Botanica Restaurant and Gin Bar

We ate here for restaurant week and were disappointed. The desserts were amazing, but the entrees were average. The mocktails we had were very good. The service was very slow, it took us 2 hours to eat here. For the price, I would not recommend eating here.

Fabulous find! Stopped by for a cocktail & stayed for dinner! Inventive gin cocktails. Delicious meals with beautiful presentations! We had a lamb appetizer that was so succulent. The duck confit - melt in your mouth! Our oysters were just good but we're spoiled . The arctic char was fabulous! For dessert we had the chocolate souffle and the creme caramel - yum! My father wants to bring friends back there! I think it's his new favorite restaurant. Also nice to note that the staff were very helpful with my gluten & dairy allergies. Great place for a date!

Delicious French-inspired cuisine. The Gin selection is extensive (try the Tamsworth botanical sipping gin) but their wine selection is excellent too. My husband and I often come in and find seats at the bar, but it’s a risk w/o a reservation. I enjoy more casual dining and lighter fare when I’m at the bar. We often select fresh oysters, a green salad, soup, fresh bread and a cheese tray. Entrees are substantial and great when I’m very hungry. On my last visit I enjoyed the agnolotti pasta stuffed with ricotta. They were light pillows of pasta touched by a light sauce — divine! I finished my light meal with the Hazelnut Genoise which was a pleasant palate pleaser. The cake was slightly warmed — both sweet and savory with a plum and caramel sauce. It was the perfect finish! Finally, the staff are always pleasant and friendly. The restaurant is comfortable and the conversation easily heard with your companions. A great spot for vegetarians and meatatarians alike!

This may have been our favorite restaurant we visited on our vacation. The drinks were beautiful and delicious. We started with oysters on the half shell and they were fresh and the mignonette sauce was great. Our entrees were the pork, two steak/frites, and halibut. The pork had a spicy sauce and was tender and juicy. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the fries were crispy and seasoned nicely. The halibut was cooked perfectly and came served on on lentils that were super tasty. We ordered the chocolate souffles at the beginning for dessert, and they were fabulous. I wouldn't hesitate to return...but it's small inside. There was outdoor patio seating with an awning, that looked nice, but we chose to dine inside. There is also bar seating.

Amazing dinner last night! They squeezed us into the bar, it is indeed a tiny space and advanced reservations are very recommended (online reservations close at 4pm the day of). Had a delicious meal at the bar, drinks were great and food was spectacular. Highlights were bar snack smoked trout pate, duck liver mousse, pork belly, duck confit, and agnolotti. Oh that the soufflé! Service was attentive but not hovering and we were able to have an intimate experience without being too much. Would 1000% recommend and will be going back in a different season to try new seasonal stuff!!!

We went to Bontanica last weekend and were severely disappointed with the unprofessional staff and kitchen. 1. We ordered 4 Oysters and they came out with 5 which we thought were on the house since we were waiting for 30 minutes for cold Oysters... then at the end of the night we brought it up to the manager/bartender since they charged us and he started yelling at us that we should have said something before hand when we were sitting outside and NOONE was coming out to check on our table 2. They forgot about our appetizer (pasta) and waiting about 1.5 hours to get it out of the kitchen. We were patient but eventually asked the waitress to her dismay she had forgotten to put it in or the kitchen had already crossed it out. 3. They brought out the appetizer and then let our main course sit there while we ate the appetizer so when we got our mains it was FREEZING COLD and had about 4 fries on the plate ... 4. We brought all of this up to the rude bartender when he tried to charge us for an extra oyster that they messed up and he said "YOU CANT WIN THEM ALL" what kind of restaurant is this. It took over 2.5 hours to eat 3 small plates here... No one in the staff seemed to have any self awareness or concept of time/efficiency. We have been here many times and have had a good experience, sad to see that it is going down hill and horrified by their unprofessional, cheap and rude staff.

We visited during Portsmouth restaurant week and I highly recommend Botanica. The meal was a three course set menu. I had the Gin salmon with beets and red onions, a light and easy starter dish. The duck confit which was amazing, crispy skin with tender meat served with Parisian gnocchi and chocolate souffle (not pictured). The tan Negroni (also not pictured) was the best cocktail of the night.

