walk-in
WAWK-in
/ˈwɔːk ɪn/
A customer who arrives at a restaurant without having made a prior reservation; or pertaining to such service.
Can refer to individual diners ('we have two walk-ins') or house policy ('we hold tables for walk-ins').
The story behind the word. Coined in mid-20th-century American English by joining 'walk' and 'in'. Originally used in medical clinics for unscheduled patients before being widely adopted by hospitality businesses in the 1960s.
Word relationships
- unannounced diner: 'Unannounced diner' is overly descriptive and rarely used in industry jargon.
- reservation holder: A reservation holder has pre-arranged a table before arriving.
Commonly confused with
- walk-in freezer: A walk-in freezer is kitchen cold storage, whereas a walk-in guest is a spontaneous diner.
Word family
- walk in (phrasal verb): To enter a business venue spontaneously without an appointment.
Collocations
- walk-in customer
- accept walk-ins
- tables for walk-ins
- walk-in policy
Idioms & expressions
- off the street
Example sentences
- "Although we did not book ahead, the bistro keeps several tables unreserved for walk-in guests." Dining policy
Memory hook
You literally WALK IN off the street without calling first! Walk right in without calling ahead.
When not to use
Do not confuse with walk-in refrigerators or freezers used in restaurant kitchens.
Fun facts
- Some famous London bistros operate on a strict 100% walk-in policy to foster energetic queues along the street.
Related words
Explore more words
drive-thru, quick-service, self-serve, reservation, spontaneous, outpatient
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