Securing a dinner reservation in New York has become increasingly difficult, with the process of obtaining a seat at the city’s most sought-after restaurants evolving from a challenge to a nearly impossible task for many food enthusiasts over the past three years.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into. I’ve even talked to restaurateurs, and they say, ‘I don’t have them,’” when asked for tips on gaining access.
The competitive nature of restaurant reservations prompted the New York state legislature to vote last month to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, where users were reselling their restaurant reservations for $200 or more, a practice that has now become reminiscent of concert and sporting event scalping.
Melissa Fleischut, the President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, which would reduce competition for reservations and protect restaurants from costly no-shows.
Despite recent legislative efforts, the reality remains that the demand for trendy and luxurious dining experiences continues to far surpass their availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India remarked on the post-COVID landscape, noting, “Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full,” highlighting the challenges of securing bookings for exclusive experiences.
With 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel planning service for affluent clients, India is well-versed in navigating this landscape. Although she has catered to high-profile clients, including former President George W. Bush and singer Mariah Carey, she underscores that the key to accessing popular dining spots lies in understanding customer preferences and fostering relationships with restaurants.
India points out a trend: “People have really moved away from fine dining. We very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” She believes that the shift in dining interest has moved toward trendy establishments where the experience is more about social status and exclusivity than the food itself.
For those eager to secure a reservation and enjoy bragging rights, India shares insights on which New York restaurants are currently the hardest to book.