Time Question

[MrsNicky]

If I have a reservation for dinner at 4:30pm, how long does it typically take from the time you sit to get your meal, assuming that everyone knows what they are ordering? My boys turn into dinosaurs when they are hungry so I need to plan accordingly!

Thank you!

 

[crabbygal902]

I know that this isn't the answer you are hoping for, but it depends on a number of factors: crowds, 1 TS vs 2 TS (2 TS seems to be at a more leisurely pace), etc. When my kids were younger, we stuck to buffets and AYCTE locations so that everyone could be fed quickly.

I think that your chances of being served quickly are higher since you are eating at 4:30. If you want to ensure food on the table fast, buffets are great. 'Ohana is also good for that. In our experience there, Hawaiian bread is picked up by the hostess when you are being led to your seat and the family-style foods start arriving soon.

 

[GillianP1301]

For a 4:30 ADR, you should be eating by 5:00, but there are a lot of variables. Some restaurants will keep you waiting past your ADR time. We've generally had good luck and seated within 5 - 10 minutes, but some places are notriously behind schedule (Ohana comes to mind). I have a son that gets super grumpy when hungry, so I keep a granola bar in my bag to tie him over in case we end up in a situation where we are waiting on food longer than normal.

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, there are really a lot of variables involved. As the PP mentioned, you should also keep in mind that you might not be sat immediately at your ADR time. Most times, you'll be seated pretty close to your ADR time (I'd say less than a 15 minute wait), but I've had waits of 45 minutes or more past the ADR time ('Ohana, BoG, Citricos, and R&C were the ones where I've had long waits; not consistently, but it's happened). The ADR means you'll be given the next available table for your party size after you check-in and the guests with ADRs that have checked-in before you have been seated. After that, I've found that food normally comes out pretty quickly after ordering (~10 minutes), but again, this can depend on the kitchen, how busy they are, if they're having issues, etc.