Table Blocking

Documentation Index

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Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

EatNow offers two ways to block tables from online reservations:

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Temporary Table Blocking

Temporary blocking lets you remove a table from online availability for a single day. Perfect for daily operational flexibility.

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When to Use

• 🎉 Private events — A VIP guest requested a specific table
• 🔧 Quick maintenance — A chair needs repair but the table can still be used if needed
• 📋 Operational control — Reserve tables for walk-ins during busy periods

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How to Block

1. Go to Reservations
   • Open the Reservations page and make sure you’re on the floor plan view
   • Select the date using the date picker
2. Click on the Table
   • Click any table to open its menu
   • Click Block Table (or the 🔒 icon if there’s already a reservation)
3. Choose the Shifts
   • Select which shifts to block the table for
   • You can block for lunch only, dinner only, or all shifts
4. Add a Reason (optional)
   • Enter a note like “VIP reservation” or “Chair repair”
   • This helps your team understand why the table is blocked
5. Save
   • The table now shows a red striped pattern on the floor plan

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How to Unblock

1. Click on the blocked table
2. Click Unblock Table
3. The table is immediately available for online booking again

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Visual Indicators

Blocked tables are easy to spot:

• 🔴 Red & white stripes — Diagonal stripe pattern on the table
• 🔒 Lock icon — A small lock appears on the table

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Permanent Table Blocking

Permanent blocking completely removes a table from online availability until you re-enable it. Use this for tables you want to reserve exclusively for walk-ins or staff seating.

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When to Use

• 🪑 Staff-only tables — Tables reserved for walk-ins or VIP seating
• 🛋️ Special areas — A lounge area you prefer to manage manually
• 🔒 Long-term exclusion — Tables you don’t want available online for weeks or months

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How to Disable Online Booking

1. Go to Settings
   • Click on the Settings icon in the navigation bar
2. Open Floor Plan Editor
   • Navigate to Floor Plan
   • Select the room containing the table you want to modify
3. Click on the Table
   • In the floor plan editor, click on the table to open its settings panel
4. Disable Online Availability
   • Find the toggle “Available for online booking”
   • Turn it OFF
5. Save
   • Click Save to apply your changes
   • The table is now permanently hidden from online availability

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How to Re-enable

Follow the same steps and turn the “Available for online booking” toggle back ON.

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Good to Know

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Table Combinations

If you block a table that’s part of a combination (e.g., tables 5+6 for groups of 8), the entire combination becomes unavailable for online booking.

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Existing Reservations

Blocking a table does not affect reservations already made. Customers keep their bookings.

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Late-Night Shifts

Both blocking methods work for shifts that extend past midnight (e.g., 10 PM - 3 AM).

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FAQ

Which method should I use?

• Use temporary blocking for day-to-day operations (events, maintenance, walk-in reserves)
• Use permanent blocking for tables you never want available online

Can customers see why a table is blocked? No. The reason is for your team only. Customers simply see reduced availability. Can I block for next week? For temporary blocking, navigate to that date on the floor plan first. For permanent blocking, it applies immediately to all future dates.