Step-by-Step Guide: Building an OpenTable Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive tutorial will walk you through building a fully functional restaurant reservation app using Adalo platform. You'll create an app that connects diners with restaurants, handles real-time bookings, processes payments, and manages table inventory—all without writing a single line of code. While OpenTable serves 125 million diners and charges restaurants $39-$449 monthly, you can build your own version for a fraction of that cost.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account and Project

1. Visit Adalo.com and sign up for a free account
2. Click "Create New App" from your dashboard
3. Choose "Mobile App" (recommended for optimal restaurant booking experience)
4. Name your app (e.g., "TableBooker" or "DineConnect")
5. Select "Start from Scratch" to build your custom reservation platform

The free plan includes unlimited test apps with 200-500 records per app, perfect for prototyping your restaurant booking system before investing in a paid plan.

Step 2: Configure Your App Settings

1. Choose your primary platform focus:
   
   • Web App: Best for desktop bookings and restaurant admin dashboards
   • Mobile App: Ideal for on-the-go diners making reservations
   • Both: Recommended for comprehensive coverage
2. Set your app theme:
   
   • Primary Color: Choose a sophisticated color (e.g., deep burgundy, elegant navy)
   • Secondary Color: Select for calls-to-action (e.g., gold, green for "Book Now")
   • Font: Pick a clean, readable font that works across platforms
3. Click "Continue" to enter the app builder

Since Adalo supports responsive design, your app will automatically adapt to different screen sizes.

Step 3: Plan Your Multi-Sided App Structure

Your OpenTable clone will serve three distinct user types:

1. Diners/Guests: Browse restaurants, make reservations, leave reviews
2. Restaurant Owners: Manage listings, view bookings, control availability
3. Restaurant Staff: Update table status, check daily reservations

You can build this as either:

• Single app with conditional visibility (different screens shown based on user type)
• Separate apps sharing the same database (cleaner user experience)

For this guide, we'll use conditional visibility within one app to simplify deployment.

Building the Database Structure

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

The Users collection comes pre-built with Email and Password fields. Let's add restaurant-specific properties:

1. Click the Database icon in the left sidebar
2. Click on "Users" collection
3. Add these properties by clicking "+ Add Property":
   
   • Full Name (Text)
   • Phone Number (Text)
   • Profile Image (Image)
   • User Type (Text) - Options: "Diner", "Restaurant Owner", "Staff"
   • Address (Text)
   • Dietary Restrictions (Text - Multiline)
   • Favorite Cuisines (Text)
   • Owner Restaurant ID (Number) - Links owners to their restaurant

This relational database approach keeps your data organized and scalable.

Step 5: Create the Restaurants Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection" in the database panel
2. Name it "Restaurants"
3. Add these properties:
   
   • Restaurant Name (Text)
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Cuisine Type (Text) - e.g., "Italian", "Japanese", "Mexican"
   • Location (Location/Address) - For map integration
   • Street Address (Text)
   • City (Text)
   • State (Text)
   • Zip Code (Text)
   • Phone Number (Text)
   • Email (Email)
   • Website (URL)
   • Logo Image (Image)
   • Cover Photos (Image List) - Multiple restaurant images
   • Operating Hours Open (Time)
   • Operating Hours Close (Time)
   • Average Price Range (Number) - e.g., 1-4 dollar signs
   • Total Seats (Number)
   • Average Rating (Number)
   • Total Reviews (Number)
   • Accepts Reservations (True/False)

This structure mirrors how OpenTable manages restaurant data, giving you the flexibility to add features like price filtering and cuisine search.

Step 6: Build the Menu Items Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Menu Items"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Item Name (Text)
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Price (Number - Currency format)
   • Category (Text) - e.g., "Appetizers", "Entrees", "Desserts"
   • Image (Image)
   • Dietary Tags (Text) - e.g., "Vegetarian", "Gluten-Free", "Vegan"
   • Available (True/False)
   • Popular (True/False) - Highlight signature dishes

Step 7: Create the Tables Collection

This collection manages your restaurant's physical table inventory:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Tables"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Table Number (Text)
   • Capacity (Number) - Number of guests it seats
   • Location (Text) - Options: "Window", "Patio", "Indoor", "Bar"
   • Status (Text) - Options: "Available", "Occupied", "Reserved", "Out of Service"
   • Minimum Party Size (Number)
   • Maximum Party Size (Number)

This granular control lets restaurants manage inventory similar to how reservation systems handle table assignments.

Step 8: Design the Reservations Collection

This is the core of your booking system:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Reservations"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Reservation ID (Text - Auto-Generated)
   • Reservation Date (Date)
   • Reservation Time (Time)
   • Party Size (Number)
   • Special Requests (Text - Multiline)
   • Status (Text) - Options: "Pending", "Confirmed", "Seated", "Completed", "Cancelled", "No-Show"
   • Confirmation Code (Text - Auto-Generated, 6-character)
   • Dietary Notes (Text)
   • Occasion (Text) - e.g., "Birthday", "Anniversary", "Business"
   • Deposit Amount (Number)
   • Deposit Paid (True/False)
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Check-In Time (Date & Time)
   • Check-Out Time (Date & Time)
   • Cancellation Reason (Text)
   • Cancelled Date (Date & Time)

Step 9: Create the Reviews Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Reviews"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Rating (Number) - 1-5 stars
   • Food Rating (Number) - 1-5
   • Service Rating (Number) - 1-5
   • Ambiance Rating (Number) - 1-5
   • Review Text (Text - Multiline)
   • Photos (Image List) - Guest-uploaded photos
   • Restaurant Response (Text - Multiline)
   • Response Date (Date & Time)
   • Helpful Count (Number) - Other users marking as helpful
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Visit Date (Date)

Step 10: Build the Payments Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Payments"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Payment ID (Text - Auto-Generated)
   • Amount (Number - Currency)
   • Payment Type (Text) - Options: "Deposit", "Full Payment", "Cancellation Fee"
   • Payment Method (Text) - e.g., "Credit Card", "Debit Card"
   • Card Last 4 (Text)
   • Card Brand (Text) - e.g., "Visa", "Mastercard"
   • Status (Text) - Options: "Pending", "Completed", "Failed", "Refunded"
   • Stripe Payment ID (Text)
   • Stripe Customer ID (Text)
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Refund Amount (Number)
   • Refund Date (Date & Time)

