Victoria and Albert's Reservation Question

[Linus Van Pelt]

Hello! I was thinking about seeing if I can get the V&A Chef's Table for our trip down in May, and I was wondering if, on the 180th day out from our arrival day, I could make reservations for it, even though I don't want to do it on our arrival day, or if I have to call 180 days out from the exact day we'd like to dine at V&A's Chef Table?
Thank you so much!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The Chef's Table may only be reserved up to 180 days out from the date of the reservation. The Resort Guest 180+10 rule does not apply.

However, if you are staying at one of the Resorts in a Concierge-level room that might be of assistance in getting the reservation.

 

[Linus Van Pelt]

However, if you are staying at one of the Resorts in a Concierge-level room that might be of assistance in getting the reservation.

We're not, unfortunately. The week we want to do it, we'll be staying at the Poly. Any tips on improving our chances of getting it, other than getting up early and calling before 7:00 a.m.? Thanks!

 

[LadyZolt]

Any tips on improving our chances of getting it, other than getting up early and calling before 7:00 a.m.? Thanks!

I had no problem making my reservation at the 180 day mark. Remember that V&A's is pretty expensive and it even requires a credit card to make a reservation. I don't think that crowds of people are eagerly waiting to call and snag a ressie, and I think your time frame of May should also be less crowded than other months like June, July and August. But this is the first time I've reserved it (for December 20th), and I didn't opt for the chef's table, so that might make my experience not the "norm" for those wanting the chef's table, but I think the best thing to do is what you can -- make the call as soon as you can on the 180 day mark and take it from there. I hope you get it!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Linus Van Pelt]

I had no problem making my reservation at the 180 day mark. Remember that V&A's is pretty expensive and it even requires a credit card to make a reservation. I don't think that crowds of people are eagerly waiting to call and snag a ressie, and I think your time frame of May should also be less crowded than other months like June, July and August. But this is the first time I've reserved it (for December 20th), and I didn't opt for the chef's table, so that might make my experience not the "norm" for those wanting the chef's table, but I think the best thing to do is what you can -- make the call as soon as you can on the 180 day mark and take it from there. I hope you get it!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

Thank you! And please do let me know how your experience goes there in December. My only hesitation in booking it is that my tastes are far, far more adventurous that SO's. If I am able to score the chef's table, I'll practically have to provide a laundry list of items that SO just doesn't care for (shellfish, duck, goose, venison, lamb... I could go on, unfortunately ). I can hear it now...

Chef: "And for your second course, you have the foie gras with lamb reduction."
Me: "Fantastic!"
Chef: "And your second course consists, yet again, of, um, chicken breast."
SO: (Enthusiastically, and with not even a shred of irony) "All riiiight!"

Again, .

 

[ElizabethB]

Just to be clear, V&A dining room reservations are fairly easy to come by. The Chef's Table is an entirely different matter. It is never available to the public on Wed. or Friday evenings. So, there are five nights in any one week that it can be booked.

You must call at 7:00 a.m. exactly 180 days out from the day you want it. I never trust the concierge to do it, so always do it myself. You must be the first caller in requesting V&A. Unlike things like CRT, second does not count. Either you are first or you are closed out (unless you can later snag a reservation due to a cancellation).

We will be eating at the Chef's Table next week for our fifth or sixth time. This time, with all the publicity from TV shows about it and, thus, many more people trying to score it, I tried for 15 mornings straight (excluding mornings I knew corresponded to Wed. or Friday evenings) before achieving a reservation. We booked the rest of our trip based on what night I finally got the Chef's Table.

As for adventurous eating, I'm more adventurous than DH. But, we never limit Scott or Aimee on anything they want to do. If something arrives that DH isn't into, so to speak, I just eat it. Works out fine.

P.S. We love the wine pairings and think they are often inspired.

 

[Gobbles!]

Does anyone know what happens on Wednesdays or Fridays? Who are those days reserved for?

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

We ate there on our honeymoon. It was the experience of a lifetime. I don't think there are any tricks to getting a ressie. Just be the first one to request it 180 days out. To be safe, try to get it for the first day of your trip. That way if you don't get it, you can try for all the other nights of your trip and it will increase your chances of getting it.