OpenTable
by OpenTable, Inc. · Lifestyle · Food & Dining
The leading restaurant reservation platform with verified diner reviews and a loyalty points program.
Quick Answer: OpenTable has a verified Real Score of 4.1/5 based on 45,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.8/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 45,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: OpenTable's App Store rating is 0.7 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Verified diner-only reviews
- Easy reservation management
- Points program for dining credits
- Wide restaurant availability
Common Complaints
- Points program was devalued
- Not all restaurants participate
- Peak time availability limited
- Cancellation fees on some bookings
Verified Reviews (20)
Verified reviews are trustworthy
Only people who actually dined at the restaurant can leave reviews. No fake reviews from competitors or random internet trolls. The verified review model is what Yelp should be.
Reservation process is seamless
Pick restaurant, choose time, confirm. Reservation made in 30 seconds. Modification and cancellation are just as easy. The core booking experience is perfectly frictionless.
Points devaluation was disappointing
They dramatically reduced the value of dining points. What used to be a meaningful reward for regular dining is now pennies. The loyalty program gutting was a betrayal of regular users.
Special occasion dining made easy
Finding restaurants for anniversaries, birthdays, and celebrations with special menus and experiences. The occasion-based search helps plan memorable dining experiences.
Last-minute reservations feature
Finding available tables at good restaurants with short notice is OpenTable's unsung strength. When dinner plans come together last minute, real-time availability is invaluable.
Not all restaurants are on OpenTable
Many excellent local restaurants don't use OpenTable because of the per-cover fees. The platform skews toward mid-range and upscale establishments. Missing casual favorites.
Review breakdown by category
Separate ratings for food, service, ambiance, and value give a nuanced view. A restaurant can have great food but poor service. Category breakdowns capture those differences.
Dining history tracks everywhere you've eaten
A complete log of every restaurant reservation with dates, ratings, and notes. Looking back at your dining history is both practical for recommendations and nostalgic.
Group dining features help coordination
Sharing reservation details with the group, collecting dietary preferences, and splitting the invitation. The group dining features simplify organizing meals with multiple people.
Peak times are always fully booked
Friday and Saturday dinner reservations at popular restaurants are nearly impossible through OpenTable. You need to book weeks in advance for prime slots. Availability is the bottleneck.
Apple Pay checkout for dining
Paying the bill through OpenTable at participating restaurants means no waiting for the check. Finish your meal and walk out with payment handled digitally. The future of dining.
Photo-tagged reviews show real dishes
Reviews with photos of actual dishes ordered help you decide what to order before arriving. Seeing the real portion sizes and presentation is more useful than menu descriptions.
Cancellation fees at some restaurants
Some high-end restaurants charge cancellation fees for no-shows or late cancellations. While understandable for the restaurant, the fees aren't always clearly communicated upfront.
Experience reservations are unique
Booking special dining experiences - tasting menus, chef's tables, wine pairings - directly through OpenTable. The experience reservations go beyond basic table booking.
Used it in 5 countries seamlessly
OpenTable works internationally with the same account. Made reservations in London, Tokyo, Paris, Sydney, and New York from one app. The global coverage is excellent for travelers.
Widget shows upcoming reservations
The home screen widget showing your next reservation with time and confirmation details is handy. Quick glance at your upcoming dinner plans without opening the app.
Dietary filter saves time
Filtering restaurants by dietary needs - vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher. Finding accommodating restaurants without calling each one individually is a significant time saver.
Noise level indicator is useful
Knowing whether a restaurant is quiet or loud helps choose the right spot for the occasion. Date night needs quiet, group celebration can handle loud. The noise data helps match venue to mood.
Integrates with Google Calendar
Reservations automatically appear in my Google Calendar with all the details. No manual entry needed. Calendar integration means one less thing to remember.
Still the best reservation app
OpenTable set the standard for restaurant reservations and maintains it. The core experience of finding, booking, and reviewing restaurants is polished and reliable. The benchmark.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026