Step 11: Set Up Database Relationships

Now connect your collections to enable data flow:

1. In Restaurants collection, add relationships:

• Menu Items: One-to-Many (one restaurant has many menu items)
• Tables: One-to-Many (one restaurant has many tables)
• Reservations: One-to-Many (one restaurant receives many reservations)
• Reviews: One-to-Many (one restaurant receives many reviews)
• Owner: Many-to-One with Users (connects to restaurant owner account)

2. In Reservations collection, add relationships:

• Guest: Many-to-One with Users (the diner making the reservation)
• Restaurant: Many-to-One with Restaurants
• Table: Many-to-One with Tables (assigned table)
• Payment: One-to-One with Payments

3. In Reviews collection, add relationships:

• Reviewer: Many-to-One with Users
• Restaurant: Many-to-One with Restaurants
• Reservation: Many-to-One with Reservations (links review to specific visit)

4. In Tables collection, add relationships:

• Restaurant: Many-to-One with Restaurants
• Reservations: One-to-Many with Reservations

5. In Menu Items collection, add relationships:

• Restaurant: Many-to-One with Restaurants

This relational structure follows database design principles for reservation and food delivery systems.

Installing Required Components

Step 12: Install Maps Component

1. Go to Adalo Marketplace
2. Search for "Maps" or "Google Maps"
3. Click "Install" on the Maps component
4. You'll need a Google Maps API key:
   
   • Visit Google Cloud Console
   • Create a new project or select existing
   • Enable Maps JavaScript API and Places API
   • Create credentials (API key)
   • Copy and save your API key for later

Maps enable location-based restaurant search and visual location display for diners.

Step 13: Install Stripe Payment Component

1. In the Marketplace, search "Stripe"
2. Install the "Stripe Payments" component
3. Prepare your Stripe account:
   
   • Sign up at Stripe.com
   • Get your test API keys from Dashboard → Developers → API keys
   • Get your live API keys once ready for production
   • Save both Publishable key and Secret key

Step 14: Install Additional Helpful Components

Browse the Component Marketplace and consider installing:

• Star Rating Component: For visual review ratings
• Calendar Component: For date selection
• Image Carousel: For displaying restaurant photos
• Social Sharing: Let users share restaurants on social media
• Chat Component: Enable direct messaging between diners and restaurants

Creating User Authentication

Step 15: Build the Welcome Screen

1. Rename the default screen to "Welcome"
2. Add your app logo:
   
   • Drag Image component to screen
   • Upload your logo or use a placeholder
   • Center align, set appropriate size
3. Add headline text:
   
   • Drag Text component below logo
   • Enter: "Discover and book the best restaurants"
   • Style: Large font, bold, centered
4. Add subheading:
   
   • Drag Text component
   • Enter: "Reserve your table in seconds"
   • Style: Medium font, centered
5. Add authentication buttons:
   
   • Drag two Button components
   • First button: "Sign Up" → Link to "Sign Up" screen (create new)
   • Second button: "Log In" → Link to "Login" screen (create new)
   • Style: Full width, contrasting colors
6. Optional: Add "Browse as Guest" link for users to explore restaurants without account

Step 16: Create the Sign Up Screen

1. Add new screen: "Sign Up"
2. Add a Form component:
   
   • Connect to: Users collection
   • Action Type: "Create"
3. Include these form fields:
   
   • Email (Email input - pre-configured)
   • Password (Password input - pre-configured)
   • Full Name (Text input)
   • Phone Number (Text input)
   • Address (Text input - optional)
4. Add Dropdown for User Type:
   
   • Label: "I am a..."
   • Options: "Diner" and "Restaurant Owner"
   • Updates: User Type property
5. Configure submit button:
   
   • Label: "Create Account"
   • Add Conditional Actions:
     
     • If User Type = "Diner" → Link to "Diner Home" screen
     • If User Type = "Restaurant Owner" → Link to "Restaurant Setup" screen
6. Add login link:
   
   • Text: "Already have an account? Log in"
   • Link to: Login screen

Step 17: Create the Login Screen

1. Add new screen: "Login"
2. Add Form component:
   
   • Connect to: Users collection
   • Action Type: "Login"
   • Fields: Email, Password
3. Submit button: "Log In"
4. Add conditional navigation after login:
   
   • If Logged In User → User Type = "Diner" → "Diner Home"
   • If Logged In User → User Type = "Restaurant Owner" → "Restaurant Dashboard"
   • If Logged In User → User Type = "Staff" → "Staff Dashboard"
5. Add helper links:
   
   • "Forgot Password?" → Link to password reset screen
   • "Don't have an account? Sign Up" → Link to Sign Up screen

Step 18: Build Restaurant Owner Setup Screen

This screen collects restaurant information from new owner accounts:

1. Add new screen: "Restaurant Setup"
2. Add Form component connected to Restaurants collection:
   
   • Restaurant Name (Text input - required)
   • Cuisine Type (Dropdown: Italian, Japanese, Mexican, American, etc.)
   • Street Address (Text input)
   • City (Text input)
   • State (Dropdown with US states)
   • Zip Code (Text input)
   • Phone Number (Text input)
   • Logo Image (Image picker)
   • Cover Photos (Image picker - multiple)
   • Description (Text area - multiline)
   • Operating Hours Open (Time picker)
   • Operating Hours Close (Time picker)
   • Average Price Range (Dropdown: $, $$, $$$, $$$$)
   • Total Seats (Number input)
3. On submit:
   
   • Create new Restaurant record
   • Set Owner relationship to Logged In User
   • Update User's Owner Restaurant ID
   • Navigate to "Add Tables" screen

Building the Diner Interface

Step 19: Create the Diner Home Screen

This is the main discovery screen for hungry guests:

1. Add new screen: "Diner Home"
2. Add search and filter section at top:
   
   • Text Input with search icon: "Search restaurants, cuisines..."
   • Dropdown: Filter by Cuisine Type
   • Dropdown: Filter by Price Range
   • Dropdown: Sort by (Rating, Price, Distance)
3. Add Maps component (if using location-based search):
   
