The days of picking up the phone to make a lunch or dinner reservation are slowly fading as restaurants get App savvy. Many local restaurants are embracing another way to give customers the convenience they crave.
"Oh yea, I mean, I can get reservations, just dial it. Bam, go right in there," says Robin Roberts, a diner.
Open Table, is a phone app that allows you to make reservations at thousands of restaurants around the world. It's been a huge appeal for years in larger cities. It's just starting to get popular here.
"You're busy during the day, just an opportunity to say hey I want to go out to dinner, it's the last minute and boom you can do it," says Kris Waldoch, an assistant manager at Shula's 347 Grill.
So far nearly a dozen restaurants in Roanoke, Lynchburg and Blacksburg use the app. One of the best features? Customers can make reservations even if the restaurant is closed. Your phone screen displays which times are available.
"If you have something between 7 and 8 you can actually check our books to see if something is available for you," says Waldoch.
For people looking to stretch every dollar, Open Table boast of another plus. Customers can collect rewards points that can be redeemed at participating restaurants.
"I've used Apps for locating restaurants and a lot of them have reviews, so yea it would be convenient to use," says Emily Prince, a diner.
"I think it's a great idea and everyone around here would love it," says Connor Jackson, a diner.
That's exactly the response restaurants are counting on, more business and fewer open tables.
Click here to see the restaurants registered with Open Table in your hometown.