Great experience! Food and drink were excellent. The venue is very small but very chic. It was raining when we went so we sat indoors. The bar area looked like a great date spot. I went with a party of 4 and we got a handful of appetizers (the half shell oysters were my favorite) and every entree on the menu LOL!! I had 2 of the gin cocktails and liked both! We ended with the Chocolate souffle and it was so fluffy and moist.

We were craving French food after watching so much of the Olympics so I searched for French food on Yelp and was recommended this little gem, and I am so glad because we never would have heard of it otherwise! It's a cozy little place with limited seating so reservations are a must. The service was excellent and the food was unbelievable. I had the steak frites and my husband had the duck. Both were superb and we hadn't even finished before we were planning our next visit. The cocktails were fantastic as well, and the soufflé at the end is a must. That's the only thing I thought to take a photo of, but the entire meal was picture perfect. We can't wait to return!

Botanica never disappoints. The atmosphere is intimate- romantic if you want it to be but also totally appropriate for a friendly dinner on a special occasion (I brought my friend here for her birthday and have also celebrated my anniversary here). The menu, while perhaps limited compared to other restaurants, is clearly carefully curated. I try to be adventurous, but you really cannot go wrong with the steak frites. The drinks are also delicious. It's a gin bar, but I don't like gin, so I can't really speak to its capacity in that area, but I'm sure it's great. The service is fabulous- very attentive. Clearly, I'm a fan. The only reason why it's 4 and not 5 for me personally, is because of the limited menu. I would love for there to be an occasional menu change (maybe a new dessert or appetizer once in awhile) to try something new at the quality of Botanica's other offerings.

Made a reservation here and i'm so glad that i did!! This is a fabulous restaurant and gin bar with a romantic atmosphere and fabulous service and food. i ordered the steak frites and a side salad instead of the fries. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce was so tasty. My daughter got the fries and they were crispy and salty. So good!!!!

Everything was excellent. Service, food, ambiance. A little off the beaten path, but well worth seeking out.

AMAZING! Service was incredible... they were as warm and cozy as the ambience. Food was fantastic and cocktails were delicious! Hubby and I sat at a cozy table and celebrated his retirement. Will definitely recommend! Thanks for an awesome time!

Botanica is one of Portsmouth's best dining experiences. This is a super small restaurant, with a few nice tables outside during the warmer weather. The food swings French here and while there are many Gin based cocktails, there are cocktails and wine for everybody. Service is prompt, friendly and efficient. You should absolutely have a reservation here, since the dining room is so small. The bar gets busy as well. The menu offers some small bites ( the fries are delicious), appetizers as well as standard size dishes. I recommend ordering the chocolate souffle when you place your order, as it takes 25 minutes to prepare. Chef Brendan is talented and turns out so many great dishes, but if Coq Au Vin or Duck Confit are on the menu, I just can't resist. Located in Portsmouth's west end, the bonus is plenty of parking in their parking lot. If you haven't been here, just do it!

This was a wonderful food experience. Everything was prepared perfectly and had amazing flavor. My favorite was probably the Agnolotti. The flavors were light but perfectly matched. The steak frites were very good. I'm not a huge fan of that cut of meat but they prepared it so well I thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband had the cod and I tried a bite. The fish was tender and not overly fishy. They broth it was served in bad incredible flavor. The chocolate soufflé was very good but probably my least favorite part of the meal. I've just had some amazing soufflés in the past. This was above average but didn't blow me away. We will definitely be back and can't wait to try their other meals!

Best meal I've had in NH! Everything we ate was well thought out and delicious. Don't sleep on dessert.

AMAZING! The food was beyond tasty and incredible. The service was so fast and pristine. I need to go back and try everything on the menu. Absolutely fantastic. Best fries I have ever had!

