If you are unsure whether or not a person will be able to make it, book a table including them anyways. It’s easier to have an empty seat rather than trying to add a chair to a table in a crowded restaurant.
You should always have a backup date and time in case there is no availability at the original time you chose.
When calling say, “Hi, I’d like to place a reservation for this coming Saturday at 5. " The host will then likely ask how many people are in your party and tell you if that time and date is available. If it’s not available, try asking “Is there a table available for an earlier/later time?” If the answer is still no, ask if they can give you their earliest availability and go from there.
Many of these online booking sites also offer coupons or have membership rewards programs through which you can accumulate perks. If you can’t cancel online, you may have to call the restaurant directly.
