But this also has direct consequences for the guest: restaurants close. Or have to calculate more tightly than would actually be necessary to price in this risk. And most importantly, potential guests are denied the table they would have liked to book because it was reserved by another group that then fails to show up.In the meantime, there has been some movement on this issue. First restaurants in Germany start offering tickets. So the guest books his seat, just like a concert or theater ticket. And paid in advance. The pioneer in Germany was Ernst, which launched a year ago with the US provider Tock. And as of today, there is a second restaurant that offers its tickets exclusively as a prepaid model: The 100/200 in Hamburg.
And the team around Thomas Imbusch, Jan-Phillip Fricke and Sophie Lehmann is taking another bold step forward: ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week. During primetime, i.e. Thursdays to Saturdays, the regular menu price (119€) applies. Days that are traditionally a little quieter in gastronomy, in this case Tuesday and Wednesday, are a little cheaper (95€). This is intended to ensure even capacity utilization and predictability throughout the week, while at the same time offering an affordable alternative to guests who cannot afford the regular ticket price. The content and scope of the menu are of course identical on all days.
This is a good and a courageous step. I am not completely unbiased, because we have been advising and supporting Thomas Imbusch with the Agentsgroup since the first steps in this direction. Together we discussed the concept for a long time and finally identified it as the most sensible and fairest interaction between guest and restaurateur and have now implemented it accordingly. And of course I’m pleased that I wasn’t so wrong with my forecast from 2014. Even if it sometimes takes a little longer here in Germany…So, as of today, tickets can be booked for the first period between August and December 2018. And then, from 14.08. the doors of probably the most exciting new restaurant concept in Hamburg finally open. And beyond.
100/200 Kitchen
Brandshofer dike 68
20539 Hamburg