   • Height: 40% of screen
   • Show restaurant locations as pins
   • Filter: Restaurants where Accepts Reservations = True
4. Add List component below map:
   
   • Data source: Restaurants collection
   • Filters: Based on search input and dropdowns above
   • Sort: By selected option (Rating/Price/Distance)
   • For each list item, display:
     
     • Restaurant Logo or Cover Photo (Image)
     • Restaurant Name (Text)
     • Cuisine Type (Text)
     • Average Rating (Text with star icon)
     • Price Range (Text - show $ symbols)
     • Distance from user (if location enabled)
   • Click action: Link to "Restaurant Detail" screen
     
     • Pass: Current Restaurant (from list item)
5. Add bottom navigation bar:
   
   • Home (current screen)
   • My Reservations → Link to "My Bookings"
   • Profile → Link to "User Profile"

Step 20: Build the Restaurant Detail Screen

This screen shows comprehensive restaurant information:

1. Add new screen: "Restaurant Detail"
2. Set screen to receive: Restaurant (from previous screen)
3. Add hero section:
   
   • Image Carousel component showing Current Restaurant → Cover Photos
   • Height: 250-300px
   • Include dots indicator for multiple images
4. Add restaurant information section:
   
   • Text: Current Restaurant → Restaurant Name (Large, bold)
   • Text: Current Restaurant → Cuisine Type (with icon)
   • Star Rating component: Current Restaurant → Average Rating
   • Text: Current Restaurant → Total Reviews (e.g., "125 reviews")
   • Text: Current Restaurant → Price Range (Show $$)
   • Text: Current Restaurant → Address (with location icon)
   • Button: "Get Directions" → Opens map app with address
5. Add tabs or sections:
   
   • About: Current Restaurant → Description
   • Menu: List of Menu Items
     
     • Filter: Menu Items → Restaurant = Current Restaurant
     • Display: Item Name, Description, Price, Dietary Tags
   • Reviews: List of Reviews
     
     • Filter: Reviews → Restaurant = Current Restaurant
     • Sort: Newest first
     • Display: Rating, Review Text, Photos, Date
6. Add prominent booking button:
   
   • Button: "Reserve a Table"
   • Sticky at bottom of screen
   • Link to: "Book Reservation" screen
   • Pass: Current Restaurant

Step 21: Design the Menu Tab (Within Restaurant Detail)

1. Add List component for Menu Items:
   
   • Data source: Menu Items collection
   • Filter: Menu Items → Restaurant → Restaurant ID = Current Restaurant → Restaurant ID
   • Additional filter: Available = True
2. Group by Category:
   
   • Create separate lists or use conditional visibility
   • Categories: Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts, Drinks
3. For each menu item display:
   
   • Image: Item Image (thumbnail)
   • Text: Item Name (Bold)
   • Text: Description (Smaller font, gray)
   • Text: Price (Right aligned, highlighted)
   • Icon badges: For dietary tags (V for vegetarian, GF for gluten-free)
   • Badge: "Popular" if Popular = True

Step 22: Build the Book Reservation Screen

This is where the magic happens—the actual booking flow:

1. Add new screen: "Book Reservation"
2. Set screen to receive: Restaurant
3. Add restaurant summary at top:
   
   • Current Restaurant → Restaurant Name
   • Current Restaurant → Address
   • Small version of logo
4. Add Form component connected to Reservations collection:
   
   • Date Picker: Reservation Date
     
     • Minimum date: Today
     • Maximum date: 60 days from today
   • Time Picker: Reservation Time
     
     • Only show times during restaurant operating hours
     • Show in 15 or 30-minute intervals
   • Number Picker/Dropdown: Party Size
     
     • Options: 1-20 people
     • Show "For parties larger than 20, please call"
   • Dropdown: Table Location Preference (Optional)
     
     • Options: No Preference, Window, Patio, Indoor, Bar
   • Text Area: Special Requests
     
     • Placeholder: "Allergies, dietary restrictions, occasions..."
   • Text Input: Dietary Notes
5. Add availability checker:
   
   • Button: "Check Availability"
   • Action: Count existing reservations
     
     • Filter: Same restaurant, same date, same time (+/- 2 hours)
     • If count × average party size >= restaurant total seats → Show "Limited availability"
     • If count × average party size > restaurant total seats × 1.2 → Show "No tables available"
6. Show deposit information (if required):
   
   • Text: "A $20 deposit is required to confirm your reservation"
   • Checkbox: "I agree to the cancellation policy"
7. Configure submit button:
   
   • Label: "Continue to Payment" or "Confirm Reservation"
   • Actions:
     
     • Create Reservation record
     • Set Guest = Logged In User
     • Set Restaurant = Current Restaurant
     • Set Status = "Pending"
     • Generate Confirmation Code
     • If deposit required → Link to "Payment" screen
     • If no deposit → Update Status to "Confirmed" → Link to "Confirmation" screen

This scheduling app approach ensures smooth booking flow with proper availability checks.

Step 23: Create the Availability Checking Logic

Since real-time availability is crucial, implement smart checks:

1. Create a Custom Action on the "Check Availability" button:
   
   • Count records in Reservations where:
     
     • Restaurant = Current Restaurant
     • Reservation Date = Selected Date
     • Reservation Time within 2 hours of Selected Time
     • Status ≠ "Cancelled"
2. Calculate available capacity:
   
   • Available Seats = Restaurant → Total Seats - (Sum of all Party Sizes for that time slot)
3. Show conditional message:
   
   • If Available Seats > Party Size → "Tables available!"
   • If Available Seats < Party Size but > 0 → "Limited availability, we'll confirm within 1 hour"
   • If Available Seats ≤ 0 → "Sorry, fully booked for this time. Try another time?"
4. Suggest alternative times:
   
   • Show available slots 30 minutes before/after requested time

Step 24: Build the Payment Screen

1. Add new screen: "Payment"
2. Show booking summary:
   
   • Restaurant name and logo
   • Date, Time, Party Size
   • Special requests
   • Deposit amount due
3. Add Stripe Payment component:
   
