Restaurant waitlist, reservation, and seating features

Yes, Simple Host includes both features in every plan. Guests can join your waitlist by scanning a QR code at your door or clicking a link on your website—they'll see their real-time position and estimated wait. For reservations, guests can book directly from your website 24/7 with no per-cover fees. Both the waitlist and reservations feed into the same host stand view, so your team sees everything in one place. You can even let guests choose between joining the waitlist or making a reservation for a future time.

Yes, Simple Host includes a visual drag-and-drop floor plan editor. Add tables, booths, bar seats, and patio sections, then arrange them to match your actual restaurant layout. Each table shows real-time status with color coding—available, occupied, reserved, or being cleaned. When it's time to seat a guest, just tap a table and assign the party. The whole floor plan setup takes under 5 minutes, and you can modify it anytime as your layout changes for special events or seasonal patio seating.

No per-cover fees, ever. Unlike platforms that charge $1-2 per seated guest, Simple Host uses flat monthly pricing so you keep more of your revenue. SMS table-ready notifications and reservation reminders are included with generous monthly allowances that roll over if unused: Basic plans include 250 messages, Pro plans include 500, and VIP plans include 1,000 messages per month. If you need additional messages, you can purchase more at any time without changing your plan.

Yes, run unlimited devices simultaneously with one subscription. Most restaurants use an iPad at the host stand as the primary view, while managers check waitlist status from their phones and the back office monitors from a desktop. Your host can add a guest to the waitlist while a server checks their section assignments on a personal phone—everything syncs in real-time across all devices. There's no extra charge for additional devices or team members.

Simple Host offers three rotation modes to fit your restaurant's style. Guest Count mode balances covers served across your team—great for ensuring fair tip distribution. Party Count mode rotates based on number of tables, useful when party sizes vary widely. Smart Cycle maintains a strict turn order while still considering cover balance, preventing arguments about who got the big party. The system automatically suggests which server is next in rotation when you seat a guest, but you can always override it manually.

Yes, the Digital Guestbook automatically builds guest profiles every time someone visits. Each profile tracks total visits, last visit date, average party size, favorite tables, and any notes your team adds—like allergy information, seating preferences, or VIP status. When a returning guest gives their name or phone number, their profile pops up instantly so your host can greet them personally and seat them according to their preferences. Profiles are linked by phone number, so the history follows guests even if they spell their name differently.

Simple Host tracks everything you need to optimize operations. See total parties seated and guests served by day, week, or month. Analyze table turn times broken down by party size and meal period to identify bottlenecks. Monitor server performance metrics to ensure fair rotation and recognize top performers. Track no-show rates to adjust your overbooking strategy. View guests per half-hour to understand your rush patterns and staff accordingly. All data is available on-demand and helps you make informed decisions about scheduling, capacity, and service flow.

Yes, every plan starts with a free 7-day trial with no credit card required. During your trial, you get full access to all features including online reservations, waitlist management, floor plan builder, SMS notifications, server rotation, and guest analytics. Test Simple Host during your busiest service to see exactly how it handles real-world restaurant operations. If it's not the right fit, simply don't subscribe—there's no obligation. You can also upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription anytime after the trial.