Saturday nights

[chopjwu12]

Hello i just wanted to get sme feed back from our NJ diners on egullet. this is just a topic of interest to me so please dont take any offence or anything. My question is this. My restaurant is one of the best fine dining restaurants in the state there is no doubt about that. (to me at least ) But its funny sometimes how diners think. Say take this last friday for instance we were what i would call fairly slow. Weather was ok and all seemed well but people didn't want to come out and eat. now the next sday saturday jammed had a waitng list for some time slots and the weather was much worse. So i guess what i want to know is why will people go out to eat on a bad day like it was on saturday but not on a good day like friday or even during the week? Someone like me it doesn't really matter i will go out any day i have off. But if i can pry into the mind of diners maybe it will help me along in life. So please let me know what you think and why you go out or decide not to go out?

[glenn]

Regarding this past weekend, are you saying that the weather makes little difference in your reservations? You don't think what happened at Nicholas this past weekend was an aberration? I've always found that the weather puts a bigtime damper on reservations wherever I've worked. Btw, we went out to the very popular and typically booked Dining Room in Hoboken this past Saturday, and there were tables open at prime time. Personally, the weather plays no factor in my decision to go out. And YOU probably only get 1 lousy day off, so of course you're gonna go out on that day :)).

[Rosie]

When I was working two jobs Sat. night was always "date" night. By the time Friday came around I was too tired to go out. We went out during the week if we had to for work but did not make a habit of it. Also, we always ate out on Sunday also. Now that I am only working one part time job we enjoy going out during the week and actually prefer dining out midweek more that Sat. night. Sometimes we go out on Sundays and sometimes we don't. I cooked last night as we are going out on Tuesday night.

[tommy]

i just want to get home and stay home on friday. by the time i get home from work, it's often after 8 pm. there's little chance that i'll go out to eat at that point, especially at a "fine dining" establishment. saturdays, for me, offer a much more relaxing dining experience.

Edited February 24, 2003 by tommy (log)

[Rail Paul]

I suspect Restaurant Nicholas also enjoys its "destination" status, as people will travel there from homes 20 or more miles away. I'd be willing to bet your zip code analysis would show your Tu-Fr dinner crowd lives much closer than your Saturday crowd, but that's just a guess. RN would not be on my list of places to just drop by without a reservation, which is the downside of a destination place.

I've occasionally toyed with the idea of a "reverse 911" where a restaurant could call out to 100 registered diners with a "special deal for tonight" offer when things are really slow. There are services which could send 10 - 100 pre-programmed voice mails announcing $10 off the second entree or free dessert. The Woodbridge PO used a similar service the other day to notify people of the evacuation plans for the dock fire on Staten Island, and we've looked at them for notifying our employees of delayed work starts.

Edited February 25, 2003 by Rail Paul (log)

[kimwb1]

Hi Chop,

I think when you, and most of your social circle, are involved int he rest. biz, its easy to not understand the structure of a 9-5 , M-F work week. And when your market might be the kind of suburban couple with children that I suspect make up a large part of your customer base, that impacts it too.

Most work nights are either filled with business entertaining, or kid related stuff. I might be home throughout the day, becasue of my sales job and my current situation with young kids, but am rarely "home" for good until after 7pm..picking up one kid from the gym, at the mall with anothe, or perhaps picking up from fencing ( my 12 year olds new passion, don't ask! ), etc. Then, there is dinner to be made for the kids, and childcare to be set up. Plus, my husband is rarely home before 9pm, and on the night or two a week he is home, I like to cook and have a family meal. Fridays are the conclusion of that kind of hectic schedule, and while there is the freedom from business affairs or kid stuff (usually) on Fridays, like Tommy said its just chill out time. PLUS, Saturday mornings are filled with chores and kid stuff...soccer games, getting the dog bathed,yada yada...so being out the night before makes it rough to get it all done. In my experience, its even harder to get sitters on a Friday, casue they don't want to stay out late becaseu of their packed cheerleading, soccer, etc Saturday morning schedules.

So, all these things add up to Saturday night...and in the land of SUV's, a little bad weather is not going to stop you if the sitter is lined up, the outfit picked out, etc..I guess what I am tryiong to say is that Nicholas gets more people who PLAN the dinner and night out,( like a strategic army general sometimes!) as opposed to those who are spontaneous.

[lamb]

Although I live only 15 mins or so away from Restaurant Nicholas, I've only dined there on Saturday evenings (loved all 3 occasions!)

I am beat on Friday night. After commuting home from NYC for the fifth night in a row, I can't imagine doing fine dining. Take out pizza/italian and then collapse to get ready for the weekend! (taxi service for 2 kids in sports, food shopping, etc.). Maybe some who can't get a Saturday reservation would opt for the Friday. I would rather wait for my Saturday. But that's just me.

[chopjwu12]

Yeah i totally get everyones point. I know if i worked like you lamb or had children like you kim(fencing huh what the hell happened to baseball!!! ) i totally see your guys point. I wouldn't want to go out either. But what i was trying to say and i dont think i may have been clear on this is this. Last friday weather was great and for some reason we were slow, Saturday night shitty weather but we have a waiting list. Say im one of those people on the waiting listand there is a preety good chance that there is no way in hell im getting a 7 -8:30 reservation on saturday im going to come in on friday. Am i wrong for thinking that? Or am i correct?