   • Amount: Current Reservation → Deposit Amount
   • Customer: Logged In User → Stripe Customer ID
   • Description: "Reservation deposit for [Restaurant Name]"
   • Save payment method: True (for future bookings)
4. Add card information inputs:
   
   • Cardholder Name
   • Card Number
   • Expiration Date (MM/YY)
   • CVC
   • Billing Zip Code
5. Add security badges:
   
   • "Powered by Stripe" logo
   • "Your payment is secure and encrypted"
6. Submit button: "Pay & Confirm Reservation"
   
   • On successful payment:
     
     • Create Payment record
     • Update Reservation → Deposit Paid = True
     • Update Reservation → Status = "Confirmed"
     • Store Stripe Payment ID
     • Send confirmation email (if email integration setup)
     • Navigate to "Confirmation" screen

Step 25: Create the Booking Confirmation Screen

1. Add new screen: "Confirmation"
2. Add success message:
   
   • Icon: Large checkmark
   • Text: "Reservation Confirmed!"
3. Display booking details:
   
   • Text: Current Reservation → Confirmation Code (Large, bold)
   • Text: "Show this code when you arrive"
   • Restaurant name and address
   • Date and time
   • Party size
   • Special requests
4. Add action buttons:
   
   • Button: "Add to Calendar"
     
     • Creates calendar event with details
   • Button: "Get Directions"
     
     • Opens maps app with restaurant address
   • Button: "View My Reservations"
     
     • Link to "My Bookings" screen
5. Add reminder text:
   
   • "We'll send you a reminder 24 hours before your reservation"
   • "If you need to modify or cancel, please do so at least 2 hours in advance"

Step 26: Build My Reservations Screen

1. Add new screen: "My Bookings"
2. Add two tabs or sections:
   
   • Upcoming Reservations
   • Past Reservations
3. For Upcoming Reservations:
   
   • Add List of Reservations
   • Filter: Guest = Logged In User AND Status ≠ "Completed" AND Status ≠ "Cancelled" AND Reservation Date >= Today
   • Sort: By Reservation Date (Ascending)
   • Display for each:
     
     • Restaurant name and logo
     • Date and time
     • Party size
     • Confirmation code
     • Status badge (Pending/Confirmed)
   • Click action: Link to "Reservation Details" screen
4. For Past Reservations:
   
   • Add List of Reservations
   • Filter: Guest = Logged In User AND (Status = "Completed" OR Reservation Date < Today)
   • Sort: By Reservation Date (Descending)
   • Display same info as upcoming
   • Add "Write a Review" button for completed reservations without reviews

Step 27: Create Reservation Details Screen

1. Add new screen: "Reservation Details"
2. Set to receive: Reservation
3. Display complete reservation information:
   
   • Restaurant details
   • Confirmation code (large, prominent)
   • Date, time, party size
   • Special requests
   • Table assignment (if assigned)
   • Deposit payment status
4. Add management buttons (only show if reservation date is in future):
   
   • Button: "Modify Reservation"
     
     • Link to "Modify Booking" screen
     • Pass: Current Reservation
   • Button: "Cancel Reservation"
     
     • Show confirmation modal
     • Action: Update Status = "Cancelled"
     • If within cancellation window → Process refund
     • Send cancellation confirmation
5. Add contact restaurant button:
   
   • Button: "Call Restaurant"
     
     • Action: tel:[Restaurant Phone]
   • Button: "Message Restaurant"
     
     • Link to chat screen (if chat component installed)

Building the Restaurant Owner Interface

Step 28: Create Restaurant Dashboard Home

This is mission control for restaurant owners:

1. Add new screen: "Restaurant Dashboard"
2. Add welcome section:
   
   • Text: "Welcome back, [Owner Name]"
   • Text: Current Restaurant → Restaurant Name
3. Add today's summary cards:
   
   • Card 1: Total Reservations Today
     
     • Count: Reservations where Restaurant = Owner's Restaurant AND Reservation Date = Today
     • Icon: Calendar
   • Card 2: Current Occupancy
     
     • Count: Reservations where Status = "Seated"
     • Show: [Number] / [Total Seats]
   • Card 3: Upcoming Arrivals
     
     • Count: Reservations in next 2 hours where Status = "Confirmed"
   • Card 4: Pending Requests
     
     • Count: Reservations where Status = "Pending"
4. Add quick action buttons:
   
   • Button: "Today's Reservations" → Link to daily calendar
   • Button: "Manage Tables" → Link to table management
   • Button: "View Reviews" → Link to reviews screen
   • Button: "Update Menu" → Link to menu editor
   • Button: "Restaurant Settings" → Link to settings
5. Add navigation menu:
   
   • Dashboard (current)
   • Reservations
   • Tables
   • Menu
   • Reviews
   • Settings

Step 29: Build the Add Tables Screen

Restaurant owners need to set up their table inventory:

1. Add new screen: "Add Tables"
2. Add header:
   
   • Text: "Set Up Your Tables"
   • Text: "Add all tables to manage reservations effectively"
3. Add Form to create new table:
   
   • Text Input: Table Number/Name (e.g., "T1", "Window 3")
   • Number Input: Capacity (1-20)
   • Dropdown: Location (Window, Patio, Indoor, Bar)
   • Number Input: Minimum Party Size
   • Number Input: Maximum Party Size
   • Toggle: Currently Available
4. Submit button: "Add Table"
   
   • Action: Create Table record
   • Set Restaurant relationship to owner's restaurant
   • Stay on same screen to add more tables
5. Show list of added tables below form:
   
   • List of Tables
   • Filter: Restaurant = Owner's Restaurant
   • Display: Table Number, Capacity, Location
   • Actions: Edit, Delete
6. Add "Finish Setup" button:
   
   • Appears after at least 5 tables added
   • Link to: "Restaurant Dashboard"

Step 30: Create Daily Reservations View

This screen helps staff manage the day's bookings:

1. Add new screen: "Daily Reservations"
2. Add date selector:
   
   • Date Picker: Defaults to Today
   • Can select past or future dates
3. Add summary stats for selected date:
   
   • Total reservations: [Count]
   • Total covers (sum of party sizes): [Number]
   • Occupancy rate: [Percentage]
4. Add List of reservations:
   
