OpenTable

Tired to make a reservation for 9 people at a local restaurant. The Open Table site said there was no availability for my request w/in 2.5 hrs of my requested time. I called the venue directly and they said no problem and made the reservation for me. I reached out to Open Table twice to help me resolve the problem and was told basically "so sad, too bad". I feel when there is an exception they should accommodate or at least reach out to the restaurant and have the issue cleared so that points can be earned.

I can't comment on free meals, coupons and that sort of stuff. But their reservations page is a mess. Took me 4 tries to get a table for 4 at a certain time, on a certain day. The reservation page consists of several buttons that look identical but perform different tasks. Number of individuals either doesn't work or needs a secret process to get what you want out of it. I just repeatedly selected 4 until it finally confirmed for party of 4 instead of 2. Of course, the only way to know its wrong is to make a reservation, then modify it. 4 times to finally get what I asked for.

For a reservations site, OpenTable is a pain to use.

Visited this restaurant with my family - a group of nine. The setting was more cafe than restaurant. The garlic bread was like warm doe. The pate starter was obviously cheap with toast that was really warm bread. The main course - my husband asked for a well done steak it was served with blood dripping when cut. My father in law and I chose lamb. It was served on a ridiculously small plate with mine consisting of cauliflower and three odd tasting road potatoes ( I think that is what they were). All piled on top of each other with the lamb on the top ( due to the tiny plate) My father in law had brocoli and two roast potatoes piled up. Two meals I had to ask for twice and then were eventually served when everyone had just about finished their main course. The supposed chicken burgers were more like chicken dinosaurs from iceland but costing considerably more. The desserts were tasteless and overpriced. Would certainly not recommend this restaurant unless you want to through money away.

Over the last two years, I've slowly been accumulating Open Table rewards points. Finally, I hit 2,000 points, and was looking forward to redeeming that $20 reward at a slightly more expensive restaurant than we usually go to. I went on the site and requested the $20 reward, but then found out that I can only use the reward at certain specific restaurants, which of course did not include the one I wanted to go to. To say I was pissed off is a big understatement. Open Table is a fraud. I will use those points at one of the restaurants to get some drinks, but then that that is it! I will never use Open Table again!

I made a reservation and then had to amend the reservation. Thinking (logically) that their algorithm would stay on the same date. Making a reservation a month out. Well it didn't. It changed the reservation for a week later and there was NO notice that it's a different date. Couldn't get into the restaurant (Olive B's Big Sky, MT) for the special occasion because they are booked up. So frustrating and NOT the first time Open Table as SCREWED up a reservation for me. I contacted the manager at the restaurant who also stated the OpenTable has cancelled reservations that they had confirmed. She suggested contacting OpenTable. There is NO way to send a message regarding this issue to OpenTable. What gives? I'll call restaurants directly. No need for a useless, ineffective middleman.

My husband and I went out for date night scheduled reservations on Open table. We double checked to make sure it was the correct location but it booked us for the wrong city. We went to the restaurant they told us it happens all the time. The restaurant was great and they worked us in but when my husband went back on his Open table account it had banned him cause it said we didn't make our reservation. Use another app. Open table sucks.

I received an email from OpenTable minutes after arriving at the restaurant confirming that we checked in. Hours later I get another email chastising me for not honoring my reservation. They gave me a guilt trip about the restaurant losing money, blah, blah. We were there! For some reason, this really pissed me off. When I called them out on it, they blamed the restaurant. It was OpenTable's fault. Get it together guys!

I purchased a $50.00 gift card as a Christmas gift and never received it. The purchase was made 5 days ago, and I have yet to hear back from my multiple attempts at contacting customer service. The payment was taken from my account immediately, and a receipt sent stating that they would be sending the gift card electronically. It has yet to happen. How long does it really take to send an ELECTRONIC GIFT CARD? I will be claiming a dispute against their fraudulent charges.
Thanks for nothing, Open Table!

I recently had a very bad experience at a restaurant so I completed the OpenTable online survey. OpenTable refused to post my review siting my review was in conflict with their legal agreement with the restaurants. I did not say anything horrible about the restaurant I just noted my own personal experience. I also complimented the restaurant in their efforts to correct their shortfall. I no longer trust OpenTable reviews, of any restaurant, as I personally feel that they are all skewed to a positive review of every establishment. I think it is sad that many people, myself included, make dining decisions on misrepresented reviews. I will no longer user their service.

To begin with, in order to earn a $20 rewards, you had to dine at 20 restaurants - spending almost $2000 - in order to receive that $20 check - That's a $0.01 return on every dollar you spend! But at least, you had the CHOICE of where you wanted to spend that $20.

Now, OpenTable no longer provides a check. Instead, they have a list of restaurants that you select from, and then they provide you a $20 gift certificate for that one restaurant and you can't change it once you've declared it. It's tough enough to earn the 2,000 points and now this simply adds insult to injury.

Give me the $20 and I'll decide at what restaurant I want to spend it, not OpenTable. This new practice alone will make me slowly exit out of Open Table.

I traveled to Seattle with my elderly parents last week. I made a reservation using Open Table for 6:00 at a restaurant on the water. After taking a rideshare to the restaurant from our hotel ($33 ride) we found that the restaurant was closed - and actually closes at 5:00. How does a "reservation company" make a reservation not knowing the restaurant's hours of operation? After scrambling around (on a Friday night) we found another place to eat. Very disappointing and unacceptable.

Open Table used to be so convenient, as with one click you could claim your $20 rewards card and use it anywhere. Now you get an electronic version, and you have to "activate" it for the specific restaurant you want to go to, so it takes planning. And it has to be done from a desktop. So spontaneity is out the door. But the CLINCHER is that only a fraction of the restaurants that you can book on Open Table now accept gift card. Open Table doesn't bother explaining that to customers, so you have to waste time muddling through it. Terrible transition to a new system, and they make the customer bear the burden. I'll book right through the restaurant where possible now.

On my very first ever visit to OpenTable, I attempted to book reservations at several high end New Orleans eateries: the restaurant was booked solid for that date; there were no tables for the time I specified; the restaurant's computer was down; etc.

I took me less than 10 minutes of that nonsense to pick up the phone and call each restaurant. Within 20 minutes I had booked with each restaurant on the date and at the time that I wanted.

That was my last experience with OpenTable. Over and done.

It works for reservations but the rewards points are useless! After years of faithful saving my points I finally got enough for $50 dining reward. Redeemed it, received an email with "BOOK NOW" link but when I tried to book via provided link it always says "Oops we experienced problems with activating your gift card". I tried multiple times for multiple restaurants with same results. Emailed and called customer service which of course were helpless and only redirecting you to same original BOOK NOW link. Disappointed!