Some Torontonians are upset that they can’t get a reservation at a downtown restaurant even after weeks of trying to find a table.
Italian restaurant Public Gardens opened near King and Portland streets last September and has become known for its vintage aesthetic, good reviews from local influencers, and a happy hour featuring great deals like $10 margaritas.
But many Torontonians online are upset over the restaurant’s long wait times and limited reservation system that makes it nearly impossible for customers to get a table.
A TikToker posted a video last Thursday revealing her frustration with not being able to get a reservation despite trying for two weeks.
“I feel like I’m losing my mind,” Emily Mallett said. “We literally set our alarm for 7:55 a.m. to be able to try and get a reservation for 14 days out.”
“I knew it was hard to get reservations in Toronto, but I never expected it to be like the f***ing Hunger Games,” she added.
Other users also chimed in on Mallett’s video, sharing her frustration over the restaurant’s complicated reservation system.
“Their resos never are available. I heard just going in person and waiting is better. So better to go with extra time in ur hands and give ur name,” a user commented.
“I tried calling them and emailing them, they came back to me and said they can’t accommodate and get us reservations. It’s absolutely a mess,” another user added.
Now Toronto spoke with Asher Jones, general manager of Public Gardens, who explained that the restaurant doesn’t have a call-in system and uses the popular platform Resy for online bookings instead.
The restaurant opens reservations on the platform for parties of two to eight people every two weeks at 8 a.m., but most of them are usually gone within a minute or even 30 seconds.
“I think what is causing a lot of people to really get frustrated is that…there’s up to 12 available reservations per shift for the two tops…So, only 12 reservations for two people in a shift starting at 5 p.m.,” Jones said. “This is why they book extremely quickly.”
The manager said that while he is happy with the success of the restaurant in the city, he never expected this much demand, and explained that the small venue where Public Gardens is located cannot accommodate so many people at a time.
“I think a lot of people haven’t been in the space and just don’t realize how small it is…We’re not a big dining room. We have a 90-person capacity inside, which includes the bar,” he said.
“We didn’t open with the intention of necessarily being this busy. Obviously, it’s great to be a success, and I can guarantee as many people that are frustrated about being given reservations, we also get people frustrated without being able to get walk-ins. So, it’s trying to do that delicate balance,” he said.
OTHER WAYS TO GET A TABLE
The reservation system also leaves room for some tables to be available for walk-ins, which Jones said is important for them, as they want to be an integral part of downtown’s dining scene.
“We still want to be a part of King Street and the energy of downtown Toronto. And not everyone in the King Street area plans their events, their nights, two weeks ahead,” he added.
Other users online were also suggesting that people try to walk into the restaurant instead, as they might get lucky and get a seat.
But another TikToker, who decided to just walk in, also shared a video saying that she had to wait outside for 15 minutes prior to its opening time to finally get a table.
“Tell me why Toronto is trying so hard to be New York,” she said.
@miriamsdelerium guys it was worth the wait, I’ve been convinced
♬ original sound – miriamsdelerium
In the comments, locals were divided between those complaining about the long wait times and others who suggested that Torontonians need to start embracing new things in the city.
“Omg I tried to go there and was told we could put our name on the list but we’d be 120th,” another user wrote.
“Toronto is just trying to incorporate new fun things for us to enjoy… it’s not complex. People in this city always complain my lord,” a different user chimed in.
Jones said that Public Gardens also receives dozens of people trying to walk in daily, lining up even before the restaurant opens, and suggested that on weekdays it might be easier to walk in.
“What happens is, every day, when we open at 5 p.m., we have a lineup of about 30 to 40 people outside the door right as soon as we open. And the first 20 to 30 people, depending on how many reservations we have that evening, usually get seats,” he told Now Toronto.
“It depends on the day, so Friday or Saturday walk-ins can get quite difficult just [because of] how busy we are.”
The manager said that he is doing his best to accommodate customers and usually encourages those who have repeatedly not been able to get in, want to book for larger parties or that want to visit the restaurant on a special occasion email him directly to get a table.
“While we are grateful to be as busy as we are, we definitely understand the frustration people are experiencing,” Jones said.
“Public Gardens was designed to be a warm and hospitable place, despite the difficulty to receive reservations and seating, we are happy with the response of what the guests who have dined with us experience,” he added.
According to the manager, the restaurant currently has no plans of reviewing their reservation system, suggesting that trying to move reservations to a phone line or make them available for over two weeks would only worsen the situation.
“If anything, [it would] make the problem worse, people will start booking up so far in advance that again, it will restrict its spontaneity,” he said. “The only reason we don’t operate with a phone line is just that it’s so high volume and people are calling from pretty much 8 a.m. all day, that there’s just no system [that makes] it productive or functional.”
Jones expects that warmer temperatures in the city will improve the problem, as the restaurant will be able to soon open its patio that has capacity for 60 people, leaving more room for walk-ins and limited reservations.
“We are really excited our patio is going to open soon, and hoping that the kind of balance out difficulty for walk-ins as well. I think we are only going to offer limited reservations on the patio and keep it open, really, for walk-ins.”
