Adding a party to the waitlist
What this covers
Putting a party in the queue. Needs permission to create bookings — Owner, Manager or Host.
Adding an entry
Go to Waitlist and choose Add to Waitlist.
1. The guest
Search by name, email or phone. Existing guests appear with their history, so you can see at once whether the person in front of you is a regular.
If they are new, choose Create new guest. You need at least a first name and a phone number — the phone matters because it is how you will tell them their table is ready.
The phone number must be in full international format, starting with + and the country code — for example +35799123456. A local-style number without the country code will be refused, because a text message needs to know which country to go to.
2. Pax
How many people. This is what decides which tables can take them.
3. Date and time
The time they are waiting for. For a party standing at the door, that is now or very shortly. For someone who rang hoping for a cancellation on Saturday, put Saturday and the time they want.
Do not skip this or fudge it. It is what lets Tabledoo find them a table that genuinely fits, and it decides the wording of the message they get — see Telling a guest their table is ready.
4. Duration
How long you expect them to need. Start from your usual booking length and adjust — a large party or a set menu needs longer.
5. Notes
Anything useful: "waiting at the bar", "will take the terrace", "leaving for a show at 21:00". The next person on shift will thank you.
While they wait
- Edit the entry if things change — the party grows, or they say they can only wait another 15 minutes.
- Tell them when something opens up — Telling a guest their table is ready.
- Seat them in one step when a table frees — Quick Seat.
- Close the entry if it comes to nothing: No Show if they have gone, Cancel if they withdrew or you could not fit them.
Good to know
- Be honest about the wait. Tabledoo tracks how long each party has been waiting, but the expectation you set at the door is what they will remember.
- Close entries at the end of service. A queue full of last night's names is a queue nobody trusts.
- Adding to the waitlist does not hold a table. Nothing is reserved until you actually seat them, which is the point — the waitlist is for when you have nothing to hold.