   • Filter: Restaurant = Owner's Restaurant AND Reservation Date = Selected Date
   • Sort: By Reservation Time
   • Group by time slot (11am-2pm Lunch, 5pm-10pm Dinner)
5. For each reservation, display:
   
   • Time: Reservation Time
   • Table: Assigned Table Number (if assigned)
   • Guest: Guest Name
   • Party Size: Number badge
   • Status: Color-coded badge (Pending/Confirmed/Seated/Completed)
   • Special requests: Icon if exists
6. Add action buttons for each reservation:
   
   • Assign Table (if not assigned)
   • Check In (changes status to Seated)
   • Complete (changes status to Completed)
   • Cancel (with reason)
7. Add filter options:
   
   • Show All / Only Pending / Only Confirmed / Only Seated

Step 31: Build the Table Assignment Screen

1. Add new screen: "Assign Table"
2. Set to receive: Reservation
3. Show reservation details:
   
   • Guest name, party size, time
   • Special requests (important for seating decisions)
4. Add visual table layout (optional advanced feature):
   
   • Use custom components or image map
   • Show all tables with current status
5. Add List of available tables:
   
   • Filter: Tables where:
     
     • Restaurant = Current Restaurant
     • Capacity >= Reservation Party Size
     • No conflicting reservation at that time
   • Display: Table Number, Capacity, Location
   • Highlight recommended tables (perfect capacity match)
6. Select table action:
   
   • Click on table
   • Update Reservation → Table = Selected Table
   • Navigate back to Daily Reservations

Step 32: Create Table Management Screen

Real-time table status control:

1. Add new screen: "Table Management"
2. Add view toggle:
   
   • Buttons: List View / Floor Plan View
3. For List View:
   
   • List of all Tables
   • Filter: Restaurant = Owner's Restaurant
   • Display for each:
     
     • Table Number (Large)
     • Capacity
     • Location
     • Current Status (Available/Occupied/Reserved)
     • Current reservation details (if reserved)
   • Actions:
     
     • Update Status: Quick dropdown to change status
     • Edit Table: Modify capacity, location
     • Delete Table: Remove from system
4. Add real-time updates:
   
   • Use countdown timer to refresh list every 30 seconds
   • Show "Last updated: [time]" text
5. Add "Add New Table" button:
   
   • Opens form to create new table record

Step 33: Build the Menu Management Screen

Let owners update their menu offerings:

1. Add new screen: "Menu Management"
2. Add category tabs:
   
   • Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts, Drinks, Specials
3. For each category, show List of Menu Items:
   
   • Filter: Restaurant = Owner's Restaurant AND Category = Selected Tab
   • Display: Image thumbnail, Name, Description, Price
4. Add "Add New Item" button:
   
   • Opens "Add Menu Item" form screen
5. For each item, add action buttons:
   
   • Edit: Opens edit form
   • Toggle Availability: Quick on/off switch
   • Delete: Remove item
   • Mark as Popular: Set Popular = True

Step 34: Create Add/Edit Menu Item Screen

1. Add new screen: "Menu Item Form"
2. Add Form component:
   
   • Image Picker: Item Image
   • Text Input: Item Name
   • Text Area: Description
   • Number Input: Price (Currency format)
   • Dropdown: Category
   • Text Input: Dietary Tags (comma-separated)
   • Toggle: Available Now
   • Toggle: Popular Item
3. Submit button creates or updates Menu Item record
4. Set Restaurant relationship automatically

Step 35: Build Reviews Management Screen

Help owners respond to customer feedback:

1. Add new screen: "Reviews"
2. Add summary statistics:
   
   • Overall average rating (large)
   • Total reviews count
   • Breakdown by star rating (5 stars: X, 4 stars: Y, etc.)
3. Add List of Reviews:
   
   • Filter: Restaurant = Owner's Restaurant
   • Sort: Newest first
   • Display for each:
     
     • Reviewer name and photo
     • Star rating
     • Review date
     • Review text
     • Photos (if any)
     • Restaurant response (if exists)
4. For each review, add:
   
   • Button: "Respond" (if no response yet)
   • Button: "Edit Response" (if response exists)
5. Show response form:
   
   • Text Area: Restaurant Response
   • Save updates Review record
   • Records Response Date

Step 36: Create Restaurant Settings Screen

Configuration and account management:

1. Add new screen: "Restaurant Settings"
2. Add sections:
   
   • Restaurant Information
     
     • Edit form for name, description, address, phone, email, website
     • Upload new logo or cover photos
   • Operating Hours
     
     • Set different hours for each day of week
     • Mark closed days
     • Add special hours for holidays
   • Reservation Settings
     
     • Toggle: Accept Online Reservations
     • Number Input: Minimum advance booking time (hours)
     • Number Input: Maximum advance booking time (days)
     • Number Input: Default reservation duration (minutes)
     • Toggle: Require Deposit
     • Number Input: Deposit Amount
   • Table Settings
     
     • Update total seat count
     • Set default table turnover time
   • Cancellation Policy
     
     • Text Area: Policy description
     • Number Input: Cancellation window (hours before reservation)
     • Toggle: Charge cancellation fee
     • Number Input: Cancellation fee amount

Adding Advanced Features

Step 37: Implement Push Notifications

Keep users informed with timely alerts:

1. Add "Request Notification Permission" action on app launch
2. Configure notifications for diners:
   
   • Booking Confirmed: "Your table at [Restaurant] is confirmed for [Date, Time]"
   • Reminder: "You have a reservation at [Restaurant] tomorrow at [Time]"
   • Day-Of Reminder: "Your reservation at [Restaurant] is in 2 hours"
   • Table Ready: "Your table is ready! Please arrive within 15 minutes"
   • Modification Confirmed: "Your reservation has been updated"
3. Configure notifications for restaurant owners:
   
   • New Reservation: "[Guest Name] booked a table for [Party Size] on [Date, Time]"
   • Cancellation: "[Guest Name] cancelled their reservation for [Date, Time]"
   • New Review: "You have a new review from [Guest Name]"
   • Approaching Reservation: "5 reservations arriving in the next hour"

Set these up using Adalo's built-in notification actions.

