Nestled in the picturesque city of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Riccardo’s Ristorante has become more than just a spot for authentic Italian cuisine, it’s a local institution that celebrates the art of traditional cooking and genuine hospitality. Owner-operator Riccardo Spaccarelli’s passion shines through every dish, crafted from family recipes and fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced both locally and from Italy. The warm, inviting atmosphere paired with Riccardo’s dedication has earned the venue accolades such as Best Italian Restaurant in regional dining awards and consistent rave reviews from locals and visitors alike.
Since partnering with Now Book It in 2017, Riccardo’s has found a way to keep pace with increasing demand without losing the personal touch that guests love. We caught up with Riccardo to find out how the online booking platform has supported the restaurant’s growth and day-to-day rhythm.
“Riccardo’s is all about bringing people together to enjoy real Italian food, as more guests discovered us, especially through word of mouth and online reviews, we needed a booking system that could keep up without losing our personal touch.”
Keeping up with the crowd and endless expectations
Running a busy restaurant isn’t for the faint of heart, especially when you’re managing close to a thousand bookings a month. Riccardo told us how balancing phone calls, walk-ins, and special event bookings was becoming a serious juggling act. Valentine’s Day, for instance, would bring a flood of reservations and walk-ins, testing the limits of manual scheduling and table management.
“Busy nights were a bit stressful, to be honest, we wanted to make sure every guest felt special, but with phones ringing and people at the door, it was tough to keep everything smooth and seamless.”
And it’s not just about volume. The restaurant’s cozy ambiance is key to the experience, so cramming tables without thought wasn’t an option. Finding the right balance between capacity and comfort, all while ensuring smooth service, was becoming more complex.
This challenge reflects a broader trend across the US restaurant scene, where nearly 60% of diners prefer to make their reservations online, and around 1 in 5 bookings don’t show up – a gap Riccardo recognized needed addressing.
Simplifying the madness with seamless management
That’s when Riccardo’s found Now Book It, an online reservation platform built by hospitality professionals for hospitality, designed to make life easier for busy restaurants. From the moment they started using it, the impact was noticeable. Guests could reserve tables anytime, without waiting on hold or calling during service hours, resulting in fewer interruptions for staff and a smoother experience for diners.
One feature Riccardo’s team leans on heavily is the events tool. For high‑demand occasions like Valentine’s Day, the platform lets the team design custom floor plans that maximise seats while preserving the restaurant’s intimate Italian‑style atmosphere. That kind of flexibility helped Riccardo’s increase their reservations on special nights, turning busy evenings into profitable ones.
“We can plan the space down to the last chair, the means more bookings, more comfortable guests, and a smoother night for the whole team,” Riccardo explained.
The platform’s reporting also give the team visibility into booking patterns, helping them optimise staffing and reduce wasted reservations, an important consideration, given how costly no‑shows can be.
Keeping the heart of Riccardo's alive with smarter tech
Riccardo’s story shows that you don’t have to sacrifice personality as you grow, even when you’re handling hundreds of reservations a month. With Now Book It handling their bookings, they’ve found a way to keep the vibe authentic while running a smooth operation.
“Tech shouldn’t take away the human side of hospitality, Now Book It lets us keep that personal feel while handling all the details behind the scenes.”
This blend of tradition and innovation is something many restaurant owners strive for in the US dining landscape. As diner preferences continue to look toward convenience and flexibility, tools like online reservation platforms become less of a luxury and more of a necessity, helping venues capture more bookings without extra stress for staff.
