Dining etiquette
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Cook at home on Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve instead of dining out.
It avoids crowds and saves money compared to times of high demand.
one person who lived it
Book hard-to-reserve activities on Super Bowl Sunday to avoid crowds.
Fewer people are available for outings on this day, making it easier to secure spots.
one person who lived it
Go skiing or snowboarding on Super Bowl Sunday.
You get quick lift access with no crowding, lines, or traffic.
one person who lived it
Drive for Uber or deliver food via Uber Eats/DoorDash on Super Bowl Sunday.
Fewer drivers and people avoiding drunk driving lead to higher fares and demand.
one person who lived it
Visit a restaurant during slow periods to test its true quality; if service is poor when nearly empty, avoid returning.
One person stopped frequenting a restaurant because it took nearly 45 minutes for service when there were only three patrons present.
one person who lived it
Call ahead to book a restaurant on Super Bowl Sunday.
Many non-sports bars are empty because people watch the game at home, and some restaurants close for their own holiday parties.
one person who lived it
- Check if restaurants are open on Super Bowl Sunday, as some non-sports bars close early.1
Count children as part of the total party size when making a reservation.
Children occupy space and require seating; some parents mistakenly believe they can be squeezed in without being counted.
2 people, independently
Pretend to be booking the reservation for someone else, such as a boss or client, to potentially receive better seating and service.
Staff often provide nicer tables and waiters when they believe they are serving a VIP or important guest.
one person who lived it
Rotate the check presenter to a different orientation to signal readiness to pay.
Changing the position (e.g., laying flat if it was standing) alerts the server that the table is ready.
one person who lived it
- Place cash or credit cards visibly on the check presenter so the server can see them.1
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Accept that empty tables may be reserved and do not demand to sit at them.
Tables are held for specific parties regardless of whether they appear vacant.
one person who lived it
Go grocery shopping during the Super Bowl.
The store experience is often empty.
one person who lived it
Ask if a restaurant is setting up temporary seating before making a reservation for Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve.
Temporary setups can result in poor conditions, such as barren lofts with small card tables and dividers.
one person who lived it
Cancel large reservations promptly if plans change.
Failing to cancel forces staff to set aside tables and prepare meals that go unused, which ruins service efficiency.
one person who lived it
Clarify whether infants requiring high chairs are included in the party count when booking.
Restaurants need to know the exact number of seats required, as even non-eating babies occupy a seat.
one person who lived it
Confirm large group reservations well in advance to ensure the restaurant has set up properly.
one person who lived it
Celebrate anniversaries on off-days like ten days after Valentine's Day for better availability.
one person who lived it