Quick Setup Guide
Configure the essential settings to start accepting reservations
Updated Jan 11, 2026
This guide walks you through the essential configuration steps to get your restaurant ready to accept reservations. After completing these steps, you'll be able to share your booking link with guests.
Onboarding Checklist
When you first sign in to your admin dashboard, visit the Onboarding page to see your setup progress. The checklist tracks what you've completed and what still needs attention.
Required for accepting reservations:
- Set your operating hours
- Create at least one bookable zone
- Add at least one table
Recommended (optional but helpful):
- Review booking rules
- Turn on notifications
- Invite your team
- Add servers for section assignments
- Set up blocked dates for closures
Tip
The onboarding checklist links directly to each setting you need to configure, making setup easy to follow.
Step 1: Restaurant Profile
Your basic restaurant information (name, email, etc.) was set during signup. You can update these details anytime:
Navigate to Settings in the admin sidebar
The General tab is selected by default
Update your restaurant details:
- Restaurant name
- Contact email
- Phone number
- Street address, city, state, ZIP code
- Website URL (optional)
- Timezone
Click Save Changes
Info
Your restaurant name appears on all guest-facing pages and confirmation emails. Make sure your timezone is correct—it affects how reservation times are displayed to guests.
Step 2: Branding
Add your logo and images to personalize the guest experience:
Go to Settings → Branding tab
Upload your branding assets:
- Logo (square) — appears in admin UI and emails
- Wordmark (wide) — for headers where horizontal space is available
- Cover image — shown on your booking page and shop
Brand colors are automatically generated from your first uploaded image.
Step 3: Operating Hours
Define when your restaurant is open and when guests can book reservations.
Go to Settings → Hours tab
For each day of the week, add your hours:
- Open time — When your restaurant opens
- Close time — When your restaurant closes
- Slot duration — How often time slots appear (typically 15 or 30 minutes)
Understanding Reservation Windows
Your operating hours (when you're open) and your reservation availability (when guests can book) don't have to be the same:
| Setting | What it controls | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Open time | When your restaurant opens | 5:00 PM |
| Reservation start | When booking slots begin | 5:30 PM |
| Last seating | Final bookable time slot | 8:30 PM |
| Close time | When your restaurant closes | 10:00 PM |
Why this matters: You might open at 5 PM for walk-ins but only accept reservations starting at 5:30 PM. Or you might close at 10 PM but want last seating at 8:30 PM to ensure guests finish before closing.
Last Seating & Turn Times
TableYeah automatically calculates your last seating time based on turn times — how long each party typically occupies a table:
- Party of 2: 90 minutes
- Party of 4: 2 hours
- Party of 6+: 2.5–3 hours
If you close at 10 PM and a party of 4 needs 2 hours, the system automatically sets their last available slot at 8 PM.
Info
You can customize turn times in Settings → Reservations. Adjust these based on your service style—fine dining typically needs longer turn times than casual restaurants.
Special Hours & Closures
For holidays, special events, or one-off schedule changes:
- Special Service Hours — Create custom hours for specific dates (e.g., "Christmas Eve Dinner" with different times)
- Blocked Dates — Mark dates when you're completely closed (no reservations available)
Find both options in Settings → Hours (Special Hours) and Settings → Reservations (Blocked Dates).
Step 4: Zones & Tables
Set up your seating inventory.
Go to Settings → Zones tab
Create zones for different areas (e.g., "Main Dining", "Patio", "Bar")
Make sure at least one zone is marked as publicly bookable
Go to Settings → Tables tab
Add your tables with:
- Table number/name
- Minimum and maximum capacity
- Assign to a zone
You're Ready!
Once you've completed the required steps (hours, zones, tables), your restaurant can accept reservations. Share your booking link with guests or add it to your website.
Tip
Your public reservation page is available at: your-restaurant.app.tableyeah.com/reservations