--- title: Manually adding a guest to waitlist description: Waitlist refers to a system used to manage guests who are waiting for a table when the restaurant is at capacity. When guests arrive and there are no available tables, they can add their names to the --- [Skip to content](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/manually-adding-a-guest-to-waitlist#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Can't find what you're looking for?](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) ![Eat App Logo - Small.png\]](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Eat%20App%20Logo%20-%20Small.png?height=40&name=Eat%20App%20Logo%20-%20Small.png) - [Our About Page](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/about) - [Contact Us](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/contact-us) - [View Our Blogs](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/blog) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Our About Page](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/about) - [Contact Us](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/contact-us) - [View Our Blogs](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/blog) - English Show submenu for translations - [Can't find what you're looking for?](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) - restaurant.eatapp.co restaurant.eatapp.co Eat App Knowledgebase - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge) 2. [Feature Guides](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides) 3. [Waitlist](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#waitlist) # Manually adding a guest to waitlist Waitlist refers to a system used to manage guests who are waiting for a table when the restaurant is at capacity. When guests arrive and there are no available tables, they can add their names to the waitlist. The restaurant then seats them as tables become free, often notifying them via a text message or by calling their name. To manually add a guest to the waitlist: 1. Login to your [Table Management](https://app.eatapp.co/)account. 2. Click the **"+"** or **"Reserve"** button located at the top left of the screen. 3. If the guest is already in your database, search for their details. If not, click **"+ Add new guest"** to enter their information. This step is optional; you can save the reservation without guest details. 4. Check the box for **"Waitlist."** 5. Complete the following fields: **Date**: The date of the waitlist **Time**: The time the guest was added to the waitlist. **Preference**: Select any preferences, if applicable. **Covers**: Number of guests. **Duration**: Expected duration of the reservation. **Table**: Specific table, if desired. **Status**: This will automatically display as "Waitlist" once the waitlist box is checked. **Wait Est:** The estimated wait time for the guest, based on the start time selected above. Other fields, including **Comments**, **Tags**, **Employee**, and **Notes**, are optional and not mandatory. 6. Then click **"Create Reservation"** to continue. This reservation will appear in the Waitlist tab. When a table is ready, you can notify the guest by clicking the **"Table Ready"** icon at the bottom. This will send an SMS or email to the guest if their details are available. ![Manual Waitlist - Table Ready](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Mitos%20New%20Upload%20for%20KB/Manual%20Waitlist%20-%20Table%20Ready.png?width=688&height=418&name=Manual%20Waitlist%20-%20Table%20Ready.png) Finally, when you're ready to seat the guest, click **"Seat Reservation."** This will move the reservation from the waitlist tab to the reservation tab. ![Manual Waitlist - Seat Reservation](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Manual%20Waitlist%20-%20Seat%20Reservation.png?width=688&height=416&name=Manual%20Waitlist%20-%20Seat%20Reservation.png) Note: It's important to note that when a new waitlist entry is created, an SMS is automatically triggered to your guest with their estimated wait time.   - [Eat App Overview](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/eat-app-overview) - [Getting Started](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/getting-started#main-content) - [Get set up with the most useful things on EAT App in less than 30 minutes](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/getting-started#get-set-up-with-the-most-useful-things-on-eat-app-in-less-than-30-minutes) - [Layout](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/getting-started#layout) - [Permissions and Preferences](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/getting-started#permissions-and-preferences) - [Feature Guides](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#main-content) - [Views Management](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#views-management) - [Multi-Restaurant Support](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#multi-restaurant-support) - [Managing reservations](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#managing-reservations) - [Waitlist](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#waitlist) - [Widget](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#widget) - [Guest Messaging](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#guest-messaging) - [Restaurant Tags](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#restaurant-tags) - [Users](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#users) - [Server/Waiter Management](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#server-waiter-management) - [Guest Database](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#guest-database) - [Payments](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#payments) - [Restaurant Reports](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#restaurant-reports) - [Guest Reviews](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#guest-reviews) - [Restaurant Automation](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#restaurant-automation) - [Offers/Discounts](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#offers-discounts) - [Layout](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#layout) - [Restaurant Billing](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#restaurant-billing) - [Printing](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#printing) - [Customer Support](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#customer-support) - [WhatsApp Messaging](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/feature-guides#whatsapp-messaging) - [Integrations](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/integrations#main-content) - [Wix Integration](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/integrations#wix-integration) - [Payment Integration](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/integrations#payment-integration) - [MCP Servers](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/integrations#mcp-servers) - [FAQs](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/faqs) - [Troubleshooting](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/troubleshooting) - [Release Notes](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/release-notes) - [Partnerships](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/partnerships) - [Documentation](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/documentation#main-content) - [Widget setup](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/documentation#widget-setup) - [Navi](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/knowledge/navi) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://restaurant.eatapp.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Eat%20App%20Logo-2.png?width=48&height=24&name=Eat%20App%20Logo-2.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://restaurant.eatapp.co) Help Center Copyright © 2026, Grow ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "contentUrl" : "https://3390327.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/3390327/Manual%20Waitlist.mp4", "dateModified" : "2024-11-01T01:19:48.111Z", "duration" : "PT50S", "height" : 648, "name" : "Manual Waitlist", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://3390327.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/3390327/Manual%20Waitlist.mp4/medium.jpg", "uploadDate" : "2024-11-01T01:19:48.105Z", "width" : 1070 } ```