Securing a reservation at New York’s most sought-after restaurants has become increasingly difficult in recent years. This challenge has escalated to unprecedented levels, leaving many food enthusiasts struggling to nab a seat at the city’s hottest dining spots.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, noting, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” He explained that even restaurant owners themselves often lack strategies to ease the reservation process.
In response to this growing reservation crisis, New York state lawmakers recently approved legislation prohibiting third-party reservation services like Appointment Trader, where users resold dining slots for hefty sums, sometimes exceeding $200. This practice parallels scalping in the realms of concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new law as a significant win for the restaurant industry. She believes it should help lessen competition for reservations and shield restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative changes, demand for unique and fashionable dining experiences continues to surpass availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India notes that since the pandemic, many sectors are crowded, including airlines, hotels, and restaurants. “Post-COVID, everything is booked up; every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full,” she observed.
India, who runs Sienna Charles—a concierge and travel planning service catering to ultra-wealthy clients—says her experience highlights the importance of understanding customer preferences and nurturing connections with popular dining establishments. She reveals that clients are now less interested in traditional fine dining and more inclined toward trendy venues that emphasize the experience over the food.
“It’s never about food, it’s sort of about FOMO. It’s about saying that you got in; it’s a bragging right,” she explained.
For those determined to secure their own bragging rights, a look at which New York restaurants are currently the most elusive might offer some insights into the ever-competitive landscape of dining reservations.