OpenTable Notify Me vs Table Alert: what each one does
OpenTable's Notify Me alerts you when an already-booked table opens. What it covers, what it does not, and where Table Alert fits.
- OpenTable's own description
- Both alert; you book
- What Notify Me is
- OpenTable's alert for a booked-out table: set a restaurant, date, time and party size; get a phone notification.
- What it does not do
- It covers OpenTable restaurants only, and you still have to book the table yourself.
- Where we fit
- Table Alert watches OpenTable and Resy, Tock, TableCheck, OMAKASE and more, and alerts by email, SMS, WhatsApp and push.
What OpenTable Notify Me does
OpenTable's own post on the feature (June 25, 2020) says Notify Me alerts diners if an already-booked table they want opens up. In the OpenTable app you pick a restaurant, and available times show in red.
If your time is not there, you tap the blue Notify Me button next to the red times and add your desired date, time and party size.
If the table frees up, OpenTable says you receive a push notification on your phone. Tap it to book. If another diner has already taken the table, you get another alert if more spots open.
That post is the first-party description we could retrieve; OpenTable's help pages did not load for us. The app may have changed since 2020, so check it.
OpenTable Notify Me and Table Alert side by side
OpenTable facts are from OpenTable's own blog post (snapshot 2026-11-12). Table Alert facts are our own.
| OpenTable Notify Me | Table Alert | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Restaurants on OpenTable | Resy, OpenTable, Tock, SevenRooms, DoorDash reservations, TableCheck, OMAKASE, Pocket Concierge, CatchTable, CoverManager and more |
| Cities | Wherever the restaurant is on OpenTable | New York, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Seoul, London, Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Bangkok, San Francisco and more |
| What you set | A restaurant, date, time and party size | A restaurant, dates, times and party size |
| How you are alerted | A push notification to your phone, per OpenTable's post | Email, SMS, WhatsApp and push |
| Who goes first | OpenTable's July 8, 2026 release says Gold-status diners (six reservations in 12 months) who use Notify Me are alerted to last-minute openings earlier than other diners; listed as a U.S. benefit | Alerts go out as tables appear |
| Does it hold the table | The post says another diner may take it first | No: you book it yourself |
| Price | No separate fee is named in the post | Plans from $5 a month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee |
| How often it looks | Not stated in the post | Around the clock |
Where Notify Me stops
- It works inside OpenTable. A restaurant that takes bookings on Resy, Tock, TableCheck, OMAKASE or another platform is outside it.
- OpenTable's post describes a phone notification. It does not mention email, SMS or WhatsApp.
- OpenTable's July 2026 release says Gold-status diners are alerted to last-minute openings earlier than other diners, so other diners may hear before you.
- It tells you a table opened. It does not say how often that restaurant opens a table or how long it stays bookable.
Where Table Alert fits
If your restaurant is on OpenTable and a phone notification suits you, Notify Me is OpenTable's own answer, and the post names no fee.
Table Alert fits when your list crosses platforms or cities, when you want SMS or WhatsApp as well as push, or when you want to see how often a restaurant opens before you commit.
Both leave the booking to you. You can run them together.
How it works
Set it once.
We refresh so you don’t have to.
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Add a restaurant
Pick your restaurant and set your preferences.
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We track it nonstop
We re-check every few seconds — cancellations, no-shows, and fresh drops.
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You get the alert
Push, SMS, or email the instant a table opens. One tap to book.
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Reviews
The table they thought was impossible.
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Lifesaver service for booking difficult reservations
“Been looking for something like this for years, so glad I finally found it. It actually works — I just set up my alerts and wait for them to ping me. Already more than paid for itself with the couple of reservations I’ve managed to get this month alone.”
Ally UK · Booked restaurants in Tokyo -
Table Alert is great!!
“I got a reservation at Somni — 3 Michelin stars, booked up until forever — within a week of setting my alert. And Jacob is super responsive and friendly. What a gift to diners!”
Jordan C.
US · Booked Somni, West Hollywood
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Table Alert is a total game changer
“Table Alert is a total game changer. I love the interface and integration with so many different reservations platforms. It makes planning travel significantly easier.”
Jerry
US · Booked restaurants in Tokyo
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Excellent app
“Works very well! I was able to snag very difficult reservations. Issues are fixed and addressed immediately!”
Ryan US · Booked n/naka, Los Angeles -
Excellent and highly useful app!
“Excellent and highly useful app! Have been on it only for a few days and have already secured a booking to a world-famous restaurant.”
Rick US · Booked Disfrutar, Barcelona -
Booked 2 restaurants in Korea on short notice
“Was able to book 2 restaurants in Korea on short notice during my trip. Also got myself a Disfrutar booking for September. Thanks to the creator of the app!”
Alexander G.
UK · Booked Kwonsooksoo, Seoul
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Pricing
Costs less than a single drink.
Alerts within 30 seconds. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pro
No limits. Every restaurant, everywhere.
Billed as $189/year
Standard
More restaurants. More control.
Billed as $84/year
Essential
For the restaurants you can't stop thinking about.
Billed as $48/year
No alert within 30 days? Full refund, no questions asked.
FAQ
OpenTable Notify Me vs Table Alert: what each one does: questions people ask
OpenTable's own post describes it as an alert for an already-booked table. You open a restaurant in the app, tap Notify Me, add a date, time and party size, and OpenTable notifies you if the table opens.
OpenTable's post says you receive a push notification on your phone and tap it to book. The post does not mention email or SMS. Check the current app for what it sends today.
OpenTable's post does not say it holds one. It says that if another diner takes the table you get another alert when more spots open, so you should treat an alert as a chance to book, not a booking.
No. It is OpenTable's feature for restaurants that take bookings on OpenTable. A restaurant on Resy, Tock, TableCheck, OMAKASE or another platform needs that platform's own tool, or a separate alert service.
OpenTable's July 8, 2026 press release says diners with Gold status who use Notify Me are alerted to last-minute openings earlier than other diners. It lists the benefit as available in the U.S. Gold comes from six reservations in 12 months.
It is the first-party description of Notify Me we could retrieve on 2026-11-12. OpenTable's help pages did not load for us. If the feature has changed, OpenTable's app is the authority; tell us and we will correct this page.
Yes. They do not conflict. Each alerts you and you book yourself. You can keep Notify Me on an OpenTable restaurant and use Table Alert for the rest of your list.
No. Table Alert alerts you by email, SMS, WhatsApp or push when a table opens, and you book it yourself on the restaurant's own booking page. We never book, hold or resell a table.
No alert within your first 30 days? Cancel and send us an email. We'll refund you in full — no questions asked.
Yes. Cancel from your account settings at any time. You'll keep access until your subscription expires.
62,198+ restaurants across Resy, Omakase, Tock, SevenRooms, OpenTable, TableCheck, and more — including the hardest tables in Tokyo, New York, Paris, and beyond. Search here to see if we cover yours.
Sources and how this page is made
Written by Jacob, founder of Table Alert. Facts checked against the sources below on November 12, 2026. The monitoring numbers are Table Alert's own, refreshed every night. Out of date? Tell us.
- OpenTable blog: Find the reservation you really want with OpenTable's Notify Me feature (2020-06-25)
- OpenTable press release: OpenTable Introduces Gold Tables (2026-07-08, PR Newswire, via Yahoo Finance)
- Table Alert: the restaurants we watch, with measured data
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