Early Bird Dining Lands In Melbourne

First Table has expanded its network of 18 cities and more than 270 restaurants in Australasia by launching in Melbourne with 10 restaurants today.

View Melbourne Restaurants on First Table

First Table has built the best system to help overcome one of the hospitality industry’s oldest problems: slow starts to evenings.

Partner restaurants offer a 50% meal discount to attract more than 100,000 First Table users, who can sign up for free and make bookings at firsttable.com.au.

Table bookings are generally made up to 6pm when restaurants are typically quieter.

“First Table is to meals what happy hours are to drinks,” explains First Table founder Mat Weir.

“We’ve created a truly win-win business model that rewards early bird diners on the one hand, and ensures restaurants get the night off to a good start with plenty of patrons who, in turn, attract more customers.”

Since launching two years ago, First Table has extended its reach throughout New Zealand and opened its offering to Australian restaurants in Sydney and Gold Coast earlier this year.

“Melbourne is undeniably the food capital of Australia so it’s incredibly exciting to be launching First Table here,” says Weir.

“We know our service will help Melburnians discover all the amazingly delicious and diverse fare they have on their doorsteps.”

Melbourne restaurants can look forward to seeing the same results that those already in the First Table network are getting.

“The beauty of First Table is you have complete control over what time and what days guests dine. We find it’s a great way to increase off-peak patronage, and it encourages other diners to come in,” says Fallon Gomesz from Sydney-based Platinum Restaurant Group.

The system also creates new loyal and repeat patronage by getting customers in the door at a discounted rate for their first visit.

“First Table has allowed us to reach a wider audience, enabling diners that may not have thought to dine with us previously the chance to experience Pilu at Freshwater at a lesser cost,” says the restaurant’s Manager, Alex Tuckett.

“Our hope is that diners will enjoy a great experience and return to celebrate future special occasions. The majority of diners involved with First Table reside in our local community, which has allowed strong word of mouth promotion.”

First Table is more than just an early bird dining platform, with the recent launch of First Table Magazine: an online showcase of the best restaurants, chefs and food in Australia and New Zealand.