There are several reasons for this - a very important one is the narrowness of the cellar. Some time ago - for example - we got a call from the "Hotel Sacher" during the glamorous performance of the wonderful Barbara Dennerlein: "We would like to reserve a table for six people, right next to the band. The gentlemen still dine by us and will come to you around 10.00 p.m.!"

Understandably, I had to refuse with thanks. We are dependent on people eating by us and drinking their beer here, because only then will we be able to bring world-class musicians to Vienna in the future - if you can accommodate three hundred or even more guests, everything will be easier.

Our regular guests already know - we don't make reservations. This may seem unfriendly and arrogant, but unfortunately there is no other way, because otherwise we would have to hire "ushers" and "seat coordinators" on strong evenings.

And then there's the story that happened in Munich in the 70's, which also caused us to do without reservations:

I was on tour with the wonderful TEDDY WILSON. He gave a concert at MEMOLAND in Schwabing (which unfortunately no longer exists). When we arrived everything was vain and wonny. MEMO - the boss - told us radiantly that the restaurant was "booked out", we had a really full house. Around 18.00 o'clock it began to pour, Munich stood two centimeters under water, and when MEMO opened its gates around 19.00 o'clock, the visitors dripped very sparsely to the tables.

Worried, I went to the cash desk and experienced the following dialogue about eighty times (!!!) in slight variations:
 "Four cards, please!"
 "Sorry - we're booked out!"

Shortly before the concert began, barely 30 jazz musicians were sitting at the tables, MEMO continued to send the guests who had not reserved home, and when TEDDY WILSON started playing at about 8.30 p.m. in front of forty enthusiasts, MEMO had certainly sent about a hundred people back into the rain, and the Munichers who had reserved, were sitting at home, protecting their umbrellas.

Now do you understand why we don't reserve?