I wanted to try something new as I wasn't feeling burgers or bar food that is common in this area. I decided to come here and basically got lost for about 10 minutes circling the area trying to look for the restaurant. It is located in a private office building with a parking lot with lots of signs warning that it is a private lot and violators would be towed. After parking I didn't know which entrance to use so I entered from their outdoor dining area. I took a seat at the bar and was greeted by the bartender with the menu and asked what I wanted to drink. I ordered a Coke but they had a Maine branded Mexican Cola in a bottle. I didn't really care for it although it did have a deeper flavor than a coke does. The bartender was very busy making all kinds of different drinks. As I looked around the restaurant, I felt quite out of place. It felt like the restaurant's normal clientele were real estate agents, higher end business people, and wealthy people. But I was mainly there for the food. I ordered three items, 3 swell raw oysters (should have ordered more), the pork belly appetizer, and the duck confit for my main Entree. All of the dishes were delicious and once I ordered, the food came out very quickly. The flavors of the dishes were light and subtle but were definitely good. I was still hungry after I ate my dishes and I started thinking that I probably should have ordered the dessert souffle but had to be ordered 25 minutes prior so I just paid my bill and was on my way. Overall, I really liked the food, atmosphere, and the service. I also paid less than I thought I would be paying which is always a good thing. I will definitely be back if I am craving something different in Portsmouth.

Definitely plan ahead as this place books up fast. I was able to get an outdoor table on the patio, and although it is nice to have both options I find that the indoor tables are a better option. The only reason I say this is because the patio is right outside of the parking lot and entry door, which can get loud and disruptive. It might be benefical to set up privacy dividers to create a more intimate experience. The menu is limited, but each item is well curated. They provide a variety of uniquely crafted cocktails. The waitstaff are friendly and attentive, but also give you your space.

Really nice little restaurant. Fantastic cocktails. Loved the scallop entree and the soufflé. Steak frites a bit tough. Good service. Second time there. I'd go back but wouldn't get the steak.

I love trying new restaurants, but I especially love finding new restaurants that do everything right from start to finish. Botanica is one of those new gems. I had heard about Botanica months ago when it first opened, and it peaked my interest as I heard that they specialized in gin cocktails. I tried to go a few times when it opened, but each time it was fully reserved. Fast forward to now, and I'm so glad that I was finally able to experience Botantica. A friend and I ended up going to Botanica later in the evening, and we sat at the bar. The first thing that struck both of us was the friendly staff. Every person that we interacted with was extremely nice and accommodating. The staff is definitely dedicated to making every patron's experience top notch. Although Botantica presents itself as a gin establishment, their cocktail menu has something for everyone. They have a variety of gin cocktail offerings (try the Greyhound or the Aviation2!) but they also have some cocktails with vodka and other spirits. Their food menu is also elevated and presents unique offerings. This was by far the best part of Botanica for me. My friend and I ended up starting with the Blythdale Brie with strawberries and pepper and the Crispy Pork Belly. The brie was surprising and a good portion size, however, the crispy pork belly was out-of-this-world good. The persillade was refreshing and so flavorful. I highly, highly recommend. After these two dishes, my friend and I were itching to try one more dish, so we decided on the duck meatballs, which were also exploding with flavor. Every single dish did NOT disappoint. Botantica definitely became a quick favorite of mine in the Portsmouth food scene. I can't wait to return and try more dishes and cocktails.

The duck confit and steak frites, cab franc and chocolate soufflé all were incredible. Service and atmosphere were wonderful! I'm hoping to return soon.

First time dining in this upscale West End restaurant. Well made craft cocktails from friendly bartenders and delicious food. I had the halibut. Prepared well. Lively scene. Outside seating available. Make a reservation.

Perfection. Great drinks & food. Everything was unique and yummy. Would recommend coming here even if you don't love gin

Had a lovely meal with our dinner friends. Worth the trip from Andover to Portsmouth. Small and intimate so must book early to get the preferred time slot. You will not be dissapointed.

Given the wonderful reviews, my husband and I were very disappointed in this restaurant and won't be returning. The duck confit was rather bland and uninspiring. The crab appetizer special was just okay and portions in general were all quite small and unremarkable. Atmosphere is pleasant.

This is a terrific new restaurant and gin bar, with a focus on French food preparation and flavors. It's located in the building behind CVS on Islington St. The chef behind this new restaurant is Brendan Vesey, who is also the chef at Joinery in Newmarket, NH. You may also have eatend his food at Street a few years back. While they have an extensive selection of gins (it's a gin bar after all) and gin cocktails, they have a full bar and a nice wine list as well, so by no means avoid it if you aren't into gin. It's just that if you are into gin and gin cocktails then you have an extra reason to go as they focus on them and have more to offer than other restaurants nearby in gins at least. The menu is a delight- and with the number of great restaurants already in Portsmouth to contend with, they still manage to knock it out of the park with delicious sounding flavors and preparations that make them worth adding to your "go here often" short list. I pretty much wanted to order 90% of the menu. Something to note: they have a series of snacks that are listed on the bottom of the cocktail/drink menu, that aren't on the dinner/food menu. Think of them as smaller bites to go with your drink that are not quite the size of appetizers. You'll miss them though if you only look at the food menu. I had a chilled Nolet Silver gin, up with a twist, and an amazing Duck confit ravioli, which was delicate and melted in my mouth. It was served in a buttery Parmesan broth with sliced heirloom tomatoes. Really lovely. Planning to come back soon and bring some more people next time!

