Eating at the Bar Question

[Withacy]

Several people have mentioned eating at the bar in other threads (and I don't want to highjack them) - but I was wondering -

I may be going on a solo trip next year, and eating at the bar seems like a nice option. Do you need to make ADRs like you would for a table? Or can you just say, when you arrive at the restaurant, "I'm just going to the bar"?

 

[TheNewMrsB]

I wouldn't think you'd need an ADR for the bar. In fact I know from having spoken to a CM at the Poly that at Cali Grill, for instance, you do not need any sort of reservation in order to do so. However I don't think it would hurt to call and ask someone just in case.

 

[TDC Nala]

There isn't any way to make ADRS for the bar - you could make an ADR for a table, then go in and ask to sit at the bar - but if the bar's full you won't get in there anyway. It's not like they will call you when a seat is available at the bar - you can see if one is available yourself.

If my intent is to eat at a restaurant's bar I don't bother to make reservations.

 

[Withacy]

Oh, I realize you can't make ADRs for the BAR. I just wondered if you had to have a dinner ADR (generally) to even get in (since you generally have to go past the hostess stand to get to the bar area).

So, say you're at Hollywood Studios, can you walk up to 50's PT, will the hostess let you in to see if there's a free spot at the bar where you can sit down and then order a meal? I know you can eat at the bar, I just wondered if you had to have a general ADR for the meal to begin with.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Oh, I realize you can't make ADRs for the BAR. I just wondered if you had to have a dinner ADR (generally) to even get in (since you generally have to go past the hostess stand to get to the bar area).

So, say you're at Hollywood Studios, can you walk up to 50's PT, will the hostess let you in to see if there's a free spot at the bar where you can sit down and then order a meal? I know you can eat at the bar, I just wondered if you had to have a general ADR for the meal to begin with.

I did have an ADR for 50s PT and we were waiting to be seated. We hopped up to the bar because there were 2 empty seats but you did NOT need ADRs for the bar at 50s PT. In fact, they offered to serve us there to eat but we really wanted to eat in the restaurant so we waited to be called.

But not every restaurant has a bar to just belly up to if you want to try it! (Like Le Cellier) And they might be full. (Like the Tambu Lounge outside Ohanas since there is such a big wait for the restaurant - but people leave as their table is called.)

 

[TDC Nala]

Most places, like Prime Time's Tune In Lounge, you don't even have to ask the hostess, just walk into the bar and see if there is space for you.

California Grill, you have to check at the desk on the 2nd floor before you're even allowed in the restaurant at all. But you can tell the person at the desk that you'd like to go to the lounge. They'll take you up unless it's too crowded up there, like it gets just before the fireworks.

Last weekend there was a gal stationed out in front of Flying Fish, we just told her we wanted to eat at the bar.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Generally we make reservations and then when we arrive ask to be seated at the bar (done that at FF, Blue Zoo, Citricos, Shulas, California Grill). That way in case there is no room, we know we'll at least have a table.

But as TDC Nala says,you can also just walk in w/o reservations and just ask to go to the bar.

Both methods require that there be room at the bar, something you can't know until you arrive. We've been lucky so far--mainly I think because eating at the bar at these spots isn't extremely fashionable. So most times when we do find folks at the bar, they are just waiting to be called to the table--or just there for a drink.