Step 38: Add Waitlist Functionality

Capture demand when fully booked:

1. Create new collection: "Waitlist"
   
   • Properties: Date, Time, Party Size, Guest (relationship to Users), Restaurant (relationship), Status, Created Date, Notified Date
2. On "No Availability" message, add:
   
   • Button: "Join Waitlist"
   • Creates Waitlist record
   • Status = "Active"
3. In Restaurant Dashboard, add:
   
   • List: Active Waitlist entries
   • Button: "Notify Next" (sends push notification to waitlisted guest)
4. When reservation cancelled:
   
   • Automatically notify next waitlist guest with matching criteria
   • Give 15-minute window to accept before moving to next

Step 39: Build Special Events Feature

Enable restaurants to offer unique experiences:

1. Create new collection: "Special Events"
   
   • Properties: Event Name, Description, Date, Start Time, Duration, Price Per Person, Maximum Guests, Menu Description, Images, Restaurant (relationship)
2. Create "Special Events" screen:
   
   • List of upcoming events
   • Filter: Date >= Today
   • Display: Event image, name, date, price
   • Click: Link to "Event Details"
3. Create event booking flow:
   
   • Similar to regular reservation flow
   • Requires full prepayment (not just deposit)
   • Captures full payment via Stripe

Step 40: Implement Loyalty Program

Reward repeat customers:

1. Add properties to Users collection:
   
   • Points Balance (Number)
   • Total Visits (Number)
   • Member Since (Date)
2. Create point-earning rules:
   
   • 1 point per dollar spent (calculated from reservation party size × average price)
   • Bonus points for reviews (10 points)
   • Birthday bonus (50 points)
3. Create "Rewards" screen:
   
   • Show current points balance
   • List of available rewards (e.g., $10 off at 100 points)
   • Redeem button
4. In restaurant settings:
   
   • Allow owners to create custom rewards
   • Set point values and redemption levels

Integrating External Services

Step 41: Set Up Zapier Automation

Extend your app's capabilities with Zapier integration:

1. Create Zapier account at Zapier.com
2. In Adalo, go to App Settings → Integrations → Zapier
3. Copy your app's API key
4. In Zapier, create Zaps:
   
   • Zap 1: New Reservation → Send Email Confirmation
     
     • Trigger: New record in Reservations (Adalo)
     • Action: Send email (Gmail/Outlook)
     • Include: Confirmation code, date, time, restaurant details
   • Zap 2: New Reservation → Add to Google Calendar
     
     • Trigger: New Reservation (Adalo)
     • Action: Create calendar event (Google Calendar)
   • Zap 3: New Reservation → Send SMS Reminder
     
     • Trigger: New Reservation (Adalo)
     • Filter: Reservation Date is tomorrow
     • Action: Send SMS (Twilio/ClickSend)
   • Zap 4: New Review → Post to Social Media
     
     • Trigger: New Review with 5 stars (Adalo)
     • Action: Post to Twitter/Facebook
   • Zap 5: Reservation Data → Add to CRM
     
     • Trigger: New Reservation (Adalo)
     • Action: Create contact (HubSpot/Salesforce)

Step 42: Connect to Email Marketing

Build your customer database:

1. Create Zapier Zap:
   
   • Trigger: New User signup (Adalo)
   • Filter: User Type = "Diner"
   • Action: Add subscriber to email list (Mailchimp/ConvertKit)
2. Send automated campaigns:
   
   • Welcome email series
   • Weekly restaurant recommendations
   • Special occasion reminders
   • Exclusive reservation perks

Step 43: Integrate SMS Notifications

For critical, time-sensitive updates:

1. Sign up for Twilio or ClickSend account
2. Create Zapier Zaps:
   
   • 24-hour reminder: "Tomorrow at [Time] you have a reservation at [Restaurant]"
   • 2-hour reminder: "Your table at [Restaurant] is reserved for [Time] today"
   • Table ready: "Your table is ready at [Restaurant]"
   • Cancellation confirmation: "Your reservation at [Restaurant] has been cancelled"
3. Add opt-in checkbox during signup:
   
   • "Receive SMS notifications for my reservations"

Step 44: Add Google Maps Integration

Beyond the basic maps component:

1. Implement "Get Directions" functionality:
   
   • Use custom action with link
   • Format: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=[Restaurant Address]
   • Opens in Google Maps app or browser
2. Add distance calculation:
   
   • Use Zapier or Make.com to call Google Distance Matrix API
   • Calculate distance from user to restaurant
   • Display in restaurant listings

Designing for Mobile and Web

Step 45: Optimize Mobile Layout

Since responsive design is built into Adalo:

1. Test on different screen sizes:
   
   • Use Adalo's device preview (iPhone, iPad, Android)
   • Check portrait and landscape orientations
2. Mobile-specific optimizations:
   
   • Make buttons at least 44x44 pixels (Apple guidelines)
   • Use large, finger-friendly touch targets
   • Add bottom navigation for quick access
   • Keep forms short (use multi-step if needed)
   • Use native mobile components (date picker, time picker)
3. Add mobile-specific features:
   
   • Pull to Refresh: Refresh reservation lists
   • Swipe Actions: Swipe left to cancel/modify reservation
   • Native Sharing: Share restaurant recommendations

Step 46: Optimize Web App Layout

For desktop users browsing on larger screens:

1. Use wider layouts:
   
   • Multi-column layouts for restaurant listings
   • Side-by-side details (map on left, info on right)
   • Grid view for menu items and photos
2. Add desktop-specific navigation:
   
   • Top navigation bar with dropdowns
   • Breadcrumbs for deep pages
   • Sidebar for filters and options
3. Enhance with desktop features:
   
   • Hover states on interactive elements
   • Keyboard shortcuts for power users
   • Right-click context menus

Step 47: Implement Responsive Design Best Practices

1. Set breakpoints in Adalo:
   
   • Mobile: Up to 768px
   • Tablet: 769px to 1024px
   • Desktop: 1025px and above
2. Use conditional visibility:
   
   • Hide/show different components based on screen size
   • Example: Full map on desktop, smaller map on mobile
3. Test across platforms:
   
   • Preview on multiple devices
   • Check that all functionality works everywhere

Step 48: Add Custom Branding

Make your app visually distinct:

