Did you know that over 40% of diners now book online before visiting a restaurant, and most discover you through third-party reservation channels?
In the competitive dining scene, relying solely on walk-ins or word-of-mouth isn’t enough.
Your future guests are searching for their next meal on Google, scrolling through Instagram, checking reviews on Tripadvisor, or browsing platforms like Zomato.
If your restaurant isn’t present and bookable on top restaurant reservation channels in your area, you’re likely losing out on high-intent diners.
The right mix of reservation platforms can help you:
Fill more tables during peak and off-peak hours
Attract new guests who rely on booking platforms
Reduce empty seats without relying on costly promotions
Build lasting guest relationships through integrated CRM and marketing tools
In this guide, we’ll walk through the top restaurant reservation channels, from global giants like Reserve with Google to niche local platforms in the Middle East. We’ll show you how to use each one to maximize your visibility, drive more commission-free bookings, and keep your tables full.
What are top restaurant reservation channels?
Reservation channels may differ based on country or location.
However, some channels are considered global, like Reserve with Google, Google Maps & Google Business Profile, Instagram and Facebook, and Tripadvisor.
Your restaurant website and reservation widget are also booking options.
In this article, we’ll also cover some regional or country-specific reservation channels.
Using a mix of global, regional, and commission-free platforms ensures maximum visibility and more bookings without high fees.
Top restaurant reservation channels
Let’s look at the top opportunities for collecting online restaurant bookings.
Reserve with Google
One of the most important restaurant booking platforms is Reserve with Google. Research showed “an astounding 72% of diners” who booked a table via Google were first-time visitors.
To get on Reserve with Google, you need a Gmail account and a restaurant reservation management system, like Servme.
Pros:
Commission-free bookings: Restaurants don’t pay a per-booking fee.
High visibility across Google platforms: Diners can book directly from Google Search, Maps, or Assistant.
Seamless guest experience: Real-time availability, two-click booking process, and integration with calendar reminders.
Cons:
Limited global availability: Reserve with Google is available in select countries.
Advance booking capped: Maximum booking window is around 30 days, as set by Google or partner systems.
Feature limitations: Some advanced features like promotions, loyalty codes, and custom fields aren't supported.
Availability:
Supported across 50+ countries, including: the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, and more. Check the full list here.
Best for:
Restaurants looking to capture high-intent, commission-free bookings.
Increasing visibility in high-traffic search channels (Search, Maps, Assistant).
Simplifying booking flow and enhancing guest convenience with minimal friction.
Usable with local SEO
Further reading: For Restaurants: How to Add the Reserve Button on Google
Google Business Profile & Google Maps
Guests can make bookings via a restaurant’s Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly Google My Business.
GBP relies on Google Maps, allowing diners to find you, review contact information, and make online bookings.
It’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to build brand awareness and increase restaurant foot traffic.
Pros:
Commission-free bookings: Restaurants don’t pay booking fees.
High visibility: Guests using Google can easily view your restaurant’s Google Business profile, make a booking, and review images and menus.
Supports multiple locations: If you manage multiple restaurant locations, guests will see the one closest to them first.
Supports local SEO: Restaurants with a GBP profile are visible for ‘restaurants near me’ and similar searches.
Cons:
Requires regular updates: Not having regular updates can result in lost bookings, guests unable to arrive at their destination, and ultimately negative reviews.
Feature limitations: Some advanced features like promotions, loyalty codes, and custom fields aren't supported.
Availability:
Available in all countries.
Converting local online traffic into diners through high visibility and easy access.
Best for:
Restaurants aiming for visibility and brand awareness.
Social media platforms: Instagram
Instagram remains one of the most popular social media channels for restaurants.
However, many restaurants aren’t aware that social platforms, especially Facebook and Instagram offer commission-free restaurant reservations.
Pros:
Supports a “Reserve” button on business profiles, facilitating bookings directly from social media feeds.
Cons:
Requires integration with approved booking partners like Servme.
Availability:
Global for business accounts connected to supported systems.
Best for:
Restaurants that use Instagram as a main channel for restaurant marketing
Leveraging visual appeal and engagement to drive reservations.
Further reading: For Restaurants: How to Add the Reserve Button on Instagram
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor is a global and widely popular restaurant reservation channel. Available in many countries, Tripadvisor isn’t just for finding tickets to events or entertainment options.
Local guests and travelers in search of a new dining experience can easily find you and book a table via Tripadvisor.
If you’re using reservation management software, like Servme, you can easily integrate with Tripadvisor and other booking channels on this list.
It’s easier and faster to list on. However, unlike Instagram and Google, Tripadvisor is a commission-based reservation platform.
Pros:
Global visibility in 49 countries, including the US, UAE, and others.
Cons:
Requires a commission fee per booking. Paid by the restaurant.
Best for:
Restaurants looking to reach global audiences, tourists, curious explorers. and tourists.
Zomato
Available in over 24 countries and 3,000+ cities, Zomato is a popular discovery and restaurant review platform in India, the UAE, the US, among other countries.
Pros:
Zomato has expansion plans and keeps adding new countries to its network.
