Securing a dining reservation in New York City has become increasingly difficult, marking a significant change over the past three years. Many eager diners find it almost impossible to snag seats at the city’s most sought-after restaurants.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, highlighted the unprecedented reservation challenges, stating that even restaurateurs themselves have no tips to offer on how to get in. This growing competition has led the New York state legislature to take action, recently passing a law to ban third-party booking sites such as Appointment Trader, which allowed users to resell reservations for inflated prices, sometimes exceeding $200.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new legislation as a significant win for the hospitality industry. She believes it will mitigate competition for reservations and help protect restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative efforts, the demand for unique and stylish dining experiences continues to surpass supply. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted the trend of full bookings across various sectors—airlines, restaurants, and hotels—in the post-COVID landscape. She pointed out the challenge of securing desirable reservations amidst such high demand.
With 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles, a luxury concierge and travel planning service, India has helped ultra-wealthy clients, including celebrities and politicians, gain access to exclusive experiences. She emphasized the importance of understanding client preferences and cultivating relationships with restaurants to navigate the current reservation landscape successfully.
India observed a shift in customer desires, indicating that many diners are moving away from traditional fine dining and tasting menus. Instead, the focus has turned towards trendy establishments, where the experience often transcends the food itself. It’s about the social aspect, creating moments of bragging rights for successfully securing a coveted reservation.
For those determined to claim their own bragging rights, the next section will outline the New York restaurants that are currently the hardest to book, according to insights from Sienna Charles.