You Should Make Your Valentine's Day Dinner Reservation Today

Still need to make your Valentine's Day plans? You should make your reservation today (February 4th) if you want the best chance of getting the time you want at the restaurant you want.

Valentine's Day is 10 days away, and according to OpenTable, rather than waiting last minute to make your reservations, TODAY is the day that you should get those reservations in. Think about it: there are way more dinner reservations on Valentine's Day than the average night. Every one wants to impress their sweetheart with a nice night.

If you make your reservations today, you should beat all of the procrastinators. OpenTable says that one in five people try to make a reservation on Valentine's Day itself. Don't be that person. Chances are, it won't work out well for your Valentine's Day plans.

If you do plan your reservation today, and the restaurant says that they can't accommodate you, there's still hope. OpenTable has done a lot of research on this stuff. They have provided four tips to help you secure that perfect Valentine's Day date.

Embrace Your Early Bird (or Night Owl): The most popular time for dinner reservations on OpenTable for Valentine's Day is 7:00 p.m. Grabbing a 6:00 p.m. or a 9:00 p.m. spot allows for ample time to enjoy your meal and get into the hot spot you have your eye on.
Forget the 20-Course Tasting Menu: Upscale restaurants experience a significant spike in reservations for Valentine's Day — we're talking 228 percent compared to the average number of reservations made in the three preceding weeks for the same day of the week. Opting for your favorite go-to spot is a great workaround, saving the tasting menu for another Friday night.
Taste Something New: American cuisine is the most popular choice for OpenTable diners on Valentine's Day (46 percent pick steakhouses). Think outside the box when it comes to restaurant specialties for less competition and better luck landing that coveted 7:00 p.m. time slot.
Go on a Double Date. Seriously: Last year, 83 percent of Valentine's Day reservations on OpenTable were made for two people. Grab your best friends for a double date and lock in that available four-top!

Hopefully this helps you secure a great date night on Valentine's Day! Just remember, don't procrastinate. Everywhere will be busy.