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

[mmouse37]

A few nicer restaurants by us have different seatings on V Day. I saw one French restaurant that had 3 seatings....7:00 pm, 8:30 and 10:00. Don't know if they sold out all three seatings or not but 1.5 hours for dinner on v-Day is rushing it, IMO.

We went to eat at our regular place, a local Italian restaurant/pizza place where we are friendly with the owner. We were the only table seated at 7:00 pm. He said he was very busy earlier in the evening and a very brisk take out business all day (mostly deliveries). News predicted blizzard like conditions and snow so I am sure it kept some home that might otherwise have ventured out for dinner.

MJ

 

[nile455]

Considering every place I tried getting a reservation was already booked up two weeks ago, I'd say they get more business.

Unless you are counting McDonald's or something.

The place being book booked up weeks in advance has absolutely nothing to do with what their revenue will be. If the restaurant is not made up entirely of 2-top tables then they simply are not bringing in more guests than they would on a normal Saturday night. Their only way to make up for the fewer number of guests is to create the "special" (overpriced) menus.

Some have pointed out restaurants having nothing but 2-top tables. Personally I've never seen a restaurant like that (aside from the tiny mom and pop places), but yes that would be a very wise thing for the upscale restaurants to consider as it offers much better flexibility.

 

[sk!mom]

I think the seating configuration at most restaurants is related to their typical clientele. Are they a romantic place that gets lots of couples normally or are they more of a family place? There are a couple of small places here that have all 2 or 4 tops but the vast majority have almost all 4 tops. Since that's the case anytime a couple is alone they take up a four top.

I would think a day like V-day is a big money maker as most people out are planning to spend ore than usual. Go for the pricier options, order wine, add dessert. We stay in but then we aren't much for spending on meals out as a general rule. I cooked a nice but easy steak and baked potato dinner and DH made chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert. A special bottle of wine and a bottle of champagne and we were good to go.

 

[DVC-Don]

We had to try three of our favorite restaurants before we found one with a reservation open for yesterday.

 

[SMD]

The place being book booked up weeks in advance has absolutely nothing to do with what their revenue will be. If the restaurant is not made up entirely of 2-top tables then they simply are not bringing in more guests than they would on a normal Saturday night. Their only way to make up for the fewer number of guests is to create the "special" (overpriced) menus.

Some have pointed out restaurants having nothing but 2-top tables. Personally I've never seen a restaurant like that (aside from the tiny mom and pop places), but yes that would be a very wise thing for the upscale restaurants to consider as it offers much better flexibility.

That assumes that on a regular Saturday there's always another party waiting for a table, which is often not the case. You also seem to think that restaurants don't seat parties of 2 at 4 tops any other day of the year, they do. And you also seem to think that every party eating out in Valentine's Day is a party of 2. As someone has already pointed out, that's not the case. You asked a question, why are you arguing with everyone who isn't giving the answer you want to hear? What point are you trying to prove? I don't think you're going to find a one size fits all answer here, so what are you going for?

 

[NewRVLady]

I would think a day like V-day is a big money maker as most people out are planning to spend ore than usual. Go for the pricier options, order wine, add dessert. We stay in but then we aren't much for spending on meals out as a general rule.
.

I agree with this completely! You go all out for Romance
Son is taking his girl next weekend to RuthChris-all the stops (this weekend was her 3 day stint in the ER-nurse)

 

[tvguy]

10 Years ago? So in 2004/2005?

Heck, I graduated high school in 2000 and we were already using internet sources (went to a private, catholic college prep school). When I started college that fall it became even more of a deal to use internet sources.

This was a Private Catholic College Prep High School. Internet sources totally forbidden. Dd is 4 years younger, and over her 4 years (2005 to 2009) internet sources started being allowed, and were completely allowed by 2009.
On the flip side, they used to allow students to make up work missed if they took a vacation during the school year. That is now forbidden, not their call, they had their accreditation threatened if they continued to allow it.

 

[nile455]

That assumes that on a regular Saturday there's always another party waiting for a table, which is often not the case. You also seem to think that restaurants don't seat parties of 2 at 4 tops any other day of the year, they do. And you also seem to think that every party eating out in Valentine's Day is a party of 2. As someone has already pointed out, that's not the case. You asked a question, why are you arguing with everyone who isn't giving the answer you want to hear? What point are you trying to prove? I don't think you're going to find a one size fits all answer here, so what are you going for?

I'm not arguing. I'm simply clarifying for people who apparently aren't understanding my point.

I guess I was asking specifically about the higher end restaurants, the ones that normally would already be busy on a Saturday night. The ones that couples would go to for a romantic Valentine's dinner. Do these restaurants see larger parties on Valentine's Day? I guess, but that would be the exception, not the norm. Personally I've never seen couples spend their Valentine's Day dinner in a fancy restaurant in a group of 4 or 6. Couples with children who want to dine out at these fancy places on Valentines will get a baby sitter, and if they want to go as a family, they're probably going to visit a more family style place, a less fancy place.

My main point was that, overall, it's potentially a money loser if it falls on a Saturday and it's a restaurant that would normally be full anyways. You don't have to agree with me, but it's not an outrageous thought. And I'm not the first to bring up the idea. See links below:

----------------

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-valentines-restaurants-get-ready-20150206-story.html
At Christini's, a fine-dining restaurant in south Orlando, Valentine's Day doesn't necessarily mean higher revenues, even though they are serving more tables.

"We get a lot of deuces that night," said Christini's manager Marsha Orosco, using the industry term for a table for two. "So few come in large groups like a regular weekend."

That means moving tables and perhaps bringing in a few more "two-tops."

"I think everyone is looking for a more intimate and romantic night," Orosco said. "There are more couples than usual, and you try to make it special."

----------------

http://blog.cleveland.com/lifestyles/2008/02/valentines_day_special_for_res.html
Sometimes, though, there's actually a drop in what a table might generate, or what customers might normally spend.

"Actually, Valentine's revenues are probably less than a Saturday night," says Zach Bruell, chef-owner of Parallax restaurant in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, and a chef-partner in the InterContinetal Hotel & Conference Center Cleveland's Table 45 restaurant. Bruell says the average diner at Parallax spends about $45, assuming a three- or four-course meal with wine. But on Valentine's Day, the check average goes down.

"That's because of all the deuces," Bruell says.

As in poker, a deuce is a two in restaurant lingo, meaning a table for two. Since couples are the rule on Valentine's Day, tables usually reserved for foursomes seat only two.

----------------

http://www.masslive.com/dining/2014/01/off_the_menu_1-30.html
The romantic nature of Valentine's Day creates a seating dilemma -- everyone wants to reserve a table for two. This means that establishments equipped with larger tables or booths find themselves facing a capacity problem, with seats going unused as couples occupy space designed to accommodate four or more.

----------------

http://www.grubstreet.com/2015/02/surprising-economics-of-valentines-day.html
"One-hundred percent, we make less on a Saturday Valentine's Day than a regular Saturday," says Abram Bissell, the chef atthe Modern.

Others agree that weekend Valentine's Days don't yield a big bump. "You see a little bit of a spike of people getting a nicer bottle of wine, but it's not so substantial," says Gabriel Stulman, whose restaurants will offer a couple of specials but otherwise stick to business as usual. "It's not like, Oh, wow, we're doing so much business."

One part of the equation is that diners tend to linger longer than they might on typical nights, making it difficult to turn tables quickly.

----------------