Restaurant and cafe reservation and hours messages

Reply wording for reservations, opening hours, group bookings and last-minute changes at restaurants and cafes.

Lapa Lapa Lapa Lapa Lapa Lapa Lapa Tšhireletšo ya Mofokeng le Mofokeng ya Mofokeng le Mofokeng ya Mofokeng le Mofokeng ya Mofokeng.

Restaurants and cafes receive the same questions every day through messages, mail and booking forms: are you open, can you seat six, can I change the time. Fast, friendly answers win bookings. Here are templates for the situations that come up most.

Reservation confirmation

Confirm date, time, party size and name, and state how long you hold the table. A held-table time reduces no-shows without sounding strict.

Hello [Name],

Your reservation is confirmed:
Date: [Date]
Time: [Time]
Party size: [Number]

We will hold your table for [15] minutes after the reserved time. If your plans change, please let us know at 000-0000-0000.

We look forward to welcoming you at [Restaurant name].

Opening hours

Write the hours once and reuse them. Include the kitchen closing time, because many guests assume the kitchen runs until closing.

Opening hours at [Name]:
Tuesday to Sunday: [11:00 - 22:00] (kitchen closes at [21:00])
Monday: closed

Holiday hours may differ. Please check our website or call us at 000-0000-0000.

Group bookings

Large groups need more information from you, and you need more from them. Ask for the number of guests, arrival time and any special requirements in one message, so you do not go back and forth.

Hello [Name],

Thank you for your inquiry about a group booking. To prepare, we need:
- Number of guests
- Date and arrival time
- Menu preferences or dietary requirements
- Contact phone number

For groups of [8] or more we recommend [a set menu / a pre-order] and ask for [a deposit / confirmation] by [Date]. Our team will reply with the details.

[Restaurant name]

Changes and cancellations

Hello [Name],

Thank you for letting us know. We have changed your reservation to [new date / time / party size]. If you need to adjust it again, please contact us as early as possible.

See you soon.
[Restaurant name]

Hello [Name],

Thank you for your request. Unfortunately we are fully booked on [Date] at [Time]. We do have availability at [alternative times]. Would one of these work? We would be glad to welcome you.

[Restaurant name]

What it saves

A small restaurant might answer 25 booking messages a day. If 18 are covered by these templates and each saves 30 seconds, that is 9 minutes a day, which is meaningful when the person answering is also working the floor. Fast replies also matter because guests who write to several restaurants usually book the first one that answers.

Cautions

• Do not promise allergy-safe food in a snippet. Allergy questions deserve a personal answer from someone who can check the kitchen.
• Do not store guest phone numbers or names in the snippet text; use placeholders.
• Check that the hours and deposit rules in the snippets match your current practice.

Practical tip: put a seasonal tag on your hours snippet, for example /hours-summer and /hours-winter, and switch rather than editing the same text twice a year.