Went there last night for dinner - amazing! I had the duck confit and my husband had the monkfish. It was delicious! Great service and presentation. Had the Empress G and T - beautiful and tasty. Definitely get the chocolate soufflé for dessert - you have to order ahead because of the time it takes to make. My new favorite place in Portsmouth.

Amazing dinner if a bit chilly! The soufflé was to die for! Had gorgeous food, tasty and creative cocktails. Great attention to food prep and presentation. We are out but the inside is a little jewel box

My daughter asked us to come to Botanica for her birthday along with her fiancee". Boy, am I happy we went. It was fantastic and we have been raving about it to all our friends in Newburyport. We started with 2 appetizers; Agnolotti and Baguette which what a way to start this meal, drinks we had White Negronis was amazing and we are practicing at home! Also Apiary and aviation3 which they liked alot. The entrees were nuts, we had the Duck which fell off the bone and the pasta was yummy. My husband had the Cassoulet and future son in law had the Steak Frites. Dessert was a hit, they brought a Chocolate Souffle which the 3 of them ate. We walked home in the rain and all we did was talk about the experience there! Staff was wonderful... GREAT JOB!

Very nice experience. Wine is excellent, entrees are well done but are really small. Oysters are really good, I would recommend this place.

Botanica is my new most favorite restaurant on the Seacoast. Everything I've eaten there is simply delicious. Really enjoy splitting various dishes with my dining companions so we can taste multiple dishes.They are all so inventive and tasty. The staff balance being friendly and informative without being intrusive. And then there are all those yummy gin cocktails! Love this place.. as a high maintenance customer the only challenge I find is parking so keep up the great work.

My parents really like this place and they brought me and a family friend here for dinner tonight. The food and portions were really good-we had the steak fritte, pork belly, oysters, soufflé, and we're all great. The only reason I took two stars off were because of the service. While everything was timely and the gentleman who seated us were great and friendly, our waitress was not engaging and we were told to leave at the two hour mark rather rudely (we had just barley finished our dessert and still had wine left) because someone was waiting. While this is understandable to an extent, for the amount of money everything was and the French bistro atmosphere, I'd expect to be able to spend some time finishing up.

They did a great job refining their menu. Everything is delicious and going here is a real treat. It's pretty small so plan ahead for a reservation! I absolutely loved the dessert soufflé, it was amazing.

This is a 4.5 star place. Lovely interior decor and nice patio outside. We started with a bottle of d'Alsace sparkling wine, baguette and the Agnolotti. The pasta was delicious and the bread was great to soak up the sauce. For dinner we went with the Halibut and the Duck confit. The halibut was cooked perfectly and the lemon sauce was wonderful, the duck was a bit dry and you needed to shred it and soak it in the au jus to make it more tender/savory. Finally, we finished with the wonderful chocolate soufflé! Service was friendly and on point, and the small dining room really is a lovely environment to dine. Overall very nice experience!

I'm pretty sure this is my new favorite restaurant. I had been wanting to try Botanica ever since I heard it was a "gin bar". My boyfriend and I had time to kill before a reservation at another nearby restaurant, and decided to come here for a drink or two while we waited. The ambiance inside is wonderful, and the staff is super friendly. Nick was great (both times!): attentive, without being overbearing at all. I had no idea it was also a French restaurant with a full menu! After we left, we genuinely regretted having a dinner reservation elsewhere, and decided to come back the following weekend for the full experience. The Empress G&T is witchy and fun and I dream about the Agnolotti app. The duck confit was also delicious. We will be back, hopefully very soon!

