How restaurant reservations, deposits and cancellation fees work in the US

Most US restaurants that take reservations do it online, through their own website or a booking platform, or by phone. Popular places often ask for a card when you book: some just hold it and charge a fee only if you do not show up or cancel late, some take a deposit that comes off your final check, and some sell prepaid tickets for a set menu. Always read the cancellation policy before you confirm.

How do you book a table at a US restaurant?

Start with the restaurant's own website, which usually links to the booking system it uses. Booking platforms and apps let you search by time and party size, and many restaurants also take calls. Smaller and more casual places may not take bookings at all and seat people as they arrive. If a place is walk-in only, arriving at opening time or early in the evening is the best way to get a table without a long wait.

When should you book a popular restaurant?

It varies a lot. Neighborhood restaurants often have tables the same day or the same week. The hardest places to book release tables on a fixed schedule, often a set number of days ahead at a set time, and they can be gone within minutes. Check the restaurant's site for when it releases reservations, and be ready at that time. Many restaurants also keep a waitlist, and some hold bar seats or a few tables for walk-ins.

What is a credit card hold on a reservation?

A card hold, sometimes called a card guarantee, means the restaurant collects your card details when you book but does not charge anything. The card is stored by the payment processor. If you show up, or cancel inside the free cancellation window, nothing is charged. If you do not show up, or cancel too late, the restaurant can charge a no-show or late cancellation fee, often set per person. The amount and the window are set by each restaurant, so read them on the booking page.

How is a deposit different from a card hold?

A deposit is charged when you book. When you arrive, it is usually deducted from your final check. If you cancel within the restaurant's window, you typically get it back. If you do not show up, the restaurant keeps it. Deposits are more common for large groups, busy dates such as holidays, and special menus. Restaurants use them because no-shows cost them a table that could have been sold to someone else.

What are prepaid reservations or tickets?

Some restaurants, especially those serving a fixed tasting menu, sell reservations like event tickets. You pay for the meal in full, sometimes including tax and a service charge, when you book. Prepaid tickets are often nonrefundable, though some restaurants let you transfer the booking to someone else or move the date. Read the terms closely before you buy, and check whether drinks and the tip are included.

How long is a typical cancellation window?

There is no standard. Many restaurants use 24 hours, some use 48 hours or more for large groups, and some popular places use a shorter window such as 12 hours. Special events and holiday dinners can have stricter terms. The window is shown when you book and usually in the confirmation message, so check it again if your plans change.

How do you avoid a no-show fee?

• Cancel as soon as you know you cannot make it, using the link in your confirmation.
• If your group shrinks, update the party size before the cutoff.
• If you are running late, call the restaurant. Many hold a table for about 15 minutes, but policies differ.
• Set a reminder for the cancellation deadline when you book.
• Do not book several restaurants for the same evening and decide later.

Is it rude to book and not show up?

Yes. A no-show leaves a table empty that another guest could have had, and on a busy night that is lost income the restaurant cannot recover. That is the main reason card holds and deposits have spread. Canceling early, even an hour before, gives the restaurant a chance to seat someone from its waitlist.

What if you cannot get a reservation?

Join the waitlist on the booking platform or the restaurant's own system, since tables open up as people cancel, often on the day itself. Try an earlier or later time, such as a 5:30 or a 9:30 dinner, or a weekday instead of a weekend. Sit at the bar, where many restaurants serve the full menu and seat walk-ins first. Calling on the day can work too, because some tables are never released online. And consider lunch, when popular restaurants are often easier to book.

What else should you mention when booking?

Use the notes field for allergies, a high chair, accessibility needs or a special occasion, and repeat anything important when you arrive. When a meal is worth remembering, Mosey lets you rate the place and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and keep a list of places you want to book next.

More guides to read next:

• How to split the check at a US restaurant
• US restaurant etiquette for visitors from Europe
• How restaurant health inspections and grades work in US cities

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.