One of the best things about group ski trips is the time you spend together and having group dinners is always a special moment for everyone. People have a chance to connect with each other, catch up on good stories from the day, and enjoy each other’s company.
On the other hand, the hardest part about arranging a group dinner is finding a restaurant that will accommodate your group size and match the preferences of everyone.
Here are my top tips for making group dinner reservations:
Early Dinner Reservations Win
Request a large group table – usually, this is only possible early in the evening or the final seating of the evening. Early reservations and late reservations allow for the kitchen to have more flexibility, so make sure to call ahead to mark this done.
Remember they have to set apart not just your table but also parking spots for all attendees. Also, make sure to request a special area or function room and book in advance. Check whether other groups are scheduled to use the restaurant during your reservation period and make sure to confirm your reservation at least one hour before everyone arrives.
Many times asking for a dinner reservation at 5:00 PM with a promise to be out by 6:00 PM will be much easier to book vs. a 8:30 PM reservation where you may linger around til 10:00 PM when the staff wants to go home.
Setting Expectations
Sharing some personal details with the host or hostess about your group will help them feel comfortable. (i.e. we are a group of older adults who eat very quickly and aren’t looking to “hang out”) Promise to be in and out very quickly. If there are any kids incoming, or people with disabilities, let the restaurant know in advance.
Menu
You know your group better than the waiter or waitress. To make their job easier, consider offering to order the same dish for your entire party. Some places offer a discount for this gesture. It also makes it easier for the kitchen to get all the meals out at the same time.
Important: If anyone in your group is lactose intolerant, or allergic to anything such as gluten, nuts, or shrimps, inform this too once you order.
Budget & Payment
Plan the cost with everyone and compare it with the prices in the restaurant. Nobody wants to feel obliged to pay for overpriced meals unnecessarily. Offer a single point of contact to handle one single payment as a group leader who collects payment for everybody to avoid the server from scrambling later on. Restaurants love when people offer up this as a solution.
Easier plans if hungry
You may also wan to offer to pre-order apps and entrees in advance so food is ready when you arrive – this will make sure that the restaurant has ample amount of time to turn the tables for the new guests. Nearly every kitchen will be extremely grateful for this gesture.
Arrival and leave time
Try to arrive all at once instead of arriving at different times which could overwhelm their attention and lead to confusion in the kitchen. Also, offer to be out by a certain time/hour to allow the restaurant to flip tables for new patrons. You can always head to the bar area to continue hanging out.
Location
If all else fails, find a restaurant, not near the busy resort area. Many times great restaurants are just 1-2 miles away and can be a hidden gem in your dinning experience. There is less foot traffic and therefore you can enjoy more time eating and connecting with friends and family.