Sit at the bar, but eat like you're at a table (and tip like it, too)
Not only is sitting at the bar the best tactic for getting into a place with an impossible reservation game, but it's also the best seat in the house once you're inside.
Make reservations (and keep them)
The reservations system is a restaurant's memory. It's where more information than you care to think about is stored, including how many times you've come in and if you've ever been a dick to anyone. Before you walk in the door, a reservation is the first flag to staff that you're not going to be just just some rube off the street.
Never order the truffle supplement
This is a serious mook move, one that telegraphs for all the world to see that you’re more interested in status symbols than taste. A truffle add-on is the food equivalent of a giant Gucci logo belt—tragically outdated, and not worth the price. We’re not trying to tell you that truffles aren’t delicious—we’re sane people, after all.
Twitter is your friend. Yelp isn't
The number of people who roll up to a restaurant and expect to be treated like the second coming of the New York Times because they're Elite Yelpers is shocking. You know where people care about your elite status? On Yelp. That's it. Out here in reality, it means about as much as your membership in the Blimpie Sub Club—nothing at all.
Don't stress the small stuff
This might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to have a great restaurant experience is to put up with a shitty experience.
Remember names
We hope, for your sake, that you’re not eating at the sort of place where the waiters crouch down at eye level and introduce themselves before taking your order. If you are, well, this step is easy for you—just remember what they tell you or check that awesome name tag. If not, make it a point to get your server’s name before the meal is over.
Know your place
If you go out to eat fairly regularly and you read insider guides like this one, it can start to feel like you know everything about how the restaurant business works. Don’t get it twisted, though—you don’t. Don’t try to throw down with kitchen lingo to your server, or commiserate about that unruly two-top in the corner.
2. Reserve a Perch
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3. Sleep With Spirit
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4. Become a Clubgoer
Club 33 and the 1901 Lounge are Disneyland’s most exclusive clubs (the former comes with a reported $25,000 initiation fee, plus $10,000 in annual dues). For less exclusivity, hotel guests who upgrade to Club Level (starting at $99) get breakfast in a private dining room, snacks throughout the day, and evening dessert.
How long do you have to stay at a hotel to qualify for a stipend?
Many properties in these programs require a minimum two-night stay to qualify and all reservations must be made through a preferred advisor.
Do hotel programs add up to savings?
Assuming you’re planning on paying full price for your hotel stay, these programs can add up to serious savings and special treatment. That’s well worth the extra minute or two it’ll take to book your stay.
Can you add extras to a reservation?
Luckily, there’s a workaround. Booking through specialty programs and the right travel agent can add all sorts of little extras to your reservation, no elite status required and, more importantly, with no extra charges.
