In New York, securing a reservation at a premier restaurant has become more challenging than ever. Over the past three years, the process of booking a table at the city’s most popular dining spots has escalated from difficult to nearly impossible for many eager diners.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservation platform Sevenrooms, noted in a recent conversation that some restaurants are simply out of reach for many patrons. He shared insights from restaurateurs, who admitted they could not offer tips for getting into their busy establishments.
In response to the increasing competitiveness of dinner reservations, New York state lawmakers recently voted to prohibit third-party booking services like Appointment Trader, where individuals were reselling reservations for as much as $200—similar to practices seen with concert tickets and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new legislation as a significant achievement for the hospitality sector, suggesting it would ease competition for reservations and help protect establishments from costly no-shows.
Despite these legal changes, the appetite for unique, trendy, and luxury experiences continues to outweigh their availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India remarked that the post-COVID landscape shows relentless demand, with every flight, restaurant, and hotel operating at full capacity.
With 16 years of experience managing Sienna Charles, a concierge service catering to the wealthy, India highlights her expertise in securing reservations for high-profile clients, including notable figures like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey. She stresses that the key to accessing coveted dining experiences lies in understanding client preferences and fostering relationships with restaurant owners.
India observes a shift away from traditional fine dining, noting that clients now seek trendy spots where the focus has shifted from food to the experience itself. “It’s less about food and more about the fear of missing out—it’s about having that bragging right,” she says.
For those determined to snag a coveted reservation, India offers insights into which New York restaurants are the most elusive to book.