Securing a reservation at New York’s most sought-after restaurants has become increasingly difficult, surpassing all previous challenges. In the past three years, obtaining a seat at the city’s hottest dining spots has shifted from tough to nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” He noted that even restaurateurs he has consulted admitted they lacked tips for securing a reservation.
The competition for dinner reservations has escalated to the point that the New York state legislature recently voted to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader. These platforms allowed users to resell restaurant reservations for inflated prices, sometimes over $200, a practice akin to ticket scalping for concerts and sports events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the bill as a significant win for the hospitality sector, aimed at lowering reservation competition and shielding restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative measures, the trend of heightened demand for trendy, luxurious experiences continues to outpace availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India highlighted the challenge, noting that since the pandemic, every plane, restaurant, and hotel seems fully booked.
India, who has over 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles—a concierge and travel planning service for the affluent—has worked with clients earning over $100 million, including notable figures like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey. She emphasized that gaining access to highly popular restaurants relies on understanding client preferences and fostering relationships with the establishments that meet those expectations.
She pointed out that there has been a notable shift away from traditional fine dining. “Very rarely do we have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu,” India explained. Instead, the trend is leaning towards lively restaurants where the dining experience is less about the food and more about the social aspect, creating a sense of exclusivity or “FOMO” (fear of missing out).
For those eager to secure a reservation at New York’s most exclusive dining spots, India’s advice could be invaluable.