The Front Desk
Notes from the front desk.
What actually happens on a business phone line, and what to do about it. Written by the people who run one, for restaurants and property teams.
Comparison
AI Front Desk vs an Answering Service for Restaurants
An answering service takes a message. An AI front desk takes the booking. Compared honestly, including when the answering service is the better buy.
The numbers
What a Missed Call Actually Costs a Restaurant
A missed call is not a delayed booking, it is a booking that went somewhere else. Here is the arithmetic, and why it never shows up in your reports.
Operations
How to Reduce Restaurant No-Shows Without Annoying Everyone Else
Deposits work, and they cost you bookings. A ranked look at what actually reduces no-shows, from free changes to card holds, and when each is worth it.
Industry
Quandoo Is Closing: What UK Restaurants Should Do Before 30 September
Quandoo stops handling bookings on 30 September 2026. The dates, getting your guest data out, the replacements compared, and what it does to your phone.
Local
Quandoo Is Closing: What It Means for Restaurants in Swansea and South Wales
The national advice assumes you have an ops team. Most of the dining room in South Wales does not. A realistic plan for owner-run venues before September.