Dining out in New York has become increasingly challenging as securing reservations at the city’s most sought-after restaurants reaches new heights of difficulty. Over the last three years, getting a table at popular establishments has evolved from a tough task to a nearly impossible feat for many diners.
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 restaurateurs, when asked for tips to bypass the reservation struggle, often reply that they lack solutions.
The intense competition for dinner reservations prompted action from the New York state legislature, which recently passed a law banning third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader. These platforms had allowed users to sell restaurant reservations for significant sums, akin to the practices seen with concert and sporting event tickets.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new legislation as a “major victory for the hospitality industry,” claiming it would ease the reservation competition and shield restaurants from high cancellation fees.
Still, the post-pandemic landscape reveals an ongoing imbalance between the soaring demand for luxurious dining experiences and their limited availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India remarked on this trend, noting that, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up,” making it difficult for people to secure spots in restaurants, hotels, and other experiences.
India, who runs Sienna Charles, a concierge service for wealthy clients, emphasized that her expertise in gaining access to exclusive dining options hinges on understanding customer desires and fostering relationships with restaurant owners.
She pointed out a shift in dining preferences, stating, “People have really moved away from fine dining,” and that clients now prefer trendy venues where the experience is about more than just food. “It’s about FOMO. It’s about saying that you got in,” she explained, highlighting the social status that comes with dining at these hot spots.
For those eager to secure a reservation at some of New York’s hardest-to-access restaurants, persistence and strategy are key.