Nick Kokonas Wants to Challenge OpenTable After Tock Raises $7.5M

Will Nick Kokonas’ online restaurant ticketing system Tock overtake reservation behemoth OpenTable? On the heels of Tock raising $7.5 million for growth, the Alinea, Next, Aviary and Roister owner has OpenTable in his crosshairs.

Kokonas tells the Tribune that OpenTable is vulnerable because it uses an "antiquated, janky old system." Tock is currently used in 167 restaurants in multiple countries and Kokonas hopes it will be in 500 within a year. OpenTable, on the other hand, serves more than 37,000 restaurants worldwide, according to its website.

Tock officially launched in June 2015 when the beta system was rolled out on Next Restaurant’s website. It has steadily grown since then, adding acclaimed restaurants from around the country and beyond to its portfolio.

Chicago-based Origin Ventures, whose institutional funding helped GrubHub become the major national restaurant delivery company it is today, is the lead investor in this multi-million dollar funding of Tock, according to a news release. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Will Guidara and Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park, TV host Andrew Zimmern, and more restaurateurs, chefs, and hospitality groups also contributed to the funding, Crain's reports.

Will you be on Tock more than OpenTable in the future when you’re booking tables at restaurants? Stay tuned.