Dining in New York City has become increasingly challenging, with securing a reservation at the most popular restaurants proving to be nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts. According to Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, the situation has escalated over the past three years, making some restaurants completely inaccessible.
Montaniel noted that even industry insiders struggle to find solutions for reservation challenges, stating, “I’ve talked to restaurateurs, and they say, ‘I don’t have them.’”
The competition for dining reservations has intensified to the point where the New York state legislature recently voted to prohibit third-party booking platforms like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to resell restaurant reservations for hefty sums, sometimes exceeding $200. This practice had become akin to scalping tickets for concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, asserting it would lessen reservation competition and protect restaurants from costly no-shows.
Despite the regulatory changes, the demand for trendy and luxurious experiences continues to outpace availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India observed, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up—planes, restaurants, hotels.” India, who has provided concierge services to high-net-worth families for over 16 years, explained that managing access to exclusive dining spots hinges on understanding client needs and cultivating relationships with restaurants.
She noted a shift in client preferences away from fine dining, saying, “We very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” Instead, the focus has shifted to trendy venues where the dining experience is often motivated by the desire to share exciting experiences on social media.
For those determined to secure a coveted reservation, India’s insights reveal which New York City restaurants are currently the most difficult to access.