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Why do some of the busiest brunch spots in town take reservations, while others won’t recognize them? “It’s the number-one question we get,” says Live Organic ‘s (see listing, page 101) Jennifer Italiano , whose answer is, “No, we don’t.”
“It’s too much of a hassle. Someone wants to book a table for 17, and then half of them don’t show up. Or if they eventually do, it’s halfway through the meal. Meanwhile, I’ve got angry regulars waiting in line looking at empty tables.”
Monica Miller of chic Saving Grace (see listing,this page ) doesn’t take reservations either.
“A large group is never going to get the kind of attention a smaller table gets,” says Miller. “And there’s no way our tiny kitchen can deliver that many meals all at the same time.”
For brunch newbies, here are the rules:
Never go out in a group larger than eight, and always show up together even if you have reservations. Otherwise, be prepared for the scorn of those standing in the queue.
Show up early if you can’t stand a lineup. There’s a reason early birds get worms. Benedict, of course.