[tommy]

friday is gone by the time saturday comes. but i think everyone's points still stand: many people don't want to go out for a fine dining experience in NJ on friday night.

[birder53]

or perhaps picking up from fencing ( my 12 year olds new passion, don't ask!

Fencing is a very passionate sport! (Four years spent on my college varsity team ) Glad to see your son is willing to try something completely different. It is a wonderful sport to participate in. I don't know if non-fencers can enjoy watching it or not, but I still get all wound up if given an opportunity to reminisce about my fencing days. En garde!

[tommy]

parry! riposte! (i fenced for a while when i was 12 too )

[Allura]

Oh, good, I'm glad I'm not the only fencer out there. I'm debating the merits of joining the SCA to learn "period" fencing, but the I'll never be able to go back to foil again.

I think one possibilty behind the weather/dining out thing is that the more icky the weather, the less I actually want to cook. If it's icky but not unsafe, I'm quite likely to look around to go out someplace.

[Rail Paul]

But, back to your original question.

I doubt many people would say "Hey, let's call RN and see if they can fit us in tonight..." Not that kind of place.

Even if they lived five minutes away, and Ozzie called Harriet from the train and said - "Honey, howbout we got to RN tonight? Pick me up at Red Bank station and we'll head over."

[awbrig]

My restaurant is one of the best fine dining restaurants in the state there is no doubt about that. (to me at least  )

Hey Chop,

Do you work @ the restaurant? Thanks...

[kimwb1]

But, back to your original question.

I doubt many people would say "Hey, let's call RN and see if they can fit us in tonight..." Not that kind of place.

Even if they lived five minutes away, and Ozzie called Harriet from the train and said - "Honey, howbout we got to  RN tonight? Pick me up at Red Bank station and we'll head over."

Right, this is what I meant. Paul said it better...but heh, the fencing digression was interesting..I don't know, I miss the good old cycle my older son was on..b-ball, baseball and f-ball, maybe a season of soccer or track...this kid, he's either acting in plays, or fencing or gymnastics...thinking outside the box, I say.

[chopjwu12]

My restaurant is one of the best fine dining restaurants in the state there is no doubt about that. (to me at least  )

Hey Chop,

Do you work @ the restaurant? Thanks...

yes i am the meat cook right now and am moving to the pastry department next week. Kim good for your son let him find what he likes and go for it. Id be more then proud of my children if they followed thier dreams even if it wasn't baseball which i hold so dear to my heart.

[Chefrat]

HAHA Pastry...What you think you can just switch sides like that...HAHA

Just bustin ur balls!

Busy Busy!

[chopjwu12]

i know what the hell am i thinking.

[bearstew]

There is a valid point to be made about super popular rest. and their ability to accomodate late reservations and walkin business. These day'st seems as though nearly everyone can accomodate people if they are able to understand the importance of fifteen minutes (7:45 instead of 7:30) and their responsibilty to be punctual to their res. time. Many times this allows the people before you to enjoy the last of their conversation in a leisurely manner and allow the waiters to reset the table, allowing you to get to your table in a timely manner. most people are willing to wait for a dentist appointment 20-30 minutes after their appointment time, not exactly a reservation that you look forward to maybe, but, few people will complain and/or never patronize this dentist again.

But , I digress, if you really like or want to try a place that you heard about, maybe you should try them on a weeknight, perhaps early on in the evening with the kids, most places I go to (not so many fancy destination est.) are ready, willing and able to accomodate a "family" dinner during the week, especially if you call and let them know that you may have picky younger (or older) diners with your party.

[Helena Robinson]

I doubt many people would say "Hey, let's call RN and see if they can fit us in tonight..." Not that kind of place.

Even if they lived five minutes away, and Ozzie called Harriet from the train and said - "Honey, howbout we got to  RN tonight? Pick me up at Red Bank station and we'll head over."

Well... If we still lived in Middletown - and had the jobs/$ - we probably would.

Actually, we used to do something like that with The Pear Tree in Rumson. These days (before becomning unemployed) we've often done so with Stage Left and (less often) Brothers Moon. Granted, most of the time, we've also asked for earlier slots, like before 7. And these are places within a half-hour drive for us.

[Rosie]

The Pear Tree in Rumson brings back memories of some very good innovative dinners.

[Kim WB]

The Pear Tree in Rumson brings back memories of some very good innovative dinners.

I used to travel from NYC, specifically from across the street from the River Cafe. to the Pear Tree. I mean, two minutes and spitting distance from the bridge to Manhatten, and we went to the PEar Tree.

[Rail Paul]

The Pear Tree in Rumson brings back memories of some very good innovative dinners.

I used to travel from NYC, specifically from across the street from the River Cafe. to the Pear Tree. I mean, two minutes and spitting distance from the bridge to Manhatten, and we went to the Pear Tree.

Pear Tree, Tarragon Tree, trees of our youth...

[bearstew]

Dear r.p., if you are referring to the Tarragon tree in chatham, you might as well go to either of Tom Collichio's rest. in the city, as he was the chef de cuisine for Dennis (whoops I lost another rest.) Foy.

[Rail Paul]

Dear r.p., if you are referring to the Tarragon tree in chatham, you might as well go to either of Tom Collichio's rest. in the city, as he was the chef de cuisine for Dennis (whoops I lost another rest.) Foy.

Thanks for reminding me of that. Totally forgot about Tom in that action, and it's an excellent point.

We're talking late 1970s and early 1980s here...