Many places in Paris do that now with virtual waiting line (show up, get a number and an ETA, get bipped when it's about to be your turn...). Nice when in a walkable nice neighborhood.

Happens a lot in upstate ny too, been to a few places like this. For what it's worth.

One downside is that means you basically can't go to that restaurant pre-theater or pre- some other fixed time event. Though you're eating earlier if you're doing that anyway.

Sure, that's how it works, and reservation is the solution to it, not the other way around.

They are talking about putting something like ticketmaster in the middle of this. That is scalper city. Oh then a band aid to make it work right. Then another then another. Most restaurants run on a thin margin. All of those band aids will cost money. Something the 'ticketmaster' system is not going to eat.

Depends. For me, being in home is much better option than standing in a queue with unknown waiting time just to get the previlige of eating in a restaurant. Most people go to resturant not as neccessity but a optional visit to spend good time. And this solution takes away good time.

I agree for places like doctors visit though. Everyone should stand in queue rather than a limited reservation.

>I agree for places like doctors visit though. Everyone should stand in queue rather than a limited reservation.

What if my work schedule isn't flexible? Having a queue and no option for an appointment time means that I'll essentially never be able to guarantee a doctor's visit. I'll just have to schedule time off and pray that the line isn't too long.

That might work for a more casual kind of restaurant, where you would just go somewhere else if you can't afford to wait in line. It doesn't work for the more upscale restaurants, some of which are reservation only.