Before you can choose whether to subscribe to Resy or Sevenrooms or any other restaurant table management system, you need to identify a few things. 

These are your needs, how much you can pay, available features, booking channels, and various restaurant integrations, including point-of-sale (POS) systems and others.

1. Identify your restaurant’s core needs 

Before diving into features and pricing, take a step back and ask:

Are restaurant no-shows a big issue? Do you need to manage waitlists? Are special events a priority? Consider your restaurant's size, style, and customer base. Knowing your core needs will guide your search.

2. Review pricing 

While pricing is a critical factor in deciding which reservation system you’ll use, look beyond just the monthly fee. Review pricing plans and understand the total cost, including setup fees and any hidden charges. 

It’s important to know whether the reservation system offers commission-free bookings. Some platforms charge a percentage for reservations made through their channels, which can quickly add up and eat into your revenues. 

Compare the overall transactional costs, not just the base subscription.

3. Review features against your needs 

Once you've identified your core needs, it’s time to evaluate each system's features. Don't get swayed by a long list of impressive-sounding functionalities if they don't align with what you really need.

For example, if no-shows are a major pain point, look for features like automated confirmation reminders, reservation deposits, credit card holds, or pre-payment options. 

If managing waitlists during peak seasons and hours is critical, assess the system's waitlist management capabilities, including guest notifications and predicted wait times. 

Other essential features to consider include:

• Table management: Powerful table and seating management are essential features in a restaurant reservation management system. Look for intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, easy-to-merge table features for large groups, optimized seating, and other restaurant floor planning features. 

• Guest profiles and CRM: This includes the ability to create detailed guest profiles with personal information, seating and dietary preferences, allergens, among others. Your restaurant CRM can also help you with guest segmentation for your marketing campaigns. For example, you can review past visit history, and attendance for special events like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.

• Reporting and analytics: Leading reservation systems today offer insights into booking trends, source of bookings, peak hours, no-show rates, and guest demographics.

• Marketing tools: Some reservation systems offer restaurant marketing automation features like email, SMS marketing, or even loyalty programs to promote your restaurant and special dining events.

• Multi-location support: Look for a solution that makes it easy to manage multiple restaurant venues or locations. This is particularly helpful if you plan to expand your business in the future or if you currently operate several venues.

4. Explore available booking channels 

Another important factor to consider is booking channels. Consider how your customers make reservations and how you want them to. 

A robust reservation system should offer multiple booking channels to maximize your reach and convenience for guests. Booking channels often include:

• Your restaurant's website: The reservation system should offer a customizable widget or integration, allowing guests to book directly from your restaurant website. This is often the most cost-effective channel as you avoid third-party commissions.

• Social media platforms: The system should allow guests to make direct bookings through platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It should allow you to add a ‘book now’ button across social platforms. 

• Third-party aggregators: Consider systems that integrate with discovery platforms like Zomato, Tripadvisor, or Google Reserve. Understand the commission structure associated with these channels. 

• In-house/phone bookings: Advanced reservation systems offer phone integrations and features that simplify taking and managing phone reservations. 

5. POS integrations and support 

All restaurant reservation solutions integrate with restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems. However, not all have a wide array of POS integrations. Make sure the reservation and seating management system you choose integrates with your POS system for faster, easier processing, and better reporting features.