Before you open a booking calendar
Agree on the guest count, a total budget and two or three acceptable dates. Ask every guest about dietary restrictions and access needs now.
Use our Alinea, Smyth, Ever, Kasama and Oriole guides to compare the room, menu length and payment terms you would book.
For a birthday or anniversary, decide whether the exact date matters more than the restaurant. Use that choice to decide which dates or restaurants to try if your first search has no availability.
Know which release calendar you are using
- Ever usually releases dates at 9 a.m. Central Time on the first Tuesday of each month, two to three months ahead. Ever: booking, access and service-charge FAQ.
- Kasama publishes a rolling six-week window at noon CST for parties up to six. Its wording uses CST, so confirm the local time shown in the booking calendar. Kasama: reservations and cancellation terms.
- Oriole publishes a rolling 90-day calendar through Tock. Oriole: reservation calendar and seating options.
A monthly release opens a batch of dates; a rolling window moves forward with the calendar. These examples are not one citywide rule. Follow the official link for your chosen restaurant and verify the release before setting your reminder.
Read the terms before you pay
Check the restaurant, experience name, date, time, guest count and full amount. Check whether you are paying a deposit or prepaying dinner. Ask whether the restaurant credits the deposit to the bill. Save the cancellation and transfer terms with the confirmation.
For example, Kasama publishes a $325-per-person charge for cancellations or guest-count reductions within 48 hours. Ever says sales are final and non-refundable, and asks guests to contact it about transfers. Kasama: reservations and cancellation terms; Ever: booking, access and service-charge FAQ.
Smyth announces full prepayment and a single extended Chef's Menu for visits from November 5, 2026. Check the terms for that date rather than using the terms for an earlier visit. Smyth: menus and November booking change.
If your first choice is unavailable
Check another acceptable date, time or seating format. Use an official waitlist where offered; Ever lists one through its booking platform. Keep a second restaurant in mind, but read its cancellation terms before making a backup booking.
A waitlist request is not a reservation. Before accepting an opening, check that you can still make the time and that changing any existing plans will not create another charge.
Your booking checklist
- Confirm guest count, dietary fit, access and budget.
- Open the booking link from the restaurant's official website.
- Check the selected experience and complete payment terms.
- Save the confirmation and any change deadline in your calendar.
- Submit required guest information by the restaurant's deadline.
- Check the address and leave room for travel delays.
If dinner is the reason for your trip, book it before planning the rest of your schedule. Use the tasting-menu budget guide to check the full cost before purchase.
Sources and updates
We checked prices and policies on September 8, 2026. Confirm the terms for your date before paying.
- Ever: booking, access and service-charge FAQ
- Kasama: reservations and cancellation terms
- Oriole: reservation calendar and seating options
- Smyth: menus and November booking change
Found a change? Send a correction with the source and the detail that needs updating.