How to beat the queues

Agnieszka Josko is food and beverage manager at Shaun Rankin’s Ormer in Mayfair.

Early bookings are, by definition, easier to get across all the top restaurants, especially on the weekends when the most popular time for lunch is 1.30pm and dinner between 7.30pm and 8.30pm, so avoid them and you’ll do well.

To beat the queues, communication is the key to success. I would recommend calling the restaurant directly and we will do our very best to accommodate your needs and any special requests.

If you want a table to suit you, what are your needs? For us, it’s so helpful if, when you make a reservation, you explain what your occasion is. If you’re coming on a business lunch, we won’t put you in the centre of the restaurant near to a birthday party.

We have a lot of guests who don’t tell us it’s their birthday, but we’ll spot small signs, such as cards on their tables, conversation. We like to surprise them, even if they don’t tell us. We also need to be able to read if some guests just want to keep a low profile and not do that. For the best experience, flag up any issues immediately. ‘Make sure you communicate with us right away, never later. It’s also about speaking calmly, with reserve and respect – there is always a solution. The cheekiest customers are those who don’t say anything all through eating, leave, and then email later to complain. This way, we didn’t have a chance to change their experience.’ flemings-mayfair.co.uk

We like to surprise guests