Do restaurants do less business on Valentine's Day than they would a normal Saturday?

[nile455]

This year Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday (Hey it's TODAY! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!). While some might assume a Saturday Valentines Day equates to the jackpot for restaurant owners, I actually think the opposite.

Most restaurant dining rooms have a combination of 6-tops (tables designed for six people), 4-tops, and 2-tops. They'll do their best to maximize capacity, so they'll try to seat parties of 2 only at 2-tops. But on Valentine's Day, almost all the guests at nice restaurants are couples. And if couples is all that come in, the restaurants have no choice but to put them at the 4 and 6-tops. So you're talking about a dining room full of couples instead of being truly full like it'd be on a normal Saturday night, which would result in far less revenue. Am I right?

Another thing to consider (and I have no scientific proof of this) is that Valentine's Day couples might tend to eat slower, talk more, and overall spend more time at their table than they would a typical evening. This means less turnover, fewer (or possibly no) parties getting seated at that table after them.

Any restauranteurs around here that can chime in?

 

[lizabu]

I used to work at a restaurant and I can tell you days like Valentines Day, Mothers Day and New Years Eve were the busiest days of the year. All hands on deck. And when it falls on a weekend night it's a double whammy.

 

[nile455]

What about the filling of all available seats? (Valentine's Day)

 

[usnuzuloose]

I agree with pp it is a long wait to get a table to eat. So for us we usually cook what we want at home.

 

[Happy Snowman]

What about the filling of all available seats? (Valentine's Day)

You are assuming they fill all available spots normally. Most people go out with 2-4 people normally. I don't see that most restaurants have 6 tops any longer either, at least where we normally go. They mostly have 4 tops that usually have 2-4 people and even then, you can usually get in within 30 minutes or so. Not so on Valentines Day.

 

[jdb in AZ]

It might be a regional thing, but here in the Phoenix area the restaurants are slammed. We even went out last night to avoid the crowds, but the restaurants were still mobbed. We called around, but still had to wait half an hour, and the parking lots of adjacent restaurants were full. The six-top and four-top next to our table-for-two had families, complete with noisy kids.

Full disclosure -- this time of year we have a lot of winter visitors, so that also has a lot to do with it.

 

[Gracie09]

Not to mention the "special menus" which usually are higher prices for similar food

 

[lizabu]

Most places have only tables for 2 or 4 that they can put together if a larger group shows up. And believe it or not it's not all two tops on Valentine's day.

 

[lizabu]

It might be a regional thing, but here in the Phoenix area the restaurants are slammed. We even went out last night to avoid the crowds, but the restaurants were still mobbed. We called around, but still had to wait half an hour, and the parking lots of adjacent restaurants were full. The six-top and four-top next to our table-for-two had families, complete with noisy kids.

Full disclosure -- this time of year we have a lot of winter visitors, so that also has a lot to do with it.

It's like that here too. If you don't already have a reservation you're probably taking your sweetheart to McDonalds.

 

[mamamary]

We've learned the hard way that Val. day around here at restaurants is crazy. Sat. are always bad enough but we won't even attempt a decent restaurant meal.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Lizabu is right. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and New Years are the three busiest days of the year for restaurants. If you aren't completely booked on one of those days your business is in serious trouble. In theory, turnover might be affected by diners having a leisurely meal, but they're also spending more. These are "special occasion" meals, so people are springing for that bottle of wine, etc.

 

[nile455]

The restaurant being booked is a given. What I was asking about is total revenue. Sure every table is booked on Valentine's Day, but a 4-top for two people is not going to bring in the $$ that a 4-top for four people will.

 

[stargazer2892]

I work in a bar/restaurant/ local watering hole type of place and usually we are slower just in general on holidays, the bar area will get a small crowd (all regulars, and most of them are male and over 40) but for the most part I'm expecting it to be a long slow night.

 

[Cindy_Rella]

The restaurant being booked is a given. What I was asking about is total revenue. Sure every table is booked on Valentine's Day, but a 4-top for two people is not going to bring in the $$ that a 4-top for four people will.

That is why they have special menu items and higher prices.

 

[nile455]

But most restaurants don't replace their regular menu on Valentine's Day. Yes they offer a "special" and overpriced menu, but they still give you the regular menu. And I'd like to think most diners are able to see that the special menu is just an overpriced (and limited) version of the regular menu. Last night I was at Deep Blu Seafood Grille at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek. They already had the Valentine's menu and it took me all of twenty seconds to see it was just pickings from the regular menu with a raised price tag.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I think restarunts love it but I am sure 1 800 flowers must hate it

 

[Cindy_Rella]

But most restaurants don't replace their regular menu on Valentine's Day. Yes they offer a "special" and overpriced menu, but they still give you the regular menu. And I'd like to think most diners are able to see that the special menu is just an overpriced (and limited) version of the regular menu. Last night I was at Deep Blu Seafood Grille at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek. They already had the Valentine's menu and it took me all of twenty seconds to see it was just pickings from the regular menu with a raised price tag.

I think people are more inclined to order something "special" because its Valentines Day. They get dressed up, get a sitter, they are excited for a nice night, and to some I think ordering something that isn't the same old thing off the menu is part of that. If they weren't the restaurant wouldn't bother with offering it.
Me, I'd be happy with the same old same old but I don't even venture out on V-day its just way too busy.

 

[shan23877]

I've been serving at higher end steakhouses for the last 15 years. Here's what I can tell you for sure:

Larger 6 and 8 tops will be rolled out, and the small 2 tops rolled in. Extra tables will fill all available space. Menu prices will not be raised, but menus featuring special 3 course menus will be arranged to get the guest to add the soup and dessert to the entree and to highlight the lobster. Table turns will be average. Most people are doing something other than just dinner (play, movie,.... whatever). Restaurants will experience higher than average profits. People see it as a special occasion and tend to order accordingly. No one is getting the $12 burger tonight-not unless they want to upset their date who just ordered the steak.

 

[nile455]

I think people are more inclined to order something "special" because its Valentines Day. They get dressed up, get a sitter, they are excited for a nice night, and to some I think ordering something that isn't the same old thing off the menu is part of that. If they weren't the restaurant wouldn't bother with offering it.
Me, I'd be happy with the same old same old but I don't even venture out on V-day its just way too busy.

I'm with you on the "same old same old". Also I think it depends on if the diners have been to the restaurant before. To me, if I'm going to a respected restaurant for the very first time, I'm gonna order something the place is known for (which is on the regular menu). I want to know that I got the famous Chilean sea bass from so-and-so restaurant, or the Delmonico ribeye from so-and-so. The Valentine's menu often excludes several popular items.

Last night the Deep Blu Valentine's menu was $140 per couple without wine, so $70 per person. But on the regular menu most of the entrees were around $40 and appetizers around $10-12, dessert around $10-12. Not only does this total to less than $70, the offerings are far greater than the limited menu. Also the wine pairing price of $35 per person is a ripoff. Got an incredible Australian red wine off the regular menu for just $8 a glass.

 

[NewRVLady]

I think restarunts love it but I am sure 1 800 flowers must hate it

That is their busiest day-why would they hate it?

1-800 flowers is an Internet created biz for V- day and Mother's Day