I wish I could have stayed there all night and eaten everything on their menu. Everything was absolutely incredible. We had the three cheese combination dessert which was fantastic. I cannot say enough good things! I will definitely be back

Creative and well executed food and cocktails with professional service. Our experience began with the highly knowledgeable server assisting us to choose one of the many specially designed cocktails. The Clip-On Tai was a take on a Mai Tai with plenty of fresh and seasonal fruit, delicious. For appetizers, we began with delicate, mineral-ey oysters from Damariscotta with a lovely mignonette that included jalapenos. Next we tasted a roasted heirloom cucumber dish with toasted pistachios and zaatar spice. The fromage blanc agnolotti was also superb in its buttered sauce, roasted tomatoes, basil, etc. For our main entree, the duck confit was superbly paired with Parisian gnocci, one crispy and savory bite followed the next along with a lovely red wine and leek sauce. For dessert, we opted for a light seasonal choice that surprised our tastebuds. It paired carmelized white chocolate with peaches, a buckwheat angel food cake, and puffed wild rice. The puffed wild rice was an aromatic and crispy adornment reminscent of the Sugar Smacks cereal. If creative food superbly executed is what you crave, then Botanica is your next dinner destination. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46209-d16811505-r801202037-Botanica_Restaurant_and_Gin_Bar-Portsmouth_New_Hampshire.html#

The food and cocktails are amazing. Very nice cozy setting, YES you can sit indoors. Plenty of vegetarian options. Very good service, excellent local beer on tap. Very highly recommended

We went to botanica for the first time last night with another couple. We had heard many great reviews but our experience still has me thinking about it the next day( not in a positive way). 3 out of the 4 of us ordered the halibut as our main. It was suppose to come with a green crab beurre blanc sauce. The dishes arrive and the sauce was basically nonexistent(the fish was dry without it)so our friend asked our server for a bit of sauce. 5 mins later the ? Chef? Sous chef? Kitchen staff person marched out with a tureen of sauce. This is where it all went south. He could have just nicely placed the dish on our table, for us to put on ourselves/ he could have asked which of us wanted the sauce and proceed to add it each of our plates. He stood at the table said it already had sauce and the dumped about 1/2 cup of butter on all of our dishes and marched off. We all looked at each other incredulous. I've never written a review about any restaurant experience we've ever had but this prompted and deserved one. With so many restaurant choices in Portsmouth and the surrounding area,I will think twice before heading there again.

Our favorite restaurant in Portsmouth! Wonderful food, drinks and service! We keep going back and love the changing menu.

Botanica is one of those rare finds where you immediately feel welcome and comfortable. The space is small but well set up and has a cosy feel. The bar takes up a lot of the restaurant but is situated so the majority of seats have their back to the restaurant, making kind of a natural barrier between that space and the other diners. There are two cosy booths next to the bar and then table and chair seating for the rest of the space. The waitstaff are the best, very knowledgeable about the drinks menu as well as the food. Cocktails are VERY creative here and have some ingredients the average drinker may not be familiar with, so it's worth exploring with your server. My favorite type of menu has lots of small plates and bites in addition to some meal sized entrees, and this perfectly describes the menu at Botanica. So many delights to choose from! We sampled the duck meatballs, steak tartare, duck liver pate, and a special that night- smoked salmon deviled eggs. All small plates and perfect for sharing. The winner for me was the cocktail I had made from Gin, beet shrub, Pastis, and possibly magic dust. Highly recommend this restaurant, good for drinks, snacks, or dinner; romantic from a food and drinks perspective but really fun and not at all pretentious. A winner and not yet a year old.

I posted this before, but Yelp took it down for some reason... This place is amazing! The drinks are great, the staff is friendly, and the soufflé is delicious! I haven't had any other food, but have been a few times for drinks and they have always been wonderful (I'm a gin girl). The bartender is the most knowledgeable that I have ever interacted with (he says it's the great training they get) and the owner is always there helping out and ensuring everyone is happy. I also love the decor, the bar is beautiful, wallpaper is to die for and art is one of a kind. I'll definitely be back many times.

Wow, two visits and both were equally outstanding. Botanica and Gin Bar is a highlight in the crowded and often marginal restaurants choices In Portsmouth. The menu, wine choices and specialty drinks (oh my god), are just so smart and cohesive. There wasn't one dish that our party of six ordered that disappointed. From the minute our server engaged with us, I knew we were in the hands of a pro and she expertly guided us throughout the meal. I could go on and on about each dish but Instead I just say GO THERE ITS DELICIOUS.

