Securing a restaurant reservation in New York has become increasingly challenging, with many popular dining spots now seeming almost impossible to access. Over the past three years, the process of obtaining a table at the city’s most sought-after venues has significantly worsened for eager diners.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservation platform Sevenrooms, mentioned in a recent interview that certain restaurants are simply off-limits, even for industry insiders. “I’ve talked to restaurateurs on panels, and when asked for tips to get in, they say, ‘I don’t have them,’” he stated.
The competition for dinner reservations escalated to such an extreme that last month, the New York state legislature moved to prohibit third-party booking platforms like Appointment Trader, where individuals were reselling restaurant reservations for exorbitant fees, reminiscent of ticket scalping for concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, the President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed this legislation as a significant achievement for the hospitality sector. She believes it will lessen reservation competition and shield restaurants from costly cancellations.
Even with these new regulations, the high demand for trendy and luxurious dining experiences continues to surpass what is available. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up, right? Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full.” She highlighted the challenge of securing spots in restaurants and hotels that are already fully booked.
India, who has spent 16 years operating Sienna Charles, a high-end concierge and travel planning service, works primarily with clients who have substantial wealth. Despite her high-profile clientele, she stresses that gaining access to the most popular dining destinations relies on critical factors such as understanding customer preferences and fostering relationships with the restaurants that cater to those needs.
“People have really moved away from fine dining,” she noted. “The focus has shifted to trendy restaurants where the appeal is less about the food and more about the experience—it’s about FOMO, about being able to say you got in.”
For those looking to secure a reservation at one of New York’s hottest restaurants, persistence and an understanding of the dining landscape may be key.