Every restaurant sends the OpenTable/Resy default confirmation. Fewer send a real one, and it's the real one that shows the guest you know they're coming.
The anxieties guests actually have
- Where exactly is the entrance?
- What's the dress code?
- Is parking a nightmare?
- Do you have my anniversary on file?
- What if we're 15 minutes late?
If your confirmation answers those five things, the guest arrives calm and on time. Calm on-time guests spend more and write better reviews.
What most restaurants send
The platform default: date, time, party size, cancel link buried in the footer.
What the good ones send
- Warm one-line opening in the owner's voice
- Restated date, time, party size, occasion
- Address, transit and parking in one block
- Dress code (or "no dress code")
- Allergen confirmation ask
- One-touch confirm / modify / cancel
- Named signatory
The measurable effect
Restaurants that layer a real confirmation email (booking + 72h + 24h + 3h SMS) see no-show rates drop meaningfully, with no change to the deposit policy.
Draft one with the Guest Communication Kit or run the Review Response Generator for post-visit follow-ups.