“Tables reserved at peak, or otherwise sold-out, times are offered for a small reservation fee” – See the Restaurants currently Signed Up

From a press release:

“In Washington, D.C., a restaurant is a place to entertain and impress business clients, negotiate political compromises, or enjoy a leisurely meal. However, dining at one of DC’s hottest restaurants requires planning weeks, or even months in advance, or knowing someone on the inside who can wrangle a coveted last-minute reservation. With today’s launch of restaurant reservation service Table8, available via iPhone and Android apps and through Table8.com, guests now have the opportunity to book that important dinner at a moment’s notice. “DC is famous for high-powered business dinners, and Table8 is the 21st century version of the maître d’,” says Table8 co-founder Santosh Jayaram. Users simply sign up for a free membership and select a guaranteed table from a highly curated list that serves as a guide to DC’s best restaurants. Tables reserved at peak, or otherwise sold-out, times are offered for a small reservation fee, which is shared with the restaurant; all other times, the reservations are on the house.

After a successful San Francisco launch in March 2014, and Los Angeles in September 2014, Table8 debuts today in DC with 17 prestigious restaurant partners, including:

• Chef José Andrés’ Think Food Group (Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel)

• Chef Mike Isabella’s Mike Isabella Concepts (Graffiato, Kapnos)

• Chef Michael Babin’s Neighborhood Restaurant Group (Birch & Barley, The Partisan, Iron Gate)

• Fabio and Maria Trabocchi (Fiola, Casa Luca, Fiola Mare)

• The Kuller Restaurants (Estadio, Doi Moi, Proof)

• AltaMareaGroup (Osteria Morini DC)

• Founding Farmer Restaurant Group (Farmers Fishers Bakers)

• Del Campo

“Providing great service to our guests is always a top priority, and access to reservations is part of the overall service and experience,” says Chef/Owner Mike Isabella. “We understand that not every guest can book a reservation weeks out, and are excited to bring expanded access to reservations through our partnership with Table8.”

Table8 is the brainchild of Santosh Jayaram, the first business executive at Twitter, and Pete Goettner, a venture capitalist and CEO of DigitalThink. Frustrated with their restaurant routines, and the lack of availability at both new and classic destinations, Jayaram and Goettner built Table8 to open last-minute reservation access, and create a new revenue stream for restaurants. Table8 works one-on-one with each restaurant to select the number of tables they would like to hold as well as the price of the seats, and then splits the proceeds. “These are the ‘managers tables’ once set aside only for last-minute VIP diners that are now being made available to everyone,” says Goettner.”