominations, based in part on this article wherein the author offers the following advice on how to get seated in a restaurant without reservations.
- Go. You’d be surprised what you can get just by showing up.
- Dress appropriately. Your chances improve considerably if you look like you belong.
- Don’t feel ashamed. They don’t.
- Have the $$ ready. Prefolded, with the amount showing.
- Identify the person in charge, even if you have to ask.
- Isolate the person in charge.
- Look the person in the eye when you slip him the money. Don’t look at the money.
- Be specific about what you want.
- Tip the maître d’ on the way out.
- Ask for the maître d’s card as you’re leaving. [Feiler]
Feiler, Bruce. “Pocket Full of Dough.” Epicurious. October 2000. <www.epicurious.com/g_gourmet/g06_feature/james_beard/dough.html> (9 April 2004).