Securing a reservation at popular restaurants in New York City has become increasingly difficult over the past three years, with many food enthusiasts finding it nearly impossible to land a table at the city’s most sought-after dining spots.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the restaurant reservation platform Sevenrooms, noted the challenges, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” Even restaurateurs have expressed their inability to provide tips on securing a reservation.
The situation has become so dire that last month, the New York state legislature passed a law prohibiting third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to sell their restaurant reservations for prices upwards of $200—much like ticket scalpers do 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 industry, aimed at reducing reservation competition and shielding restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these regulatory efforts, demand for exciting and trendy experiences still far exceeds their availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted that since the pandemic, there has been a noticeable trend of everything being fully booked—from flights and hotels to restaurants.
India, who has spent 16 years managing a concierge and travel planning service for affluent clients, shared that her experience shows the importance of understanding what customers desire and nurturing relationships with popular restaurants.
She pointed out a shift in dining preferences, saying, “People have really moved away from fine dining. Very rarely do we have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” According to her, the trend leans more toward trendy establishments where the dining experience often focuses on the social cachet of being seen at fashionable spots rather than the culinary aspect itself.
For those determined to secure a reservation and earn their own bragging rights, Sienna Charles has identified which New York restaurant tables are currently the hardest to get.