1. In App Settings → Design:
   
   • Upload custom app icon (1024x1024px)
   • Set splash screen image
   • Configure status bar color (iOS)
2. Use consistent brand colors:
   
   • Primary color for main actions
   • Secondary color for accents
   • Background colors for cards/sections
3. Upload custom fonts:
   
   • Use font library in Adalo
   • Select fonts that match your brand personality
   • Ensure readability on small screens
4. Add your logo:
   
   • Header of all screens
   • Email templates
   • Confirmation screens

Testing Your Reservation Platform

Step 49: Create Test Data

Build a realistic test environment:

1. Create test user accounts:
   
   • 5-10 diner accounts with varied preferences
   • 3-5 restaurant owner accounts
   • 2-3 staff accounts
2. Add test restaurants:
   
   • Different cuisine types
   • Various locations
   • Different price ranges
   • Include full menus (10-15 items per restaurant)
   • Add multiple tables per restaurant
3. Create sample reservations:
   
   • Past reservations (for testing history)
   • Today's reservations (for testing current operations)
   • Future reservations (for testing modifications)
   • Include various statuses (Pending, Confirmed, Cancelled)
4. Add test reviews:
   
   • Mix of ratings (1-5 stars)
   • Some with photos
   • Some with restaurant responses
5. Create test payment methods:
   
   • Use Stripe test card numbers
   • Test successful payments: 4242 4242 4242 4242
   • Test declined cards: 4000 0000 0000 0002

Step 50: Test Core User Flows

Walk through each critical path:

1. Diner Signup and Booking Flow:
   
   • Sign up as new diner
   • Browse restaurants
   • Search for specific cuisine
   • View restaurant details and menu
   • Make a reservation
   • Complete payment
   • Receive confirmation
   • View in "My Reservations"
2. Reservation Modification Flow:
   
   • Open existing reservation
   • Modify date/time/party size
   • Confirm changes
   • Verify updated details
3. Cancellation Flow:
   
   • Cancel reservation
   • Confirm refund processed (if applicable)
   • Verify status updated
4. Review Submission Flow:
   
   • Complete a reservation (manually update status)
   • Navigate to "Write Review"
   • Submit rating and comment
   • Upload photos
   • Verify review appears in restaurant profile
5. Restaurant Owner Setup Flow:
   
   • Sign up as restaurant owner
   • Complete restaurant information
   • Add tables
   • Add menu items
   • Verify dashboard displays correctly
6. Daily Operations Flow:
   
   • View today's reservations
   • Assign tables to reservations
   • Check in arriving guests
   • Complete reservations
   • Respond to reviews

Step 51: Test Edge Cases

Ensure your app handles unusual scenarios:

1. Booking conflicts:
   
   • Try booking same table at overlapping times
   • Verify availability check prevents double-booking
2. Last-minute reservations:
   
   • Book reservation less than 2 hours in advance
   • Confirm system accepts or rejects based on settings
3. Large party sizes:
   
   • Try booking for 15+ people
   • Verify table capacity calculations work
4. Fully booked scenarios:
   
   • Fill all tables for a time slot
   • Try to make additional reservation
   • Verify "no availability" message appears
5. Payment failures:
   
   • Use test card that declines (4000 0000 0000 0002)
   • Verify error handling and user feedback
6. Cancellation windows:
   
   • Try canceling within cancellation window
   • Try canceling outside window
   • Verify refund logic works correctly

Step 52: Perform Cross-Platform Testing

Test on all target platforms:

1. iOS Testing:
   
   • Download Adalo app from App Store
   • Log in to preview your app
   • Test on iPhone (various sizes)
   • Test on iPad
   • Check all interactions and navigation
   • Verify images load correctly
2. Android Testing:
   
   • Download Adalo app from Google Play
   • Preview your app
   • Test on various Android devices
   • Check responsive layouts
3. Web Browser Testing:
   
   • Test in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
   • Test on different screen sizes (responsive design)
   • Verify all features work without native app

Step 53: Test Performance and Load Times

Ensure smooth user experience:

1. Check screen load times:
   
   • All screens should load within 2-3 seconds
   • If slow, optimize images (compress before uploading)
   • Reduce number of relationships shown on one screen
2. Test with realistic data volumes:
   
   • Add 50+ restaurants
   • Create 500+ reservations
   • Add 100+ reviews
   • Verify lists still load quickly
3. Monitor database queries:
   
   • Review Adalo performance recommendations
   • Limit list displays to 20-50 items with pagination
   • Use filters to reduce data loaded

For optimization tips, see Adalo performance guide.

Step 54: Gather Beta User Feedback

Before full launch, get real user input:

1. Recruit 10-20 beta testers:
   
   • Mix of diners and restaurant owners
   • Various tech skill levels
   • Different devices and platforms
2. Provide test tasks:
   
   • "Make a reservation at an Italian restaurant for 4 people next Saturday"
   • "Cancel your upcoming reservation"
   • "Leave a review for your last visit"
3. Collect feedback:
   
   • What was confusing?
   • What features are missing?
   • What worked well?
   • Any bugs or errors?
4. Iterate based on feedback:
   
   • Fix critical bugs
   • Improve unclear workflows
   • Add requested features if feasible

Publishing Your OpenTable Clone

Step 55: Prepare for Launch

Get everything ready for production:

1. Switch to production API keys:
   
   • Stripe: Replace test keys with live keys in Settings → Integrations
   • Google Maps: Verify production API key is active with billing enabled
   • Zapier: Update Zaps to use production app
2. Add legal pages:
   
   • Create "Terms of Service" screen
   • Create "Privacy Policy" screen
   • Create "Cancellation Policy" screen
   • Link from app footer and signup flow
3. Set up customer support:
   
   • Create "Help" or "Contact Us" screen
   • Add email contact form
   • Include phone number if offering phone support
4. Configure app settings:
   
   • App name (matches your brand)
   • App icon (1024x1024px)
   • Splash screen
   • App description

Step 56: Publish Web App

Publishing web apps is the fastest way to launch:

1. In Adalo, go to Publish → Web App
2. Choose domain option:
   
   • Adalo subdomain (Free plan): yourapp.adalo.com
   • Custom domain (Starter plan or higher): yourbrand.com
3. For custom domain:
   
   • Purchase domain from registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)
   • Domains cost $10-$45 per year
   • In Adalo, click "Add Custom Domain"
   • Enter your domain name
   • Follow DNS configuration instructions
   • Update CNAME records in your domain registrar
   • Wait for propagation (up to 48 hours)
4. Click "Publish" to make your web app live
5. Test your published web app:
   
   • Visit your domain
   • Verify all features work in production
   • Check on different browsers

The Starter plan ($36/month annual, $45/month monthly) enables custom domains for your web app.

