Securing a reservation at New York’s most sought-after restaurants has become increasingly difficult, with many food enthusiasts finding it nearly impossible to get a table over the past three years.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of Sevenrooms, a restaurant booking platform, recently noted the challenges, stating that even restaurant owners he has spoken with have no solutions to share on how to successfully secure reservations.
Last month, the New York state legislature acted to address this issue by voting to ban third-party booking services like Appointment Trader, where users were profiting by reselling restaurant reservations for significant markups—similar to what’s seen in the concert and sports arenas.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a substantial win for the hospitality sector, claiming it will lessen the competition for reservations and help restaurants avoid costly cancellations.
Despite these legal measures, the post-pandemic reality remains that demand for unique and luxurious dining experiences continues to exceed supply. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India commented on this phenomenon, noting that it is increasingly difficult to secure reservations as the travel and dining landscape fills up.
With 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles, a luxury concierge and travel planning service, India specializes in catering to affluent clients, including high-profile figures. She highlights that access to exclusive dining spots hinges on understanding client preferences and nurturing relationships with restaurant personnel.
India notes a significant shift away from traditional fine dining towards trendy, experience-driven venues, indicating that patrons are often more interested in the social currency of dining out—truly a matter of “fear of missing out,” or FOMO.
For those determined to chase down reservations and claim bragging rights, India offers insights into some of the most elusive dining experiences in New York City.