Six restaurant reservation apps you need to download now

Missing out on a table at the hottest place in town can leave a bitter taste, especially when you’ve crossed borders to be there. London foodie Chris Fynes reveals the apps to help lock down lunch spots and do away with dinner queues in the world’s culinary capitals

Velocity

Hunting for last-minute bookings is difficult at the best of times, not least when you’re looking in the city’s most desirable venues. Whether you’re in London, New York, Miami or LA, Velocity (iOS and Android, free) provides only the available booking times at top restaurants based on your location, cuisine, group size or occasion. So weighing up whether to queue at London’s massively popular Gunpowder (pictured) is no longer necessary.

Fudo

New on the restaurant scene is Fudo (iOS, free), a booking app for the world’s romance capital, Paris – and soon to be heading across the Channel to London. It focuses on last-minute bookings for the best spots, giving users just 30 minutes to head for their table after booking via the app. Oysters and Champagne for €19 at The Fish Club? No problem.

Resy

A fixture on the Stateside dining scene, Resy (iOS and Android, free) puts impossible reservations just two taps away. It works with restaurants to reserve desirable table times, which the user can buy for a small fee. Suddenly “Balthazar (pictured) at 8pm tonight?” isn’t such a stupid question.

Table8

Table8 (iOS and Android, free) helps diners gain access to sold-out tables across major cities in the USA. It partners with restaurants to provide exclusive bookings for tables at peak or sold-out times, up to a month in advance, and its Dining Club can provide further access to one-off culinary experiences.

Reserve

Reserve (iOS and Android, free) is for diners who enjoy VIP treatment. It will show only curated lists of desirable restaurants – think New York’s Dirty French or Margo’s in LA – and there are no fees for booking a table. Hosts can recognise you from your profile picture and greet you by name, plus you can settle the bill within the app.

Tock

Tock is a web-based app that works on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s geared towards the premium end of the spectrum, hosting one-of-a-kind experiences such as a cocktail tasting and food pairing at Chicago’s The Aviary, as well as offering standard reservations. There is no fee to book a table, just a deposit to hold the booking.

Chris Fynes