Awesome gin bar & restaurant! Had lots of hard to find gins and interesting cocktails, and the food was sooo good. Don't miss the bread & butter either! Cool modern Scandinavian decor with a twist. Great ambiance & service, too.

Very good food. Small and pleasant space. Service very good. Big on specialty drinks. Tried a couple. They were okay, but would stick to old standards going forward. Small menu, but high quality food and presentation.

Great cocktails and amazing food. We had the tomato tart, mussel fries (moules frites), and the halibut bouillabaisse. If you are thinking about going, go now, before the bouillabaisse is taken off of the menu. It is "last meal" good. The tart and the mussel fries are also really good and I will certainly order them again. Botanica is known for their gin cocktails, but I've never been a fan of gin, so I asked our server, Laurence, to recommend a cocktail. He named two to try, The Last Word, and Bijou. Both were excellent and I would drink both again. Whoever designed these drinks should be commended as the cocktails were perfectly balanced.

Absolutely fantastic service, amazing cocktails, and out of this world food! The duck confit might be the best dish we've ever had. The atmosphere is very quaint and cheery, and wait staff are very friendly. The gin cocktails are amazing, especially the "Last Word" and the Apiary. We've been many times and will keep coming back for sure!

Delicious food! Did not recognize anything on the wine list but the bartender was very helpful! Cute atmosphere, just outside the craziness off downtown (easy parking is a plus!)

I really wanted to like this place. I ordered corn fritter appetizer and found it almost flavorless and was a small portion for the price. Had to wait 45 minutes to be asked if we wanted a second round of drinks and for the food to come out. I ordered the steak and frites which was delicious, however my boyfriend ordered the halibut was very disappointed. The portion was extremely small maybe 3 inches by 1 1/2 inches and was cold. This was for this 30th birthday dinner and we both had high expectations for the night. Outdoor dining only has heaters on one side of dining section we were sat at the table farthest from the heaters and were pretty chilly. Drink list had great options and food was cooked well but 1 dish was cold upon arrival. Service was so so but during covid times can be forgiven although restaurant was not very busy. We may give this place another shot in the future but were let down by our visit.

The food and service were very good here. The price was very reasonable for what you get. We started with a cheese plate and it was excellent, great pairings and good portion size to share. For dinner we had the steak and the duck confit. Both were delicious. The duck had tons of flavor and the steak was a perfect medium rare. We got the souffle for dessert. It was very good and came with a creme anglais. I felt a raspberry sauce would have been better but I am not a creme fan so I am biased. Waiter was attentive and friendly. He was very patient with the table next to us who seemed very difficult.

I made reservations for Botanica for my significant other's birthday this week. We had heard good things about it. It has a nice open feel on the inside and the outdoor dining has warning lamps and looked cozy. We ordered the crab fritters and the duck meatballs as appetizers and those were very flavorful and perfectly seasoned. The sauces with the dishes complimented them perfectly. We ordered the duck confit with gnocchi and the halibut with potato pave and tomato leek broth. Both of the entrees lacked seasoning-they would have been much more enjoyable if they had been seasoned well. I also think that the potato pave would have bern better if the textures were able to be more recognizable. It was put in the broth so it got soggy. The nice thing about a pave is the crispy exterior and the layers of perfectly cooked potato on the inside. We ordered their hand cut fries to finish on a better note. They were seasoned well and the truffle ketchup (we ordered additional garlic aoli) was tasty.

My wife and I started the night with signature cocktails, which were excellent. I had the duck confit. It was one of the best meals in memory. My wife had the steak frites - also outstanding. Botanica is a must try!

What a hidden gem in Portsmouth. Service was wonderful, eating outside by the heat lamps was super comfortable, the drinks were delicious and the food was really outstanding. Appetizers were on point, and the steak frites was just a perfect plate. I look forward to bringing family/friends here and will recommend to those I know visiting the seacoast area, absolutely worth it. The inside decor was also very well done and it's just a lovely place.

This place is excellent! Amazing food and amazing service! Love the different gin cocktails, the specials for food are good we've gotten them every time. The interior is beautiful but small so make sure to make a reservation!