Two-way interface, one for restaurants and another for diners, offering subscription plans and benefits for each.
Zomato provides an interface for restaurants to manage reservations, including confirmed, canceled, or rejected requests.
Cons:
The platform's top users are in the 18-to-35-age range.
Availability:
Wide range availability in 20+ countries and over 3000 cities.
The Michelin Guide
The renowned culinary authority on fine-dining also offers restaurant bookings in several countries, including the UAE and the US.
The renowned culinary authority on fine-dining also offers restaurant bookings in several countries, including the UAE and the US.
Pros:
Allows direct reservations through its website and app.
Offers direct integration with reservation platforms like Servme for managing reservations.
Availability:
Available in several countries, including the UAE and the US.
AfternoonTea (UK)
This UK-focused platform helps diners find and make reservations at popular afternoon tea and restaurant locations in the UK and Ireland.
Pros:
Has a network of 800+ venues
Features special offers and menus for guests
Lets restaurants collect reservation deposits
Cons:
Available in the UK and Ireland only
The Chefz
Restaurants using Servme in Saudi Arabia can easily integrate with The Chefz to track and enable bookings from their Servme dashboard.
Pros:
Offers reservations and food delivery options.
Provides a platform for restaurants to manage daily operations, including real-time order and reservation management.
Easy integration with Servme for restaurants in Saudi Arabia to track and enable bookings.
Cons:
Only available in Saudi Arabia.
Webook.com
Saudi Arabia’s leading booking platform for entertainment and sports events also offers restaurant bookings.
Despite a focus on Riyadh, webook helps restaurants across the kingdom gain visibility.
Pros:
Helps restaurants across Saudi Arabia gain visibility.
Promoted by the kingdom’s General Authority for Entertainment (GEA)
Cons:
Only available in Saudi Arabia (especially Riyadh)
Your restaurant website
Another important channel for getting online bookings is your restaurant website.
Pros:
Commission-free channel for bookings.
Allows collection of reservation deposits and guest data.
Helps create personalized dining experiences.
Can be used to offer special offers and freebies for guests who book via the website.
Cons:
Requires ongoing website maintenance.
Requires a secure way to collect deposits.
Requires SEO to enhance visibility.
Might be costly for small restaurants
Your restaurant’s reservation widget
Last but not least is your restaurant’s reservation widget, which you can share anywhere and use to collect online reservations.
Pros:
Commission-free bookings.
Can be shared anywhere (email, SMS, WhatsApp, etc.).
Helps collect guest information and build your restaurant CRM.
Can be used to manage bookings for special dining events.
Supports creating personalized and memorable dining experiences.
Best for:
Collecting online reservations directly.
Building a restaurant CRM and launching marketing campaigns.
Managing bookings for special events.
Further reading: 10+ Restaurant Email Marketing Campaign Ideas for Better Sales & Retention
Additional tips to maximize online reservations
Before you decide which channels you should be on, here are a few last-minute tips to help you decide.
These tips will also help you track the impact of your efforts and uncover your best partnerships and options.
Use a reservation system (like Servme)
Using an all-in-one reservation system like Servme ensures faster, more efficient management.
Servme helps different types of dining concepts collect and manage reservations, via online channels, via phone integrations, and offline. All from a single dashboard.
In addition, you can generate various restaurant reports to understand guest behavior and enhance your operations.
Servme acts as your restaurant management system, integrating with booking channels, restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems, among others.
Restaurants using Servme can integrate with all the above restaurant reservation channels. They can also use waitlist management and restaurant marketing features like WhatsApp Business for restaurants, email, and SMS marketing.
Servme transforms restaurant front-of-house (FOH) management, streamlining daily operations, reservations, and customer interactions.
Further reading: How to Use Personalized WhatsApp Messages for Your Restaurant
Track source of bookings
Choosing which channels to be on is only the first step. Next, you need to track which of these channels is providing you with the largest number of bookings.
You can do this by using the ‘track source of bookings report’ in Servme.
It will show you how many reservations were made via each channel in the time frame of your choice.
By knowing if a reservation came from your website, a social media link, or a third-party platform, you can measure the return on investment for each channel.
This data helps you identify your most valuable partnerships and allocate your marketing resources more effectively.
Identify top opportunities
By tracking your top booking sources, you can identify the best opportunities for growth. Analyze which channels are generating the highest volume of reservations, repeat business, and most profitable customers.
This will help you double down on your most successful partnerships, optimize your presence on those platforms, and focus your efforts on succeeding on those channels.
Consider commission-free options
When exploring restaurant booking platforms, consider commission-free options first. These ensure you don’t pay a fee for every booking made, especially if guests don’t show up.
Many platforms, including your website and reservation widget, allow you to take bookings without paying a fee.
Prioritizing these channels can significantly reduce costs and increase profitability.
While paid channels can be effective for visibility, a smart strategy involves a balanced mix that maximizes both reservations and profit margins.
Ready to see how Servme’s restaurant reservation management system can help you integrate with all the above channels and manage online bookings?
Nada Sobhi
Marketing