Step 57: Publish to Apple App Store

To deploy your iOS app:

1. Prerequisites:
   
   • Apple Developer account ($99/year license required)
   • Mac computer (for Xcode and app submission)
   • Professional plan or higher (required for native iOS publishing)
2. In Adalo:
   
   • Go to Publish → iOS
   • Click "Generate Build"
   • Fill in app information:
     
     • App name
     • Bundle ID (reverse domain: com.yourbrand.appname)
     • Version number (1.0.0 for first release)
   • Upload app icon and launch screen
   • Wait for build to complete (20-60 minutes)
3. In App Store Connect:
   
   • Create new app listing
   • Add app screenshots (required: iPhone 6.5", 5.5", iPad Pro)
   • Write app description
   • Select category (Food & Drink)
   • Set pricing (Free)
   • Configure in-app purchases if applicable
4. Submit for review:
   
   • Download build from Adalo
   • Upload via Transporter or Xcode
   • Submit for Apple review
   • Review takes 1-3 days typically
   • Address any feedback from Apple
5. Launch:
   
   • Once approved, set release date
   • App goes live on App Store

Step 58: Publish to Google Play Store

To deploy your Android app:

1. Prerequisites:
   
   • Google Play Developer account (one-time $25 fee)
   • Professional plan or higher (required for native Android publishing)
2. In Adalo:
   
   • Go to Publish → Android
   • Click "Generate Build"
   • Fill in app information:
     
     • App name
     • Package name (reverse domain)
     • Version code (1 for first release)
   • Upload app icon and splash screen
   • Wait for build (20-60 minutes)
3. In Google Play Console:
   
   • Create new app
   • Complete store listing:
     
     • App screenshots (phone and tablet)
     • Feature graphic (1024x500px)
     • Description (4000 character max)
     • Category (Food & Drink)
   • Set up content rating questionnaire
   • Set up pricing & distribution
4. Upload APK:
   
   • Download APK from Adalo
   • Upload to Google Play Console
   • Complete release notes
   • Submit for review
   • Review typically takes 1-3 days
5. Launch:
   
   • Publish to production
   • App goes live on Google Play Store

Step 59: Set Up App Analytics

Track your app's performance:

1. Adalo Built-in Analytics:
   
   • Go to App Settings → Analytics
   • View user count, sessions, screen views
   • Monitor most popular screens
2. Google Analytics (optional):
   
   • Create Google Analytics property
   • Add tracking code via custom code component
   • Track custom events (reservations made, searches, etc.)
3. Monitor key metrics:
   
   • Daily active users (DAU)
   • Monthly active users (MAU)
   • Reservations created per day
   • Conversion rate (visitors → bookings)
   • Average session duration
   • Top restaurants by bookings

Step 60: Plan Your Marketing Launch

Drive initial users to your platform:

1. Pre-launch:
   
   • Build email list with landing page
   • Reach out to local restaurants to join as partners
   • Create social media accounts
   • Prepare launch announcement
2. Launch day:
   
   • Send email to waitlist
   • Post on social media
   • Submit to Product Hunt, BetaList
   • Reach out to local press/food bloggers
3. Post-launch:
   
   • Collect user feedback
   • Monitor reviews in app stores
   • Fix critical bugs quickly
   • Plan feature updates based on usage data

Why Build Your Restaurant Reservation App with Adalo

Building an OpenTable-style reservation platform traditionally costs $70,000-$170,000 and takes 6-12 months of development time. With Adalo, you can create a fully functional restaurant booking app for a fraction of that investment—saving up to 70% on development costs while launching in 3 months or less.

Here's what makes Adalo the ideal platform for your reservation app:

True Multi-Platform Publishing: Unlike competitors that force you to choose between web or mobile, Adalo lets you publish to web, iOS, and Android from a single codebase, using 70% fewer resources than traditional development. Your diners can book tables from any device, while restaurant owners manage operations from desktop dashboards or mobile tablets.

Built-In Relational Database: OpenTable's success relies on complex data relationships between restaurants, tables, reservations, and users. Adalo's relational database handles these connections natively, with support for one-to-many and many-to-many relationships, custom formulas for availability calculations, and AND/OR logic for sophisticated filtering. You get enterprise-grade data architecture without writing SQL queries.

Flexible Pricing That Scales With You: Start with the free plan to prototype your concept with unlimited test apps. When ready to launch, the Starter plan at $36/month (annual) or $45/month (monthly) includes custom domains and web publishing—far more affordable than OpenTable's $39-$449/month fees that restaurants pay indefinitely. As you grow, upgrade to Professional ($52-$65/month) for native mobile apps and integrations, or Team ($160-$200/month) for multiple published apps and priority support. All plans are available on Adalo's pricing page.

Pre-Built Components That Just Work: The Adalo Marketplace offers 50+ components specifically designed for reservation and booking apps—including payment processing via Stripe, geolocation and maps, calendar and time pickers, rating systems, and real-time notifications. All components work across web and native mobile platforms without configuration headaches.

Proven Track Record: With over 1 million apps created and 99%+ average uptime, Adalo powers business-critical applications processing over 20 million data requests daily. Apps built with no-code platforms achieve 30% higher user retention than traditionally-coded apps, and organizations implementing no-code solutions see an average 362% ROI, with 91.9% recovering their investment within the first year.

You Own Your Platform: Unlike OpenTable where restaurants rent access and pay ongoing commissions, your Adalo-built app is yours. Own your customer data, control your pricing, customize every workflow, and scale without permission. Whether you're a restaurant owner building internal tools, an entrepreneur creating a marketplace, or an agency delivering client solutions, Adalo empowers you to bring your vision to life without compromise.

Get started with Adalo today.