How-to · Published October 8, 2026
How to join a date plan on The Reserv
Joining is the low-effort side of The Reserv: someone else has already picked the restaurant, booked the table, and set the night. You decide which plan you want to be part of and request the seat. Here is exactly how it works.
Five steps, from browsing to the table
1. Browse open plans
Open Explore for plans near you, with quick filters for tonight and this weekend, or go to Join a Plan to see every open plan in Austin as a list or on a map. You can filter by cuisine, date, time, payment preference, and plan type.
2. Read the plan and the host
Each plan shows the restaurant, the night and time, how many seats are open, who is paying (Splitting it, Host treats, or Guest treats), and the host's profile. Some plans are Double Dates hosted by two people. Decide whether you want that dinner with that person — that is the whole choice.
3. Request the seat
Tap Request to Join. There is no opening line to write. You can have up to three active requests at a time; if a plan is full, you can join its waitlist instead.
4. Wait for the host to accept
A request is not a date. The host reviews requests and accepts the guest they want to meet, or passes. You'll get an email and push when a request is accepted. If the host passes, you are not sent a notification — the request simply doesn't become a seat.
5. Chat, then show up
Once you are accepted, chat opens with the host. The where and when are already set, so use it to say hello and confirm you're coming. Chat messages don't send push notifications yet, so check the app before the date.
What you don't need to do
- Book anything. The host holds the reservation for the whole party on OpenTable. Your seat is part of their booking. How reservations work.
- Pay The Reserv. The app is free. You pay the restaurant according to the plan's payment preference. Pricing.
- Negotiate the night. It is already set.
If your plans change
You can withdraw a pending request at any time, or cancel your seat after you've been accepted. The table is booked in the host's name and a no-show costs them, so tell them in chat as early as you can.
Before you go
The Reserv verifies the host's restaurant booking — not who anyone is. Meet at the restaurant, get there and back on your own, and tell a friend the restaurant and time. You can block or report anyone from their profile. More in safety and trust.
Find a seat
Download The Reserv on the App Store to see tonight's open plans in Austin. Want to be the one choosing? Read how to host a plan, or browse the restaurants hosts can book.